The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-08-23
CORN PALACE FOR 1907
A Retrospective View of the Corn
Palaces From the Day of Their


Mltchells corn palace for 1907 is
not going to be behind any other
palace that she has ever held-of
that there is no question. The first
attraction the committee went after
was a band attraction that would
excel anything in the United States
and they got it when they secured
John Philip Sousa and his band.
There is no greater pleasure to be
afforded the people of this state and
the northwest, for that matter, than
by coming to Mitchell's corr palace
and listening to the magnificent mu-
sic played by his band. 1t costs big
money to get Mr.. Sousa, but he and
his band are worth every dollar of
the expense. 1t has always been the
ambition of Mitchell to give the
friends of the city the very best pos
sible in the way of attractions and
if she does not accomplish it again
this year it will be because it is i'm
possible to obtain it. For six days
Sousa's band will give two concerts
in the corn palace-afternoon and
evening.
There will be the usual free at
fractions on the street-and every
body who has been to a corn palace
in former years knows what that
means in the way of entertainment.
President Gale is now in the east
and while there he will secure some
thing of a high order for the street
attractions.
The great agricultural display that
will be cen in the building is one of
the leading features of the palace,
and it is one Of the objects of the
corn palace to show the people of
the world what is produced in the
counties surrounding Mitchell. Clear
around the east and west sides of
the mammoth building the agricul-
tural displays will be shown and the
eastern people will have an oppor-
tunity to see just what South Dakota
"a oSSoAl l1SASA lllo SCol ILL JIG
way of grain products.
In addition the corn palace COM
mite has arranged to illuminate the
Main street Of the city from the
Milwaukee depot to the corn palace
"a distance of five blocks. Over
$500 electric lights will be display
ed in grand array, and no such beau
tiful scene will be displayed in the
northwest this year. Heretofore the
lack Of illumination at night has
been a handicap to the corn palace
week, but it will be abundantly taken
care of this year. The street will be
a blaze of light and it will be beauti-
full to look upon.
The railroads of the state have
made a rate of one fare for the round
trip from all points Of the state, and
this will afford a very cheap way to
get to Mitchell.
The dates for 1907 are September
% to %, and Sousa and his band
will appear at the first concert on
Monday afternoon and remain
throughout the entire week. Make
your arrangements now to come to
Mitchell's corn palace and have the
biggest time of the year.
1t is doubtful if in any city in the
world of 5000 inhabitants has been
so thoroughly advertised and become
SO we'll and favorably known as has
the city of Mitchell, S. D. The fame
which has come to this enterprising
city has come through the medium of
her magnificent cor palaces, which
have been the pride of the city and
state, and wonder of the world.
In the field of entertainment of
this kind, Mitchell stands pre-emin-
emily alone as the Corn Palace
City" Mitchell does not, however,
pose as the originator Of the corn
palace idea. 1t had its inception in
Sioux City, Iowa, in 1887, but the
%pectations of its promoters and the
project was abandoned. Profiting by
the failure of her sister city, Mitchell
conceived the corn palace idea along
somewhat different lines and in 1892
built the first palace.
The enterprise was promoted by
the business men of Mitchell under
the management of an executive com
mittee, of which l.. o. Gale was pres
ident, J.. X. Smith, secretary, N. L.
Dawson, treasurer; the other mem
bers being John D. Lawler, Louis
Beckwith, Thomas G. Burns, Charles
G. Champeny and r. D. WEIGH. The
palace vas built of wood, Of beauti.
full architectural design, on the corner
of Fourth and Main streets, in the
very heart of the city. 1t was 10C
feet square with a large gable in the
center, and n on the south ane
west fronts. On the corner was
large tower resting on a corbel which
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