Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-09-26

position was formally opened this aft
E$lernoon.
III About 2 o'clock the juvenile bant
#of Monango, which was stationed OF
ssthe stage of the Exposition theater
d commenced playing the national airs
H This was a signal to exposition Wis
II itors to congregate at the theater 1o]
the opening ceremonies.
b. BY 2:3O o'clock the exposition thea
\ ter was packed with eager and loya
\ North Dakotans who seemed to in
stinctively grasp the impressivenes'
of this first exposition was one OF thu
greatest forward movements North
Dakota has yet taken to show thu
outside world her wealth of resources
and the source of her unboundet
! prosperity.
Following the band selections, Rev
Bruce E. Jackson of the Bismarck
First Baptist church was introduced
by Commissioner Gilbreath. Rev
Jackson invoked divine blessing anc
guidance for the success OF the-expo
sition and the big undertaking which
starts today under the most favorable
circumstances.
= Immediately after the impressive
invocation, Superintendent Gilbreatt
/ delivered a presentation speech where.
in he turned the big show over to the
people of, the state.
Mr.. Gilbreath said:
after four months of incessant toll
tinged with pleasure; disappoint
ments changed into agreeable sur
prises; worry and vexations supplant.
ed by Joy and qualification the task
of formulating and constructing the
first North Dakota Industrial exposi
ton has been completed.
1T has been a herculean undertak
ing, for we had obstacles to overcome
which seemed insurmountable, diffi-
culties which were appalling and q
secret opposition which manifested ita
vitality at unexpected moments all
through our work.
; TN the light of these facts Is II
any wonder that those who bore the
heat and burden of this battle have
a thrill of pride course through their
veins over this days work OF formally
opening this exposition?
II take this occasion to thank those
who stood 80 nobly by me In this
great undertaking, for without their
aid and assistance would have failed.
They know who they are and I there
fore need not mention their names.
They stood firm and steadfast when
the clouds were the thickest and no
ray of hope or help peered through
those dark and deep Innings.
wish to sincerely thank the rail-
roads of. this state and the job
bers, merchants and manufacturers
of Fargo, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Du-
luth, Chicago and other cities for
their generous donations and especial
ly the elevator and lumber men of
Minneapolis who we're extremely lib
eral in their contributions. We also
owe a debt Of gratitude to the Duluth
Board of Trade for it's timely aid and
assistance.
"I desire to congratulate the Com
mercial club of Bismarck for its cour-
age and forethought in securing this
exposition and its willingness to CO.
operate in every way to promote its
best interests.
cannot permit this opportunity to
pass without informing the public Of
the constant and unfaltering assist
ance given by Warden Hellstrom.
But for him the task would have ab-
solutely failed, for the financial
burden would have been too great to
have been borne. But the labor he
furnished and the many ways he gave
aid and promotion to this enterprise
assured it's success.
It has been the custom since early
times to send North Dakota's prod.
ucts abroad on each great occasion.
This habit began in territorial days
and has been kept up to the present
year. The state sent an exhibit to
the expositions held in New Orleans.
Chicago, Buffalo, St. Louis, Portland
and Omaha and during the past six
years I have taken samples of the
states products to sixty-five differ
ent state and county fairs. Such has
been this habit that many of our
people we're amazed when. it became
public that We did not contemplate
an exhibit to other states this year.
A few months over twenty-on one years
ago North Dakota had the mantle of
statehood placed upon her shoulders.
In 1890 her population was about
$4,000, today it is approximately
100000. In 1890 there were 250O,ooo
acres of land in this state under ac-
>tual cultivation, last year there were
100000 acres under the plow. an
increase of almost 400 per cent. The
production has grown from 27,S00.0oo
in 1889 to- over 175.0O0,000 in 1910.
In 1890 the total railroad mileage In
this state was $500 while at present
it is $3.50. The total valuation Of
property in 1890 was less than 100000
900 but now it is over $500, 100000.
Such progress. such development.
such Advancement, such accumulation
of wealth and opportunities for wealth
wealth in the broadest sense, which
opens up new avenues for employ
ment, and excellent chances for
homes can be found in no other state.