The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-12-14
Former MinnesOtans Inter-
ested i'm Seattle.
WILL PUSH THE EXPOSITION.
II Is Said That There Are at Least
Twenty Thousand From HIS State
in Washington.

Seattle, Wash, Dec l2.-The Mime
sofa club of Washington is the name of
Il new organization in this city which
has attracted considerable favorable at
tention locally. The society was formed
for the purpose of creating and main
tanning a feeling of comradeship among
former residents of Minnesota who now
live in Washington.
Christopher W. Horr. prominent
Seattle business man, formerly of st.
Paul, is president of the Minnesota So
tiety OF Washington, and Frank A.
Twichell, who came west from Hastings,
secretary Charles w. Corliss is first
vice president and DR.. G. III. Alden,
member of the University of Washing
ton corps of instructors, formerly of
Rico county, second vice president. The
society has Il large membership and is
| fourishing. There are more than 10000
| former residents of Minnesota who now
call Washington home, and of these pro-
badly one fourth live in Seattle. The
Minnesota people in Washington are
| largely young or middle aged folks, and
have taken a commanding position in
the life of the thriving commonwealth.
| The Minnesota society has adopted
as one of it's principal objects for being,
the securing of an adequate apprOpria
ton from the legislature of the state to
assure proper representation at the
Alaska Yukon Pacific exposition of 1909.
1t is already certain that large num-
Der of states will be represented. The
State of Washington will authorize the
exposition, and her sister commonwealth,
Oregon, has appointed a provisional COM
mission to consider what sort of a build
ING and how extensive an exhibit shall
be made.
The Alaska Yukon Pacific exposition
which is to be held in Seattle in 1909,
will be an International exposition,
which will have cost ON opening day
$lO,O0O,0OO. The enterprise was splendid
ly started on Oct. 2. last when the citi-
zens of Seattle bought stock in it to
the extent of $65O,000. No city any
where ever raised so much money for
public enterprise in single day.
The state of Washington is expected
| to vote the fair $l,OOO,OOO, the national
government as much more; and the
|
cessionaires, will spend millions.
The exposition is to be held primarily
for the purpose of correcting the popu-
lar impression about Alaska. 1t has
! been demonstrated in recent years that.
while gold is the Northland's most valu-
able asset the country is capable of
supporting considerable population en-
gagged in gardening and diversified farm
| r,f nrt
to American gardens can be raised as
well as in Minnesota.
| The exposition's chiefest purpose,
viewed from a purely business stand
point, will be to bring the shores of the
pacific together III trade. Nearly a
billion people live in Asia and Oceanica
and the fair will acquaint these people
with the products of civilized America,
and Americans with the products of the
Far East through the medium of eXhib-
its from each.
The site for the fair has been chosen
and laid out by John C. Olmsted, mem
Der of the famous firm of Olmsted Bro
theirs, landscape architects of Brookline,
Mass. 1t comprises $50 acres of the
grounds of the University of Washing
ton, on the shore of Lake Washington.
Minnesota people were prominent
among the buyers of stock in the Alas
ka Yukon Pacific exposition on Oct 2,
and are backing the enterprise with
their good will. The success of the fair
is assured, if long distance indications
can be taken as a criterion. The Seat
tie spirit is back of it, and the Seattle
spirit is properly famous. The city,
which occupies an ideal situation on the
shore of Puget Sound. an arm of the
ocean by which the largest vessels of
the world reach it's miles of wharves, has
a population of more than 100000, and
at the rate people are coming in, the
number will be increased to 100000
when the fair gates swing open on the
first day of June, 1909
An executive committee, composed of
one member from each county in the
state, is to be appointed. so that the
society shall be thoroughly representa-
tive. On this committee the following
have been named to date: Hennepin
county, F. W. Woodcock; Ramsey, Har-
rison B. Martin; Wabasha, Mrs. Henriet-
ta Gowell; Dakota. c. w. Cook; Rock,
DIR. G. E. Guthrie; Otter Tail, c. L. Bax-
ter; Cass, Roland II. Hartley; st. Louis,
Emmett S. ralmer;, Rice, DR.. John W.
Bailey: Fillmore. 4. NJ. Farmer; Nor
rison, Frederick w. Lonegren.
During the period of the exposition
from June to Oct ). 1907 the Mime
sofa club will keep open house and wei
come former friends and neighbors. It
is the intention to keep a register of
visiting Gophers, and to have on hand
a list of all expatrated Minnesotans
now residing in Washington which will
prove of great assistance in the renew
ing of friendships.