The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1909-06-17
EDIT 0 RIAL.

BosToN is planning Tercentenary Exposition
to be held at the Hub in 1920 to celebrate the three
hundredth anniversary of the landing OF the Pilgrim
Fathers at Plymouth Rock in 1920. No doubt this
is a laudable enterprise and that ought to be
commended Congress will probably be called on
to appropriate ten or fifteen million dollars to the
enterprise and the bulk of the burden Of expense in
the last analysis will fall on the American people
s.the hewers of wood and drawers Of water The
question arises, sis the game worth the candle!
The first great national show of American
growth and development exhibited in Phlladel-
phia at the Centennial Exposition Of 1876 Phila-
delphia has only recently recovered from the blow.
In 1898 Chicago was the home of the Worlds
Columbian Exposition-a marvellous exhibition OF
world development in arts, manufacture ana genera
progress But Chicago has not as yet wholly over
come the ll-effects of the financial tizzle
Other pretentious expositions have been held
at New Orleans, Louisville, Charleston, Omaha,
jamestown and ST. Louis and they all proved to De
financial burdens without adequate returns. The
people cannot avail themselves of the opportunity
of attending in sufficient numbers to make such
huge enterprises financial success
The great French exhibitions held IN Paris
have wider field to draw from. The old country
is more densely settled and those who desire to at
tend have ony short distances to travel In order to
avail themselves of the magnificent displays gather
ed together for their benefit.
In the great American exhibitions the buildings
are usually temporary and are torn down when the
shows are over. 1t seems more advisable ano
profitable to put these enormous appropriation
into permanent structures. The Minnesota STATE
Fair is an example in mind. 1t is OF permanen
value to the people and combines pleasure Will
profit to the patrons Something of value is Learned
at the annual exhibitions of the Minnesota Stat
Fair-which is the best of it's kind in the country
This immense plant could be made of greater valu
and benefit by adding Building of Arts where
permanent home could be provided for sculptur
and paintings-open to the public on Sundays
the year round. Likewise permanent Stat
Auditorium might be provided with profit to tn
people-a building the order OF Cooper UDlol
New York-where state societies OF all description
might hold their annual meetings-thus provldln
an easily accessible and permanent home Tor
CIVIC social and commercial bodies. Money tint
expended is judiciousy invested for the reason tns
it places educational facilities within the reach
all.
The great industrial expositions are only avail
able to small percentage but local institutions hk
the Minnesota State Fair may be made OF speol
benefit to a large proportionate number OF person
nm account of it's proximity to the masses.
Besides. the national affairs are general
scandal-breeders and get-rich quick schemes for Il
promoters and insiders.
Boston. however, will probably have its lie
centenary Exposition in 1920 just the same and Il
American nation will pay the greatest proportion
it's oost-and yet Massachusetts cannot boast
maintaining a state industrial exhibition mu
better than the average county fair