Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-04-30
GREATEST OF
ALL EXP0S|T|ONS.
ror Display of the Worlds Work
In Every Branch il is
Unsurpassed
HISTORY OF ITS INCEPTION.
IL, If Fittlngly commemoratlug the
louisiana Purchase Soon Became
A National One.

:, rouIs Mo-, April ao,-The Louisi-
purchase exposition, comprising a
comprehensive collection and exhibition
=, the worlds peoples, products, in
.,.,es modes OF living, diversions,
.~,.rortation facilities, in fact,
.,nolete universal concentration OF
~. manufactures and products of the
n mine forest and sea, had its incep-
,,,n IN 1898 and was completed In
,,,u 1904. The exposition commem-
.',,0s the centennial of the purchase
,.ou France. in 1903, by the United
e,,,ss of the vast strip Of territory
catching from the Gulf Of Mexico to
~. nominion OF Canada, and extending
,.o,r the Mississippi river TO the crest
,,tbe Rocky Mountain range, and since
,rown as "the Louisiana Purchase Ter
rtOry,"
BELONGED TO FRANCE,
The entire Mississippi valley orig.
,Dally belonged to France by right of
discovery and exploration. In 1868
spaln acquired the Louisiana territory
after the treaty of peace at Paris. when
France, which had coded Louisiana to
spain under the secret treaty of 1892,
rave up all her other possessions in
North America TO Great Britain. Spain
held the territory for 81 years, return
inc II 10 France on the demand of Ma
noleon Bonaparte through the secret
treaty. of st. lldefenso, Oct. T. 1900. Ma
poleon was then first consul OF France.
The United States, by the Revolutions
airy war, had won sovereignty over the
territory between the Atlantic ocean
and the Mississippi river Spanish off,
clals were still In authority at New ORG
leans although the Louisiana territory
had been returned to France. The
hostile attitude OF the Spaniards to-
wards Americans navigating the Mis-
sssIppl resulted in agitation which led
President Thomas Jefferson TO UNDER
take the purchase Of the city aud island
Of New Orleans, In order to control the
mouth OF the Mississippi. Robert X.
Livingston, United States minister to
France, and James Monroe, afterward
PRESIDENT Of the United States, were ac-
cordingly commissioned to conduct the
negotiations for this transfer. Instead
Of the sale OF the island OF New Or
leans alone, Napoleon proposed the sale
Of the entire Louisiana territory for
i50OO,O0O In order to secure funds for
the equipment Of his armies.
NAPoLEoNS OFFER ACCEPTED.
The representatives OF the United
States at once accepted the offer and
The treaty was signed at Paris April 30,
1903 The formal transfer Of the terri
tory took place at New Orleans, Dec.
% 1903. and for Upper Louisiana, ut
S. Louis on March 10, 1904,
STATES FORMED OUT OF 1T.
The newly purchased territory en-
eraCed 100000 square miles, and IL
now divided into the following IA states
and territories Louisiana, Arkansas.
Missouri, oklahoma, Indian Territory.
Kansas Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa,
Minnesota, North Dakota. South Da-
kota' Wyoming and Montana,
EXPOSITION SUGGESTED.
In the fore part OF 1898 an editorial
was published in st. Louis paper to
the effect that the centennIals OF the
great events in the history OF the
United States were not all over and
PREDICTING that the greatest was yet to
De held--the centennial OF the acquisi-
ton OF the Louisiana territory. This
EDITORIAL was taken up In the press and
commented upon resulting IN organized
agitation by the Missouri Historical sos
cley The clamor for a commemora-
p'e centennial became so general that,
y response 10 strong public sentiment,
gov stevens, OF Missouri, issued call
iof convention of delegates represent
ing the states and territories embraced
N me Louisiana Purchase territory, to
Oe held In ST. Louis on Jan. 10, 1899.
Ihe convention was attended by 90 deli
esates' appointed by the respective
governors, and II was unanimously
.o.ed 70 hold an exposition. interna-
uohal IN It's scope, In St. Louis. The
Invention extended an invitation 10
we United states government to as
sN IN me enterprise, and appointed an
yaeCu''Ve committee, with Hon, David
" francis as chairman, and also A
wnnmlttee OF 30 representative citizens
VI vi o. Louis 10 Cooperate In the matter.
rams We're devised for raising money
Oulld the exposition buildings ana
S~ray the general expenses, and II was
s nel mat 1l5,OO0,00O. the amount paid
w W the territory, should be raised, one
,o"u oy private subscription. one-thlrd
w paid by the city, and one-thlrd
o,. oe asked from the United States
WORK BEGUN.
me committee was Increased in
a,,I. ,IShlp to 200 and work immedl-
hvg 1'gln. Congress passed bill
wrr lvv, promising government
,,SSppVrt and 100000 appropriation IL
NM 'lllzeIns Of ST, Louis raised $1,000
me-, Un jan ~ 1901. II was announced
Me-, Me- ne 81 Louis popular subscription
NM MY me sale Of stock. reached So
n, ,ov' ana on Jan, 80, 1901, an ordl-
ssr,L was passed by the municipal as
horS.| auihorizing the Issuance OF city
nm u n, 10 the amount OF t5,O00,000. The
by ~ Spproprlatlng s5OO00oO was passed
. W., ws mouse OF representatives on Feb.
NAM eoy the United States senate on
sssn.l 8 and the sum OF SIS. 900 600 was
s,sI T,e a., President Mckinley immedi-
wy signed tho bill and on March l2,
-..---.--.-.-----.-.-.----.--------