The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-18
Mr.. COBURN QUITS.
Resigns His Position as Chief of Live
Stock.

F. D. Coburn has resigned as chief
of the livestock division of the 81
given way under the strain and great
amount of work which he did and his
physician told him he must give up his
work in st. Louis. He Will spend a
few weeks resting and as soon as he IS
able he will return to Topeka to re-
main permanently.
Mr.. Coburn gave his resignation to
the Worlds fair management several
weeks ago. but it was not accepted
until Saturday, and then with the stip-
ulation that he should remain as hon
orary chief of the department and
should retain his connection with it in
an advisory capacity
Not only has the work been very
hard on Mr. Coburn, but the climate
has not agreed With him. A represen-
tative of the State Journal saw him IN
st. Louis a few weeks ago. and he was
feeling very poorly at that time. Mr..
Coburn himself was inclined to hold
the climate largely responsible for the
state of his health, although the great
amount of work he has done undoubt-
eddy had much to do with it.
''St. Louis never did agree with me,
Mr. Coburn said. L was here when
was a young fellow In the army and It
got away with me then and 1t doesn
agree with me any better now VIA
be glad when 1 get through with this
work.
Mr.. Coburn was appointed chief Of
the livestock division of the Louisiana
Purchase exposition about the begin
ming of 1908, but that was year after
the work on some of the other depart
ments had been started. The territory
which the Louisiana Purchase eXposl-
ton represents is the greatest livestock
territory in the world, and II was
therefore incumbent upon the eXpOSl-
ton MANAGEMENT to make an especial
" good showing in the livestock exhib-
it. Mr.. Coburn went to work, prepar-
ed an entirely new classification for
livestock secured an appropriation CT
three times as much as the exposition
management had intended and double
the amount given at the Chicago WoSld
fair. and he had his prize list ready,
governing approximately l6,OOO Prices
in a comparatively short time.
In addition to doing this work at 81
Louis Mr.. Coburn has kept in close
touch daily with the Kansas depart
secretary, and has directed the work
done here by that department He Dc
termined before Che accepted the orfer
Of the Worlds fair position that ne
would not remain there unless ne conld
do so without interfering in any way
with the efficiency of his department
in Topeka, which he considered his
real work
The principal work in connection
with this department at st. Louis has
now been accomplished. The rest Is
chiefly the work of carrying out III 2
details. The livestock exhibit VIII not
begin until late in August and each
class of stock will have two weeks
each. Mr.. Coburn will be succeeded
probably by Colonel Charles F. Mills
of Illinois. who has been the secretal Y
of his division. Colonel Mills has had
large experience in work Of this char
acter and was at the head of the live
stock exhibit at the Chicago World 3
fair. He is a~born diplomat and in the
work of dealing personally with the
exhibitors he will doubtless be great
success.
In a private letter to a Topeka friend
Mr. Coburn SAYS that he will go to Ex-
celsior Springs or some other resort for
a short time. in order to. get into eondii7,
come TO ToDelxa to remain. His retire
ment from his work in St Louis was
made imperative by his physician 8 or
ders.