Mower County transcript., 1904-05-25
The Great Exposition At St. Louis,
the Mecca Of Thousands "A Busy
Convention Week.
ST. Louis, Nav 20. 1904.


tailny the greatest in extent and mag
nitude of its buildings and exhibits
1t really gives one little conception o1
it to say that the grounds cover 1,24(
acres Of ground; that there are build
ings like the palace of agriculture that
covers 21 acres of ground and has
seven miles of aisles; that total OF
$5O,O0O,OOO has been expended upon
this exposition to complete it; that 12s
acres are covered by the big exhibit
buildings alone; that there are over
10000 separate exhibitors divided into
the fifteen departments; that there are
nearly one-thousand buildings on the
exposition grounds counting all the
small structures and the separate
edifices of the Pike; that the Philippine
encampment alone covers forty acres
of ground; and that all the nations of
the earth practically are represented
here. One must see for himself and
weeks of study and sight seeing might
De prOntaDly spent
We arrived Monday noon in a driving
rain. 1t has rained so incessantly here
and in the part of Missouri we crossed
III coming, that it has been impossible
to get the farm work done. The sea-
son is very backward. Thousand Of
acres of corn land are yet unplowed
and implanted being too wet, and it is
stated that corn is fully a month be-
hind. The result is that the gardens
here are not much ahead of Austin.
Snow balls, apple trees and lilacs are
just in bloom, June grass is heading
and few market gardens are ahead of
some left at home. Our conductor
told us of 9 fall Of twelve inches Of
rain in "a hours about three weeks
ago. You can hardly emagine the
muddy conditions on the grounds here.
Tuesday the walks and driveway were
covered with sloppy mud, of brick
clay character which gave the ladies
lots of trouble and discomfort. The
streets in places are bottomless. We
have seen four mule wagon loads sink
to the hubs while we waited and prove
inextricable.
The exposition is not fully complete
but this does not mean necessarily that
this Is not good time to come. The
immense structures are all finished and
the exhibits are nearly all in place.
Some buildings like the Horticultural,
the Mining, the Transportation, and
others are practically in order, while
others like the Agricultural and the
Liberal Arts are partly in chaos. But
in all the exhibits are nearly all in and
work is being rushed. Every day sees
big advance.
Minnesota is we'll represented on the
grounds and her exhibits attract much
attention. Our state building is two
story structure Greek byzantine in
type, 82x92 feet and furnished largely
by the mechanical schools of Mime
sofa. 1t is convenient meeting place
for North Star visitors and all should
register here as soon as they arrive.
In the Minnesota fruit exhibit there
are about 25O plates of apples, the
Wealthy, Duchess, Peerlers, Okabena,
Pattens and others with large collec-
tion of fruit in jars. The judges have
placed the fruit in jars at the head of
all here in display and good condition,
and fudge our apples to rank much
above the average in color, size and
freedom from blemish. Our agricul-
tural exhibit consists mainly of corn,
small grains and dairy products which
are out for the first premiums. John
Mathieson of Austin has been on duty
here in the horticultural and agricul-
tural departments for several months.
We had a very pleasant visit with him.
We met Harry Basford who is press
reporter for the liberal arts building. y
The Midway features of the Worlds
Fair are eliminated here largely SO far
as the indecent parts are concerned.
The better class Of features on the
Pike, (as Midway is called here) from
real attraction. Fire fighting, naval
battles, mountain trips and such are
instructive instead Of demoralizing.
In regard to hotel aocomod odations,
one will need to look out carefully IN
coming. Some like the Christian En-
deayor, have repudiated their publish
ed rates and it will be wise to have
definite understanding for lodgings
we are stopping at Inside "a Inn, night