Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-23
LAND SHOW is ON
With BIC DISPLAY
Thousands of Visitors Present
Opening Day at the Nation
al Exhibit at Chicago.

Chicago, Nov. 23.-The answer to
the Call of the Soil" was heard at the
United States land show, which open
ed today at the Chicago coliseum,
bringing to capitalization the Back
to the Land" movement in America.
The exposition presented a panor-
ANA of America, its fertile fields, gar
dens, and groves spread out like a
miniature Garden of Eden.
Thousands of visitors, all more or
less land hungry, and desirous of
owning part of the United States" !"
crowded into the big show place for
a personally conducted tour OF Uncle
Sans empire. The show not only
brought the land to the people, but
brought the people to the land.
The land show represented a years
constant effort and the expenditure
Of many thousand dollars. But the
result was a spectacular and beauti-
full display, setting forth picturesque
ly the almost exhaustless resources of
mother earth.
To the success Of the land show,
boards of trade, commercial associa-
tions, great railroads, and state and
national governments of the United
Statesi and Canada contributed.
From the south poured in carloads
Of golden oranges and grapefruit;
from the middle west, the yield of the
yellow wheat and corn fields, and
from the Pacific slope, the yield of
the vineyards and apple orchards.
The exposition was, in fact, the
embodiment of the thanksgiving spirit
of the American people in apprecia.
ton of the $4,000, 100000 crop which
the land has brought forth this year.
But it was not exclusively a note OF
thanksgiving that was struck. Tho
more thoughtful visitor was impress.
ed with the necessity of conserving
our great national wealth, and of max.
ing the land produce even more This
idea was emphasized by the Univer
| sity of Illinois in the form of lectures
by professors of the agricultural col
lege on such topics as soil conserva.
| llOll anu
Uncle Sans display was among the
most interesting. Good roads models
showed how town and country had
been brought closer together. Ar
erosion model. exhibited by the fores
try DEPARTMENT. taught lesson OF
tsof, waste caused by the de.
nudation of our forests. The weather
bureau showed what the government is
doing to keep the farmer informed as
to rainfall and climatic conditions in
all parts of the country.
Other special exhibits dealt with
farm machinery, modern giants of iron
and steel that are converting virgin
soil into areable land. and accomplish
ing the work of many men and horses
The Canadian exhibit included ar
| illustrated "travelogue" through the
great timber regions of the northwest
| showing by animated pictures the pro
| cess of telling giant trees and con
verting them into building material.
The vanishing west was represent
ed by a colony of Blackfoot Indians
| from the Glacier park reservation
who executed their war dances anc
sun dances, and performed their ma
tives rites; a collection of mounted
wild animals from the Rocky noun
tains, and Montana's celebrated COW
boy band.
The program provides for a number
of special days, the most important be
ing:
Nov. 24-German day.
Nov. 29-Children's day.
Dec. Polish and Bohemian day.
Dec. 4-Scandinavian day.
1t was announced that any Germans
Polish, Bohemians, or Scandinavian
arriving in the peasant costume OF
their respective days would receiv,
free admission.