The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-04-27
Will Be a Proper Celebrate n
of States Semi Centennial.
COMMISSION NOW AT WORK
Holds a Joint Meeting With Fair
Managers; Big Event Is Slated
For the Year 1908.

reliability will celebrate its golden JUDI
ee in 1908 with an exposition which in
xtent and general interest will more
han eclipse that of the Lewis and Clark
'Xposition. The commission, which helu
joint meeting with the state fair man
gers at the Merchants hotel yesterday.
ractically admitted that it will rec
amend to the next legislature an expo
ition to be held in connection with the
ocular state fair, to last from four tc
six weeks.
Only the executive committee of the
tate fair managers, composed of c. n
osgrove, LIE Sueur G. NJ. Griggs, st
PAUL; Z. w. Randall, st. Paul. and L. d
laird, Austin, were able to be present a.
he conference with the members O.
he semi-centennial commission appoint
d by the last legislature to devise
Ian for the celebration of Minnesota,
fitch birthday as IA member of the Tn
on. j. L. Mannix, Minneapolis; +. b
.ynch, st. Paul, and DIR. C.. H. Koehler
Minneapolis, represented the commission
VI. B. Cullum, Duluth, and c. C. Whit.
ey, Marshall, were unable to be pres
ent.
The members of the state fair boar
eported that they are heartily in favo
If the celebration being held in coniunc
ion with the state fair and that the
will cooperate with the commission j
making the jubilee one of the creates
nd most successful in the history of tn,
Union. 1t is the intention to make the
CELEBRATION big enough to advertise Min
lesota and her products from one end 0,
he United States to the other.
An appropriation of not less thai
100000 will be requested of the legis
allure, and it is expected that this cal
be augmented by at least 100000
trough subscriptions by the business
interests of st. Paul and Minneapolis
t was the general opinion that no birth
lay anniversary of a state SO rich in in
lustries and resources as Minnesota j,
,ould be celebrated appropriately on less
:. NJ. Griggs suggested that $l,500,OO(
be asked. 1t was shown by the state fail
managers that in such celebration sew
h,,;l 70 l.,
quilt on the fair grounds, more groun'
secured and several improvements in
out that when the celebration is owe
Minnesota would be reimbursed to a Ger
ain extent by the receipts and also il
he possession of permanent fair grount
Improvements which are urgently needed
During the discussion it was showl
hat the state fair grounds are made
luate for such celebration as is con
.emplated. 1t was suggested that one
large exposition building to cost about
100000 be erected on the grounds anG
be known as the main building. This
was stated. should be large enough t.
,dmit of an exhibition of Minnesota
Industries. President Cosgrove of tho
state agricultural society, stated that il
such building is erected it will relieve
some of the other buildings which, ever
lnder ordinary conditions. are much too
small. He declared that the manage
nent needs such a building immediate
V to accommodate the state fair crowds
Should the celebration be held in con-
nection with the state fair it wouIt
mean increasing the grounds by about
l60 acres, the installation of street ca
system within the grounds, bridging
,ver the fair ground street car loop tt
onnect the agricultural building will
he live stock barns. installation of
sewer system and the connection OF
Como Park and the school of agricul
ture so that the two together with the
air grounds would be component parts
of the great exposition. The park boart
would be asked to construct some appro
ach between the fair grounds an,
Como park. 1t is stated that the build
ngs of the state agricultural school cas-
lily could be connected with the fai
grounds so that the three attractions
would form ane continuous show.
L. NJ. Baird opened the discussion fo
the state fair managers. He suggested
that the exposition should last fou
weeks. Special emphasis was placed OIL
the need for more land. He said that
the question with the state fair man
agement now is not how to get the
people to attend but how to care fo
them. He stated that eighty acres are
needed at once, but owing to the expense
of erecting the new live stock pavilion
the state fair board is financially handi
capped.
He said that the present dairy build
ing is five times too small and suggest
ed that a new modern building be built
to show off Minnesota during the jubi