The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-30
SATURDAY, APRIL 80, 1904.
THE ST. LOUIS FAIR.

The most pretentious exposition in
point Of magnitude and costIiness the
world has ever seen will be opened to
the public today at St. Louis. The
Louisiana Purchase exposition has
been planned on a scale of magnificence
that puts it in a class by itself, and it
is to be hoped that the ambitious aims
Of its promoters will be realized-and
that hope is not qualified by the knowl-
edge of the disaster that has generally
followed worlds fairs.
It is not easy to conceive of the
vastness of this project which has been
in preparation at st. Louis for three
years. Even the statement that more
than forty millions of dollars have
been expended in a public way in
buildings, grounds and decorations car
rfes no adequate idea of what has been
done. The fences about the exposition
grounds inclose nearly two square
miles Of Iand-to be exact, 1,24O acres.
The inclosure at the Chicago fair was
623 acres, while the last Paris exposi-
ton covered but 336 acres. The St.
Louis fair provides buildings covering
an area of 1913 acres for exhibits: the
Chicago fair buildings covered but
81 acres. These figures will convey
some idea of the vastness of the project
as a mere building undertaking. And
we are assured that the exhibits will
be on plane with the magnificent pro-
vision made for their housing.
The fair will show the world brought
up to date That much seems certain.
Every state and territory with the ex-
ception of Vermont and Delaware will
be represented by individual buildings.
Practically every civilized nation will
be represented. The arts, sciences and
industries Of the world will set forth
for the edifcation of the visitor all the
evidences of their contributions to the
wealth and comfort Of mankind. Keen
intelligence and the lavish expenditure
Of money has created such an exhibit
ton as the world has never seen. IT
now depends on the people-particu-
larly those residing within the terri
toriaI limits Of the Louisiana purchase
to make the fair as great a success
financially as it is as an accomplish
nent today. All the world will be at
the fair, but that will not avail the
fair commission if the people of that
magnificent empire whose acquisition
by the United States is celebrated by
the exposition do not contribute the
substantial support of their presence
within the exposition grounds.
It is early yet to judge of what pro-
vision has been made for entertaining
the stranger in st. Louis. That city
has, however, the experience Of Chi
cago and Buffalo to guide it, and the
wayfaring man will have a much bet
ter chance for his life than was af-
forded him in either of the other big
show towns
It is early to Judge of the detailed
merits of the exposition. The GIobe
has established a bureau on the fair
grounds and will keep it's readers fully
advised Of the actual development Of
the exposition. The information fur
nished by this bureau will be of real
value to the prospective visitor, and it
Will be free from any local color or
prejudice Intending visitors can do no
better than to study the fair through
the columns of The Globe. They
may thus equip themselves with nee
essary knowledge of the existing condi-
tons and become familiar with the ex-
position to the end that they may
profitabiy employ their time When thew
go visiting.
And while bespeaking for the fair