The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-06-11

The most important question con.
fronting the Idaho Commission to the
Panama Pacific International Exposi
ton at San Francisco in 1915, Is what
can we do to serve Idaho best.
1t is true that We have erected a
building at most reasonable cost and
have dedicated that building, and OBJ.
tanned publicity that if we had to pay
for it in dollars and cents would
amount to several times the cost of
the building
For the benefit of the readers l
desire to quote a paragraph from a
letter received from the Secretary Of
the Montana Exposition:
II want to congratulate you on your
good work for Idaho. The very fact
that the Idaho building was completed
and dedicated first of all is worth
more to the State of Idaho in the
way Of advertising as good, live,
progressive state than the full amount
OF the 100000 appropriation
This great work is not a one mans
work but it is for Idaho and it's PEG.
pie, and it is the duty of every citi.
zen to take a personal interest in
this Exposition.
1t is true that Idaho has appropri.
ated 100000 for tho purpose of ex-
plotting the resources 'of the state,
1t is true that you have an executive
commissioner who receives salary
to create Idaho's part in this great
est of all expositions. However, Ida
no is young state, rich in resources,
but few in population. 1t is con
sentative statement to make
that not five per cent of Idaho's legi-
innate resources arc developed and
producing today What, then, are
we. going to dc at the exposition to
give Idaho the greatest help towards
getting farmers for the land, miners
Cor the hills, capital to develop our
resources, manufacturing to create con
sumers and payrolls, and create home
markets. All this means Idaho's sue.
cess.
To briefly state what has been done
so far, and what we are intending to
do is as follows:
We have built a state building, We
are making $4,000 feet of moving
pictures of scenic and industrial Idaho,
we are assembling wonderful min
eral exhibit, we will have a beautiful
fruit display. the development of cur
great hydro-electric water power plants
will be featurized, the opportunities of
the cut-over lands 'of the north, the
great forests of timber, and the pro.
ducts of the farm, field ard stream,
We will also care fer educational and
social features, so the people Iof tho
state need have no fear but what
ldahos exhibits will compare favor
ably with those of any state. But
when all this is done we have just got
ten started, because we will only be
one of many states who are assem-.
bling their products on the same
lines that we are, and if we do not do
something mere than that, have
grave doubts If the State of Idaho will
receive the benefit that it truly should
Recollect this exposition runs ten
months, When all this is done the
Idaho Commission to the Exposition
Gas done about all it can do unless
the citizens of the state come into q
full realization of the Importance O.
this great exposition which will be
visited by millions of people.
The Idaho Commission is receiving
letters every day from people wanting
information regarding Idaho with d
view of locating here. All Of these
letters are well taken care OF and
answered
We should have the different re-
sources of the State of Idaho in eyi.
dence outside of the exposition
grounds. Fer instance, therd should
be beautiful store filled with Idaho
fruit. and the salesladies should wear
uniforms with the word IDAHO across
the bib of their aprons, and that store
should be made as attractive as Dos.
sible in which all tho fruits of our
state, as we'll as potatoes, are put
up in choice packages so that they
can be carried home; and this crgani
cation should be big and strong
enough TO handle fruit in carload
lots; and it should also have a CITY
salesman to sell this fruit not only
rom the store but to the trade of
San Francisco and the cities around
San Francisco Bay. This business
should be in charge of a business
man who is not only a fruit man but
also understands the possibilities of
this great opportunity. Thousands of
times at the exposition there will be
men end Wnmep cop,o tboro o..