St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-09-17

necessary $7,500,0OO we would not
fail. That $1,500,O00 of that sum
was already subscribed and it rest
ed with the people whether the bal
ance was raised.
This exposition, he said, would be
the greatest the world has ever
known. That with the participation
of other nations thirty-fve to fifty
millions of dollars would be spent
in preparations and other Iage sums
would be spent in enterprises arising
from and incidental to the exposition.
Mr.. Ellis gave short history of
the exposition movement when some
years back an organization of fifty
citizens prepared the way for the bat
tie which is now being waged. In the
early part Of 1909, when information
was given out that the canal would
be completed in 1915, movement
was started which embraced the par
ticipation of twenty-one American
republics and afterwards developed
into the Worlds Panama Exposition,
when in 1910 there was raised in one
night in the city of New Orleans
S150,00O. To avoid the unweildiness
of large body, an executive commit
tee of twenty-five was entrusted with
the work of promoting, with full
power in all matters appertaining to
the exposition. The services of these
men are without compensation. Only
clerks and employees necessary to
the carrying on the immense cor
respondence and campaign of litera-
ture and documentary distribution,
made necessary by the conflict with
such a formidable opponent as Cali
fornia, are paid. The work is con-
Quoted in such a manner that all cor
respondence is Immediately answered
and all failures to reply to letters
sent out noted. In fact it is conduct
ed with the exactltude of large
commercial concern.
Mr.. Ellis said there was no doubt
that New Orleans would get the ex-
position, If the people would meet
the requiremnts. That such an i'm
portant national affair would not be
auctioned off to the highest bidder.
All that was needed was the knowl-
edge that we could finance the affair.
There would be no trouble WITH Con-
gress. 1t was the political eye that
was always looking to California. 1t
was nine days travel from New Or
leans, to Panama, and twenty-one
days from San Francisco. That, in
itself, was convincing.
He said twelve hundred acres
would be required for the exposition
grounds; that an immense number of
laborers, fifteen or twenty thousand,
would be employed; that there would
be at least twenty million visitors
who would spend not less than $50
each, Or $100, 700. Those employ
ed in the exposition work would at
the close of the exposition scatter
throughout the State and seek homes
here. 1t did not take. great mental
capacity to grasp the magnitude of
the benefits to be derived from this
exposition, and he thought that the
people everywhere recognized its i'm
portance. -'
He said that 1915 was an eventful
year. 1t was the one hundreth ami
versary of the battle of New Orleans
and the fiftieth year or golden jubilee
feast of agreement between the North
and South.
Speaking of the canal, he sa:d there
are $4,000 employees at Panama
from the South and West; that they
are preferred by reason of being ac-
climated, and that they will attend
the exposition and no doubt many
of them locate in this State. He said
that the Board of Trade was now
engaged in an immigration movement
that would be of great value in bring.
ing settlers to Louisiana.
The two greatest movements ir
Louisiana were -he exposition anG
good roads. That they went hand ir
hand-first the exposition. That the
tax was infinitisimal; the benefits
enormous.
Mr.. Ellis said there was mucl
more to be said if time would permit
He thanked all present for their at
tendance and hoped that all woult
| work for the exposition.
Applause.
Mr.. Chas. Janvier, the last speak
| er, was introduced by Mr.. Ellis witt
| highly complimentary remark tina
he was man whose time, energy an
brains had always been at the call o
the State when in need, and tn
audience showed their approval by
round of applause.
/ MR.. LAWYERS SPEECH.
| Mr.. Janvier said that this was tn
third opportunity he had of address
ing the people of this cherishe
place; that he believed they belonge
to the class that cherished home a
the dearest spot on earth. That the
believed in working for home. Tha
the golden rule should apply to HON
and that charity should begin 8
home.
He said that we had a grand peopl
and capable people, but that the
did not realize their strength. Tht
they did not consider in full the OF
portunities at home, but were too al
to overlook the advantages in clos
proximity by gazing afar at the OF
portunities elsewhere. That the gol
mine at home was preferable to tt
gold brick somewhere else. TIL;
there were some people who never a
: complished anything and therefor
did not believe their neighhors cou
accomplish anything. That such
feeling was detrimental to progre
and paved the way with dificulti
for those who desired to do.
The building of the Panama Can
|, , was the most stupendous underta
ing in the history of engineering.
turned the splendid dream of a gre
Frenchman into the reality of Amer
!. can accomplishment. 1t was no long
! dream or a probability. but an a
sured fact, and the celebration of i
completion would mark the cor
, mencement of an era of commerci
prosperity for Louisiana and II
; whole South, and that none We
more interested in the celebration
this occasion at New Orleans that Il
people of St. Tammany parish.
1T must not be thought that Sf