The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-12-07
C0VEzIlSNhEENT AS
SHOW GOOSIER
Inclination 10 Cut Off Exposl-
ton Appropriations Viii!
Be Overcome,
Is HIGHLY EDUCATIONAL
Millicns Learn Of the Importance of
tho Government Machinery-Co-
iwiabian Show Saved
Chicago.

Washington, d. c., special: When the
government mad AN appropriation for
a government exhibit at the Jamestown
exposition there was Il vigorous threat
in congress that it would be the last
extension of government aid to an ex-
position.
About every is called on by
an exposition in sorne part of the coun-
try. and there is without doubt a dis,
position to protest. Jamestown, how
ever, has got its allowance, aggregating'
$3.50, coo. and now Seattle is here with
a committee. and wants the next ses-
sion of congres to provide for a gov
ernn.ent exhibit at the Alaska-Pacific-
Yukon exposition in 1909.
William NJ. Geddes, assistant secre-
tary of thc government board for the
Jamestown exposition, and expert in
affairs of the big SHOWS, declares that
Uncle sam viii never see the time when
ne VIII be able TO withdraw his assist
1nce from these affairs. He expects
hat Seattle Will get it's money, and
urges that the arguments in favor of
The hows far outweigh those against
them. Especially interesting is his
analysis of the substantial results of
the eXpositions in recent years.
Fair Saved Chicage.
Il heard Lyman j. Gage say. when
he was head OF the First National bank
IF Chicago" said Mr.. Geddes. that
but Tor the Chicago exposition of 1893
Chicago would have been the hardest
hit city in the country, by the panic
that began in 1893. He declared, as a
matter of personal knowledge, that
without the millions tina poured into
Chicago through the fair visitors that
year. that the banks of that city would
never ave been able to carry the COM
munity through the stress as they did
Chicago has been said by many people
20 have suffered by it's fair, on the
ground that it overbuilt in anticipation
of crowds that did not justify the es-
pectations. But in fact Chicago, the
new, modern, greater Chicago, dates
from that exposition, n nobody
knows il better than the Chicago men
OF great affairs.
omaha's Wonderful Record.
The omaha exposition was the
any other country, none made the
financial record of Omaha, and l think
lone did so much for the town in
which it was held. The stockholders.
of the Omaha Exposition company were
paid back dividends a~ggregating %.
per cent; that is, the money originally
raised by the people of Omaha and re-
gardcd as a donation to a good cause
was practically ali repaid. Omaha was
set ON it's feet after the period of de-
pfcssloH, aS chicago Was kept on lis,
:eet at the beginning of that period.
"NeXt to Omaha's, | think Portland's-
exposition of last year was the great,
est financial success. The people who.
cook it's stock have received back all
ready 80 per cent. in dividends, ana L
oelieve will get still more. Buffalo's ex-
position was a financial failure, be-
cause after the assassination of Pres
dent Mckinley the attendance dropped
and the season that ought to have
brought the best crowds, and that
would surely nave made it an immense
success. vas marked By very small at
tendance and no interest.
Congress Helped Out.
"Congress ON this account made an ex-
traordinary appropriation of $500 900 to.
help close up the affairs OF the ~exsosi-
ton. But in Buffalo as in every osher'
exposition city, the general interest of
the town were greatly promoted and it is
the testimony of all concerned that all of
these show cities nave tremendously
profted by their enterprise. st. Lou,s
gave the greatest exposition the world
ever saw. 1t is figured that about s45,-
100000 was spent there. In area, in OK
penditure, in range OF exhibits, it was tho
greatest exposition, and it will not be
squalled in many years. 1t raised St.
Louis into the first rank among the great
cities of the world, and it was the most.
distinguished success, from the inte.ila-
tional point of view, of all the American.
expositions. ST. Louis stockholders have
received no dividends on the money they.
put into it, and from this point of view
1t was not such a success as the Ornahn.
and Chicago and Portland affairs. But.
the money was put in with the eXpecta-
ton that it would stay. The city profted
in every commercial way and no citizel.
would today question the wisdom of the
Investment.
Is Highly Educational.
1.-THE reason the government will nos
quit giving money, at least for the gov
inner exhibits, is because experience
has proved them a good thing. Most Leo
pie don't get a chance to see and study
the resources and operations of this gov
rnmen as they are epitomized here in
Washington. The government showing at
q great exposition. places it before them.
1t always proves the most interesting
thing on the grounds. The people ali
over this big, patriotic country are en-
titled to a chance to see the things that
are shown at these places; it gives them
a conception of the country and its gov
m that they could not get in any
other way"
Speaking of the jamestown cxpos;tor>
Mr.. Geddes expressed the opinion that II
will be a great success, and that the city
of Norfolk especially will derive immense
benefits from it. There are 90, Ogo 90 pee.
pie within a tvselve-hour ride of tbs
show" he said, and besides that there is
the Inspiration Of 4 great in
tercst. Virginia should as a whole de-
rive a great benefit from this show.
Virsinia's Reawakening. !
Virginia has been restoring herself in
recent years to something of the proud
old place that as the mother of states She
held before the war. But there are II ca !
possibilities yet undeveloped. There Will
be an agricultural revival in the near ia
ture that Will bring western farmers frora
their 500 an acre lands to realize that they
ought to emigrate eastward, rather thar,
to Canada. They can get good lands IN.
these eastern states cheaper THAI taey
dream, with advantages of markets, tide.
water transportation, etc, thas would lie y,
wonder and an attraction if only the Itch
western farmers could DC made to Eua.er-
stand. 1t is up to Virg MIA 10 adyc G. I Sc
these things n connection with the ex-
position. If she makes the most OF, ii. we
will see n great Virginia revival tha. vtIl
make the ter-centelnial h~olne-con..n. n,
old jamestown scarcely less no.ap.e rs,
was its first settlement"
cvryg 1~tn r~- Al--- l---L 1 - A4