Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1907-03-29
FAIR FOR ALL STATES
Project For Permanent Exposi.
tion In New York City.
TO UPHOLD STATEHOOD IDEA
Vast Building to Cost $14,00o,0oo Pro.
posed-Coneress and Each Common
wealth to Provide Funds-State So.
eeties In the Metropolis interested.

A permanent national fair 10 contain
exhibits from every state in the Union
ing in New York city is being planned
by some of the state societies having
headquarters here. says the New York
Times. The plan includes a continu-
GUS exposition. comprising the best
features Of worlds fairs OF the past,
and also luxurious clubrooms for the
state societies.
Congress at the next session will be
asked tn appropriate SJ,000,0O0 toward
this enterprise. and each of the state
legislatures will he asked for 5000.
The leaders in the movement, which
began in the Michigan society, say
, they have already been assured by
many me ubers of congress and by sew
eral state legislatures Of support for
their plan, a41 they believe they can
carry it through
The members of the Michigan society
who planned the scheme took it to the
| executive committees of several other
state societies for approval. The plan
was heartily received. and the Michi-
gan men We're assured of the backing
Of the other societies. An interstate
! organization IS being formed which
will take charge Of the movement.
Robert C.. Aud OF ITO Broadway.
New York, a member of the Michigan
| society, is one of the most enthusiastic
of the advocates Of the plan. He says:
THE building we propose to erect
will be without parallel in the world
1t is premature to give out details at
this time, for many things must he ac-
complished, but it is only matter OF
| time when the project will be in fun
swing. BY next autumn we shall prob
| ably he able to announce the site Of
the building and the time when con-
struction will begin. OF course there is
no question that we will be able to
raise the necessary S14OO0.OOO.
THE building will not only serve the
| practical business interests OF the
states, but it will at the same time be
an enduring monument to the idea of
I statehood as conceived by the trainers
Of the constitution. Once it is COM
pleted. no American citizen will die
content without seeing it. It will ad
vertise the existence of our common
wealths, too often forgotten, beyond
the metropolitan limit"
Ralph Folks, another of the promot-
ers. expressed the opinion that it was
time the idea of statehood should be
emphasized The building to be erect
ed. he said, would do that and in ad-
dition it would be distinct business
asset to the city
Backers- of the project have laid
down as a proviso to insure their par
ticpaton in the plan that 1t shall have
the full backing of the federal govern
ment and that congress shall regulate
Its operation and maintenance.
| As to getting money for the project
from the states it Is argued that If
state can give S2000OO the average ap.
preparation for the erection of a state
building at temporary fair. which Is
forgotten in a few months, there Is no
reason why similar sum should not
be expended for the perpetuation OF the
pride of each state. In the aggregate
the S9,0OO.0OO to be derived from state
grants, 1t is argued, would be sufficient
to guarantee the stability Of the en-
terpglse
William ]. Worden Of Michigan Is
the father Of the project. 1t was dis
cusscd briefly at recent dinner of
the Michigan society in New York.