Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-06-18

Doldness OF the enterprise that should
again awaken energy and dispel the
lethargy that had overtaken the peo-
PIE the factor that determined its
success. 1t was not gamblers chance" but the
sbrewd device of men determined to shape their own
destiny, rather than to await the outcome of what
might happen unassisted.
The genesis of the exposition has been variously
ascribed to of them exactly defined; the
coming Of the Nebraska State fair Omaha for per-
Tod OF five years had awakened some interest al
though the conditions had been anything but en-
couragng; the establishment Of Ak-sar-Ben had had
it's effect but the first suggestion of what was to be-
come Of the great Trans Mississippi and Inter-
national Exposition is found in this editorial written
by Edward Rosewater and published In The Bee on
Sunday, November rs, 1895:
Trans-NIssissippi Exposition.
THE construction Of the transeontinental railroads
gave the first powerful impetus the development of
the trans-Mississipp country, twenty-five years ago
the population of the states and territories west of
the Mississippi s,4S51 and the states and ter
ritores west Of the Missouri were credited by the
national census with population of 1,4s2,sse. In
1890 the mississippi states contained popua-
tiou OF 1b,17o315, while the population of the states
and territories west OF the Missouri aggregated g.
s17,21s. In 1850 there were only twenty-one miles
Of railroad in the country west Of the Mississippi To-
day the railroad mileage in the region exceeds
$4,000 miles, Of which $4,000 miles are boosted by
the country west of the Missouri.
"The marvellous resources OF this vast empire
were only in a displayed at the worlds Col
umbian exposition. In fact the exhibits of the west
ern states and territories great extent over
Swallowed by the International exhibits made at Chi
cago. OF the hundreds Of thousands OF people who
viewed the Worlds fair comparatively few carried
away with them distinct impression of the produc-
tive industries of the transMssissippi states
buted to its growth do not grasp their extent and
magnitude.
What has been accomplished for the south by
the Atlanta exposition be accomplished for the
west by trans Mississippi exposition With popua-
ton OF 100000 to draw on and a country prolific
In material wealth, trans-Mississippi exposition
would be an assured from its very inception
such an exposition would give the impetus to the
westward trend Of population and capital for which
che people of this section have been striving II
would make known to all the world the capabilities
OF the great west and revive activity In every branch
Of industry and production.
THE Trans-Mississippi congress, which convenes
IN this city during the present week. is the proper
body to take the initiative in formulating the plan
Tor rans-Mississippi exposition It's recommends
ton In this matter would have great weight with
both the state and national legislatures Without dis
paraging any other city ambitious to secure the To-
cation OF such an interstate exposition, The Bee be-
heyes that the claims OF Omaha are far superior tn
those OF all other rans-Mississppi points Its 10
cation IN the heart OF the continent, midway between
New York and San Francisco, makes it alike aces
sible to people east and west. Its railroad facilities
In every direction perfect those of any city
In the Mississippi valley north of St. Louis It Is the
center Of the great agricultural belt and within
days reach by rail of the mining region of Colorado
wyoming and South Dakota and within two days
reach OF the great mining states west of the
Rockies Omaha is as near to the Puget sound coun-
Try as is St. Paul, and nearer by 500 miles to San
Francisco and southern California
1T Is hardly necessary to add that whatever is
required or Omaha or pledged for Omaha to make
the ns-Mssissippi exposition a success the bust
ness men of this city will carry out to the letter"
Long Cherished Idea
Even previous to that an indefinite conoeption
or such plan had existed and was only waiting for
favorable opportunity Mr.. e. Rosewater had long
cherished the idea Of large mid -continent fair at
Omaha and a permanent exposition that would make
Omaha sort of halfway house in the Journey across
the continent The project was suggested by an ar
tiee in the Minneapolis Tribune the time OF the ma
uonal immigration convention, in which the idea Of
mid-eontinent fair at Minneapolis was broached As
the Trans mississippi congress to meet in Omaha
In November, Mr. Rosewater and others with whom
the idea had been discussed concluded that the on
porunity was ripe and that II the endorsement OF the
congress could be secured there no reason WIN
the enterprise could not be successfully carried out
From that time the matter quietly worked up and
arrangements made to bring It before the con-
gress when it assembled.
During the first two days Of the congress the