Bisbee daily review., 1904-12-09
CLOSE OF WORLDS FAIR

attracting the attention of the world since last May is now numbered with other great historical events. Since the fair was opened there was spproxi. mstely l9, 1000, 900 admissions through its gates. and, while many of these were employees and exhibitors who were more or less in daily attendance, the great body of this number were from other states in the union and from foreign countries. This great concourse of people indicated not only the popular interest in the exposition and it's objects, but may be taken ss the best certificate of its success and of its merits, since, had it fallen be- low the standard at which it simed, the fact would have been manifested by an early withdrawal of the public patronage. The statistics, however, show that the attendance grew in vol ume ss time progressed and was we'll sustained up to the hour of closing the gates. That it was not larger has been due not to any lack of attractions presented, but to the numerous exposi- tions which have preceded this one and its remoteness from some of the denser areas of population in this country and Europe. By ths people of the Missis- sippi valley and the great west it re. ceived most generous patronage. while it must be confessed that from the east it did not have the popular recognition to which its innate merits and its objects entitled it.
 The failure of the commercial states of the east to take advantage of the exposition as a school of education in matters relating to the west, in which there is a lamentable lack of informa- tion. is easily accountable. In the first palace, the native element has not become fully awakened to sense of the progress in everything which ID akes for national greatness which has marked the wonderful growth of west ern civilization. To them it is still, in a sense, the wild and woolly west of long ago, while the large foreign element which has swelled the eastern population knows little of the country beyond its limited local vision. Then again the conception of the exposition was western in its spirit and pride. It was to commemorate the purchase of Louisiana by Jefferson, which had been opposed by the federalists of New Eng land with a virulence which at one time threatened secession. The eastern commercial states at an early day wished the Allegany mountains to be the western boundary of the union and SpsIn to retain control of the Missis- sippI and its trade, in return for 1ecip- rocsI commercial favors of the east. But for the firm attitude taken by the pioneers of Kentucky, demanding free outlet to the gulf for their pro- ducts. and the persistence of Jefferson, inspired by their action, there woald have been no Louisiana purchase and s possible limitation of our boundaries to the New England idea.
 It is easy, therefore, to understand how this traditional spirit, save some limited exceptions, checked enthusi- ssh for the exposition in that quarter. It was felt in the comparatively lim- ited patronage of that section. but only served to make the western enthu- sias-n in it's behalf more conspicuous. In this latter respect too much cannot be said in praise of the pride shown and the rich contribution made to the