Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-09-26
Commissioner Gilbreath Formally Presents Big Land
Show to People of the State
impressive Ceremonies Characterize this
Great Historical Achievement

her resources, enormous in her pro
duction and tremend us In the rapid
ity of her development. The twenty
one years of our state is most unique
and glorious history and as time roll
on she will expand and increase he
agricultural wealth, mineral re
sources, business opportunities ant
manufacturing industries.
know of no better or more fttint
way of celebrating her majority, he
glorious past and brilliant future thar
by holding an exposition when all he1
products can be displayed and he
people can gather under the same roo
and rejoice together over her mar
velous growth.
Governor, l have the honor to pre-
sent to the state Of North Dakot.
this building complete with its prod
ucts Of the soil, the handiwork o
the housewife and maiden, the skill
of the painter, the labor Of the ar
tisan, demonstrations of efforts in thu
educational line and in great evi
dences that progress, skill and knowl
edge has brought forth in North Da
kota during the past twenty -one years
by the most progressive people OF
earth, living in state which II no1
the largest is the best In the Union.'
During the delivery of the presnta
ton address the vast audience sal
enthralled and listened with eager in
terest to the words of the man wht
has done so much for the state.
Gov. John Burke accepted the price
less gift on the part of the state. He
spoke in part as follows:
am sure the people of the state full,
appreciate the generosity of the. Northern Pa
cifc Railway company in donating this build
ing to the state. the public spirit Of the citi
zens Of Bismarck who secured and maintain
Gilbreath who inspired and made this, Ex
position possible. am also sure that I an
justified in accepting the building for and
on behalf of the state; and in extending .t te
the Northern Pacific Railway company pan, tn, tht
missioner, Gilbreath, the thanks of the peo
This building is one Of the landmarks o1
the CAPITAL City and of the. state. Withi,r
tory of Dakota gathered biennially to make
the laws for the government of an empire
here the Constitution of our State was con
ceived-many of the laws which now govern
us were drawn up ana O1SCuSseu HcTc. HSTe
senators and near senators were made and
unmade. If these old walls could hear and
talk they could tell story more interesting
and more entertaining than any entertain
ment that even our versatile Commissioner
associations clingine around this old buildine
which, if not sacred, are as least historical
1t has space for every county in the state
and for the entertainment of the people who
Al sv,t he of tha ctafo
and easy of access from every part of it.
Its location, its fine condition of repair, its
roomy halls. and its ancient and modern
history, all contribute to its desirability as
ly accept the same in the name Of the state
and in the name of the state l do formally
thank the Northern Pacific Railway company
the citizens of the City of Bismarck, and
Commissioner Gilbreath for making this splen'
i'm developing the resources Of the state:
Our resources are so great and so varied
that who have lived in the state for
years marvel when we see them gathered to.
this Exposition building, and if we who have
lived in the state for years know so little
of its resources. much less is the knowledge
of the people of other states whom we are
their homes with Us.
Our population in the last decade in
creased eighty per cent-a marvellous increase
i'll population as new countries grow and de-
hsvt St bsen s Il tho eepe rai t rSo a1s S
ing upon rented farms and ekeing out an
existence from the products raised upon a
little patch of yellow clay on a hill side had
known how easy it has been all of these
years to secure home on the fertile prairies
of this great state. 1t will not be easy long
An examination of the products of the soil
and the other varied resources of the state
here exhibited show that we could practically
assistance of the outside world. The object
of this Exposition is to develop these great
resources: Our inexhaustible coal fields, our
clay and cement mines, our gas and oil
s Of a"s fertile so Se se IS cr %en S4e
est resource for upon its products all ami:
NAL life depends. Until recently it was of
little value in this state. Uncle Sam was
giving it away in quarter sections to any
improve it for period of five years, or the
same could be secured by living upon and i'm
proving it for a period of fourteen months
and paying S1.25 per acre.
The landseeker could get just as good land
from the government for nothing; but the
line is near at hand when the government
will have no more agricultural lands to give
away. 1t is now opening the Indian reser-
little while ali of the Government lands
n the United States will be occupied. We
IAN not add to the supply-on the contrary
We are losing thousands of acres every year
rom unbridled floods in our neglected rivers.
With the government land gone and our
population steadily and rapidly increasing, it
S apparent that while in the, past our ex-
'orts have helped to feed the. hungry in
very land, we can today look into the fu-
ure and see the time coming when our every
lcre will be taxed to sustain our own peo-
,le: There is tremendous shortage Of
lee in the corn crop of 400 million bushels
md in the potato crop Of nearly 100 mil
most every agricultural product: while there
hould be an increase in. production on ac'
With the increase in -~~ulation there is
necessarily an increase in consumption. to|
meet which there should be an increase in
reduction; To help increase the production
ion acres Of virgin soil yet untouched with
low share. Who can estimate the future .s
iches their full DEVELOPMENT and culture will
ring to the state? A little while ago our
tate was known only as a wheat state, but
frno$;o,,>d m mana KN