Omaha daily bee., 1911-05-06
SPRY LAUDS LAND SHOW WORK
Utah's Governor Urges Importance Of
Products Displays.
HE POINTS TO THE RESULTS
says Development of state - Largely
to he Attributed TO Interest that
Has Been Aroused at the
Expeditions.

The effects Of land show advertising for
the promotion Of western interest are the
subject Of general discussion among west
ern promoters. Governor william Spry Of
Utah. IN a letter addressed to a Salt Lake
City newspaper, takes occasion to place
emphasis on the Importance OF land show
displays
The governors letter follows:
Editor Of the Herald -Repu blican. Salt
Lake city. Ctah-Dear Sir Apropos our
recent conversation and in response to your
request that ] express an opinion as to
the benefits accruing to the state OF Utah
by reason OF it's taking part In the various
expositions and land shows recently held In
different parts Of the United States, and
the probable results Of the states pros
pective participation in future expositions.
] take pleasure in advising you as follows:
Appeals 60 Land Hungry.
Beyond question Of doubt the exploita-
tion of Utah's resources through the sew
eral exhibits has resulted in vast benefit to
the interests Of the people Of Utah. I be-
lieve that the average person who visits
these expeditions does so from an educa-
tionai or business standpoint. rather than
out of mere curiosity. Time was. doubt
less, when the special amusement features
were the great drawing cards at all such
gatherings. Recently, however, the spirit
OF Inquiry has prompted. in large measure,
those who have visited the expositions,
With the result that intelligent investlga-
ton is rapidly supplantlng the desire for
pleasurable excltment. On every hand, and
particularly in the thickly populated centers
OF the east there is evidence of,a desire on
the part Of the people TO investigate lands
and land possibilities and get back to ag-
ricultural pursuits. Because OF this ten
dency there has been a natural general
westward movement of homeseekers Vie
ing with each other in spirited yet friendly
competition for the most attractive display
Of resources, the sparsely settled states
have been reaching out after increased
population, and the induiring multitudes
have been gathered together in different
sections Of the country through various
fairs and expositions to make comparf-
sons and draw conclusions as TO the rela-
tive advantages Of exhibiting states. All
this has resulted I'm a magnificent growth
OF the western part OF the country, and at
the present time we are witnessing striking
evidences Of the good results following the
expenditure of a few dollars in making
display Of our various resources and pro-
ducts.
TO permit OF our entering with creditable
display, every legitimate exposition that
the country affords, since a failure to Join
with the other states in this competition
Will discredit Utah and the state will be-
come conspicuous by Its absence
Urges Big Displays.
without detracting from the Importance
of active participation In outside expo
sitlons, l am none the less soicitous for a
display Of our resources that will be more
distinctively and extensively a Utah ex-
hibit In other words, at the large expo
sitions Utah Is but one among many, and
the attention and Investigation its re-
sources receive must necessarily be d.
vided How best to most thoroughly i'm
press upon the investigator the extent and
variety OF our developed and undeveloped
possibilities is a question to which have
given much thought.
1T has occurred to me that the most
effective demonstration possible is a per-
manent local exhibit, maintained in suit
able quarters at the capital city.
There are many reasons that may be
advanced as to the praetlcability Of such
an exhibit. Very few cities OF the United
states are 90 situated as to receive and
entertain such a vast number of tourists
During the year 1910 between 100000 and
10000 visitors registered at the bureau of
Information In Salt Lake City. With the
prospective movement toward the Pacific
coast during the next few years there is no
probability that this number will decrease
and there is every reason to believe that IL
will increase. With the Panama Pacific
exposition in California, the year 1915
should witness the greatest influx of visl-
tors that the state has ever known. 1 have
no doubt that more than 100000 eastern
ers will pass through the state OF Utah,
either going or returning from the San
Francisco exposition, and fully IS per cent
OF this number will stop for few hours
or days. That year will afford an oppor-
tunity that may never again present it.
self In the history OF the state. We should
take advantage Of the same. The time is
already ripe for beginning, and what