The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-06-16
FOR THE BIG SHOW
Kansas Semicentennial Is As
suming Shape.
Enthusiastic Meeting of Com
mittees Today.
TWO PLANS PROPOSED.
One Is to Make a Very Small
Levy.
The Other Contemplates Dis
pOsaI of Stock.
Event VIII Be Made Entirely a
Kansas Affair.

The first step towards the permanent
organization and active work incident
to the Kansas Semicentennial celebra-
ton which is to be held in Topeka in
1911 was taken up this morning when
the members of the ways and means,
organization and administration COM
mittees met at the Commercial club
rooms to decide upon the plans to be
perfected. There were about so MEM
bers of the committee present repre-
senting as many different counties in
the state and as representative a body
of men as ever gathered to launch an
enterprise Of the magnitude of this
one
The morning was spent in a general
discussion of suggestions by the vari-
GUS members of the committees for the
raising Of funds and the general plans
to be followed. There was not sin
gle adverse report made by a member
present and the sentiment from over
the state as expressed by their repre-
sentatives is heartily in favor of the
projected celebration of the f1ftfeth an
niversary OF the state
While no definite action was taken
toward raising the finances for the ex-
position, two plans were suggested, one
OF which will probably be acted upon
by the administration committee which
will meet this afternoon and report to
the remaining two committees. It is
proposed that the legislature be asked
to pass an enabling act and that the
funds be raised by assessing each cOun-
ty in the state in proportion to its as
sessed valuation. The valuation of the
state as returned by the assessors is
something like Sc, 900 900 and levy on
this sum of one-half or one-fourth of
mill will, it is believed with the dona-
lions made be sufficient to place the
affair on its feet and carry it to a sue
cessful termination.
This is the plan that was used in
raising the funds for the construction
Of the state house and as the levy will
be so small and scattered over a period
of four years will hardly be noticed by
the tax payers Of the state
The second plan proposed is that the
semicentennial committee incorporate
for a sum sufficient to carry out the en-
terprise, somewhere between one and
two millions of dollars and that shares
in the corporation be sold throughout
the state. 1t is more than likely how
ever that the first plan is the one which
will be adopted by the committee and
reported at their meeting late this af-
ternoon. Shawnee county will have not
only her proportion of the assessment
to pay but liberal bonus as well 1t
will be provided, If this plan Is carrie
out, that If the celebration proves d
success from the financial standpoint
and leaves a balance in the treasury a.
was the case with the one held at Port
land last year and the one held at Oma-
ha several years ago the surplus as we'll
as the original amount raised by taxa
ton be returned to the state treasury
which means that the money raised to
start the fair will have been a loan.
All of the members OF the committees
favor making the affair Kansas pro-
ductiOn all the way through and con-
gress will not be asked for q money do
nation. All of the Transmississippf
states viii be expected to contribute
towards the success Of the affair by
their exhibits as Kansas has always
done with affairs Of a similar nature
which have been held.
The government viii be asked to erect
suitable buildings for the exhibits which
1 in the past have been loaned to exposi-
lions in various sections of the state,
and no trouble is expected from this
source as everywhere the most friendly
| feeling exists for Kansas who has given
1 birth to more advanced ideas than any
other state in the union and has been
1 first to answer calls from her sister
states when similar projects were
launched.
The exposition is to take on all of
! the aspects of a gigantic country fair.
Every county in the state will have an
equal interest in the success Of the
venture, and upon the individual
efforts Of the counties will depend the
success of the semicentennial
Every one Of the transnnississippi
states will be asked to erect a build
ing and make an exhibit Of their re-
sources. It is planned to have an
excursion rate on all of the railroads
in the state so that every section may
| be visited by those from other states
at a low rate. These rates to apply
only inside Of the state.
A press bureau will be established
and the matter Of publicity will com
/ mence at once. Every newspaper IN
the state will be asked to assist in
/ giving the greatest possible publicity to
the enterprise. While the exposition
is to be Kansas affair throughout
and Kansas ideas will predominate
the chairman of each committee Will
confer with the men who in the past
have handled similar committees dur
ing the expeditions which have been
carried to a. successful termination.
Active work will commence as soon
as plans are decided upon, and it is
| hoped that the semicentennfaI will be
ahead of It's work Instead Of behind
as has always been the case in similar
enterprises. Work will commence as
soon as the report of the committee
is adopted this afternoon, and there
NAL is carried to successful termina-
ton. The state seems keen, for the ex-
position, and from every quarter comes
words of encouragement and assur-
ances of cooperation.
The announcement has been made of
the appointment of the committee on
exhibits and education:
The Committee on Exhibits
J. c. Morrow OF Washington, chair
man.
First congressional distriet=W J.
Bailey Of BafIeyville and George W.
Robb of Severance.
Second congressional dtstrict-H. Il.