The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1905-10-20

oVerianders sailed their prairie schooners
| westward because they dreamed of gold.
The thirst for gold has been the incentive
for nearly every westward movement. 1t
was the thirst for gold that lured men
| across the richest county on earth to
| the rock ribbed shores of the Pacific.
They found the gold. too. But the richest
| mines were not those which yielded the
| gold and the silver They were the mines
| that were worked and now being
| worked with pillow and harrow, with reap
err and thresher. The mining industry
| of even Wyoming. Colorado, Idaho and
California play pitiful second to the
agricultural industry of those states. and
the agricultural industry of Nebraska
beats all OF them
This reminds us to remark right here
that Nebraska is .'it'' at the Lewis and
Clark exposition. Our exhibits are the
best. our people the most numerous and
our resources the best known. Of all the
states here represented. 1t makes a Ne
braskan swell up with pride just to look
about him and how the people of
other states covertly recognize Nebras-
ka's supremacy. s..
The Sojourner apprehends that he can
say nothing new to Star readers con-
corning the Lewis and Clark exposition.
To be sure, it is a big exposition. but in
its general aspect it is remarkably like
other expositions of recent date. Build
ings of STAFF. beautiful landscape garden
ing. oriental and occidental splendor ev-
ilized and uncivilized. ever changing
throngs of people--and '"rhe Trail" Did
you promenade the Midway at Chicago?
Did you push your way through the Mid
way at Omaha? Did you saunter up and
down the Pike at st. Louis? II you
did. then you know what it is to 'hit
the Trail at the Lewis and Clark ex-
position. Same old spectaculars. same
old scenic railway. same old shoot the
chutes." same old fakes. But as the Pike
q
ment over the Midway at Chicago. so is
the Trail at Portland moral improve
ment even over, the Pike.
It's Scenic Beauties.
Chicago excelled ST. Louis in the matter
Of natural beauty. having Lake Michigan
to front upon. But Portland has even
the better of Chicago. The Willamette
river and Guilds lake. with a background
Of the immortal peaks that tower to the
heavens, make the location an ideal one
for an exposition. The government ex-
hibit is on peninsula. and to reach 1t
from the exposition grounds proper one
crosses beautiful bridge called the
Bridge Of Nations The name is well
chosen for since the exposition opened
1t has been walked upon by feet of men
and women Of all nations. At night the
scene from the government building is
beautiful beyond description Thousands
upon thousands Of ncandescent lights OF
myriad colors make the scene appear like
fairyland
So many things join to make the trip
to the Lewis and Clark exposition the
trip of lifetime that it is impossible to
enumerate even a small proportion Of
them. OF course the exposition itself is
worth the trip. And ride upon the
Columbia and Willamette rivers is some-
thing worth enduring hardships galore
to ultimately enjoy. And the luxurious
ride from the Missouri river over the fer
tile plains OF Nebraska. through the
4lrt4 In Nfxrf1 a.
and down the western slopes toward the
Pacifc---the human mind can conceive
of no greater earthly pleasure. And
when you get all OF them together-well.
what is the use of trying to tell what it
means to the fortunate ones who enjoy
1t?
Omaha. just across the river from
where Abraham Lincoln stood and saw
with prophetic eye the starting point OF
the railroad that was to be; Kearney.
where only a generation ago blue-coated
troops guarded the settlers from the
Sioux; Deadwood. once SO wild and woody
and now tame; Salt Lake. Brigham
Young's promised land" that only yes
terday was baked and barren
desert; Astoria where but yesterday John
Jacob Astor laid the foundations of
fortune greater than Midas ever hoped to
gain-yesterday's memories. And today!
It would take an inspired pen to do 1t
Justice. And all this has happened with
ing the life span of men whose hair is
hardly yet tipped with gray!
Yet of all the land. be 1t plain or
mountain that lies between the Missouri's
muddy flow and where rolls the Oregon
none can compare with that favored COM
monwealth we call Nebraska.
IAN empire wrought by willing hands
From wasted stretch OF desert lands
You offer wealth to those who toll
To those who till thy fertile fields
The richest need Of treasure yields.
al
Nebraska"
THE SOJOCRNER.