The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-11-05
GIGANTIC CENTENNIAL EXPOSE
TON FOR FLORIDA IN 1919

Nothing could be more appropriate
THAN that this State should celebrate
the centennial OF the ceding OF Flor
ida to the United States on the date
of February %, 1919, and this area S
admission as a territory during the
month following. Since 1876 there
has been one continual round of such
celebrations-all &c them more or
less worldrenowned, and all of them
bringing to the States in which the
concentrations have occurred much
notoriety and advertising.
Florida has for the past half-dozen
years been making titanic strides to-
wards improvement and growth
along all lines. For centuries after
the landing of DeLeon this entire
territory was in state of semi
chaos; raids, expeditions, massacres,
are written in history with a precis-
ion which permits no dispute. Under
many flags there was but little prog
ress made towards exploiting the adj
! vantages here to be found; and even
after it's accession by this govern
,nent internal troubles We're con-
stantly before the slowly creasing
residents on this peninsula.
The east and west portions of the
State could find no common ground
upon which they might unite in ma.
ing one great, sturdy and influential
state and even as recently as 1869.
when Alabama offered one million
dollars if the western portion would
annex itself to that State, there was
determined effort upon the part of
many to make a division-although
the entire area had been admitted DIS
member of the galaxy of states
nearly a quarter of a century before.
In a little more than three years
from now there should be held at
some prominent spot in the State an
exposition worthy of the event which
! it would commemorate There is no
time to be lost in this protector,
should the proposition meet with
general favor and receive the en-
dorsement from every portion of the
State, the State in its entirety and
the federal government, there will be
entailed a vast amount of work and
the expenditure of no small sum of
money. There must be site selected
! for this affar-which should be of
magnitude sufficient to make a
/ showing which will bring people
from ell portions of the country to
the State which will tender so cor
dial reception, and present so
grand attractions.
There will be needed three years
which lie between the present date
and the centennial of the observance
mentioned in which to prepare for all
that Is to be. The earnest co-0pera-
tion of each Of the able representa-.
tlves of Florida now in the congress
sional halls will he needed to back
this movement. THIS State in its of
fetal capacity must take cognizancs
of the exposition which means mucf
for its advancement Only those wht
have entered into one or more o
these projects can comprehend tn,
magnitude of the undertaking, o.
realize the vast army that must &,
to make up the official directory ant
the horde of artisans of every clar
and class that must be intensely oc
cupied from the very commonest til
the gates shall have been closed fol
the last time.
Tie press OF this State should a
once take up this suggestion Offered
to the State as fitting and peculiar
lily appropriate method of celebrat
ing an event which should be mad
Of so great Importance to the Unite'
States. II the plan be received will
the favor which should be given 1
there is no time to be lost. Immed
late action is needed by every bod.
of county commissioners in tn,
State; by the various boards of trad
and chamber of commerce; by ever.
civic body in every portion of Flor
ida-in the urgement upon the sen
ators and representatives in con
press to seek cooperation of tina
body as it has co-operated in tn
past toward doing its share towarC
making Florida prominent in the lis
of States which have brought credit
upon themselves by successfully car
rying to a termination big exposi
,tion, Palm Beach Post.
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