The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1904-12-02
IDAHO, TO THE FRONT.
Has the Best Agricultural
Products in Universe.
SECURED THE GRAND PRIZE
For Display at the St. Louis
Worlds Fair.

The Idaho agricultural exhibit has
been awarded the grand prize ut the
worlds fair In St Louis. This means
that in the estimation OF an impair
tial jury the agricultural display from
this state is the best in the universe.
Idaho has thus obtained the highest
award it was possible to secure for
agricultural products. In making
the award the jury considered the
quality OF the grains and grasses and
the manner in which the EXHIBIT was
arranged. Thus Commissioner and
Mrs. Nj. j. Vessels are rewarded for
their painstaking and artistic work
in presenting the magnificent pro-
ducts Of the Gem State. Especial
credit is due Mrs. Vessels for the
originality OF her work which went a
long WY toward attracting attention
at the exhibit. The annOunc .Mcnt
OF the award was made In St. Louis
yesterday.
When the insignificant sum expend-
ed upon the Idaho agricultural exhib-
it is considered, the winning OF the
grand prize is a phenomenal achieve
mcnt. Many states spent more upon
their agricultural exhibits alone than
the entire appropriation at the dis
p0sal Of the Idaho commission. Ore
gon especially, made the strongest
kind OF bid for the grand prize.
The "WebfOoters" wanted the honor
badly because OF the prestige it would
give their state at the Lewis & Clark
exposition next year. They had the
powerful backing OF the Oregon Ry.,
& Navigation company. This COM
paDy installed a magnificent exhibit
spending money right and left tU
make the best possible showing. All
the while Mr.. and Mrs. Vessels were
plodding along, saving a dollar here
and dime there and eking out their
little store Of cash, making it go as
far as they could. While other states
employed expert decorators, Mrs.
Vessels did her own work. With
deft hands she woyc the grasses into
fanciful designs and fashioned beau
tiful creations out OF the suberh
grains.
| California and Colorado put forth
ther best efforts 10 the agricultural
line but they had to fall in behind
Idaho. 1t was hard for Minnesota
and the Dakotas, with their splendid
reputation for wheat gro wing, to step
aside in favor OF Camas prairie and
the Palouse country. New Zealand
displayed some grand oats but tht
Idaho product was not only heavier
but Of better genera. appearance
The Idaho alfalfa made other similar
grasses look sickly by comparison.
u No awards have yet been announ
ccd in the horticultural department
at the big fair. The fruit which
Commissioner Vessels recently ob
J tained fur the Idaho exhibit is pro
nuunccd magnificent and is attract
ing unusual attention. The Jonathan
0 apples from the Boise, Wciser ans
Payette valle:s make the caster
s varieties look dwarnsh, while th
Z grapes from the vineyards Of Rober
Schleicher at Lewiston far excel tn
s California product.
Executive Commissioner G. Il
D Hurtt has had at all times the loya
and invaluable support OF his assocl
ates. All have labored harmnniousl
6 to give Idaho the highest return IL
the small appropriation. That the
I. have succeeded is evidenced by th
d fact that the Idaho building has bee
awarded second prize, the Idah
7. agricultural exhibit the grand prizt
n the Idaho school exhibit number {
# medals, the Idaho L,incral exhibit
gold medal and the Idaho hOrticul
n tural exhibit will undoubtedly T,
s ceive some awards.-Statcsman.
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