The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1916-09-09
MISSISSIPPI CENTENNIAL BUILDING WORK
BEGINS NEXT WEEK.

Director-G General H. E. Blakeslee writes The
Daily Commonwealth the following, relative to
the beginning of work on Mississippi Centennial
Exposition Buildings next week:
"The actual work of building Mississippi's Cen
tennial Exposition, the million dollar celebration
of a century since admission to statehood, begins
next week. Preliminaries have been practically
completed and the active work Of construction
will be commenced and pushed with vigor until
finished.
'The board of architects, together with the
landscape artist, are on the ground perfecting the
general layout, arranging buildings, elevations,
etc. Within a short time plans and specifications
for the eight principal buildings will be ready for
bidders and the sound of the saw, hammer and
trowel will make music until the doors are thrown
open.
Funds provided as d n~eucleus for the enter
prise by the state of mississippi, county OF Harrl-
son, and city of Gulfpol have been turned over
to the Commission, the land has been purchased
and practically all of tie transfers made. The
sum in hand totals 1918, 90 to which will be added
other amounts from tim to time as secured.
"To correct some er oneouS statements beng
circulated, | desire to "ac4uaint the public with the
fact that two of the appropriations already made
are for specific purposes and will be handled by
the commission in strict accordance with the IN
%tentions of the authorities from whence they
came.
"The City of Gulfport authorized $l25,0O0 for
the purpose of purchasing land and improving it
as a public park. The sum paid for land, approx
mately $50, 000, together with the $4,000 that
will be used in landscaping and beautifylng 1t,
comes from this fund and not from the state APP
preparation as has been incorrectly stated.
"The title and management of this park will
be vested in the park board Of the city OF Gulf
port, but will be turned over to the commission
for holding of the Centennial and regular fairs at
other times. It is an investment on the part OF
the city Of Gulfport for the benefit Of the gulf
coast and the state as we'll.
"The state appropriation Of $l25,00O is speciti-
cally for the purpose Of erecting two buildings of
a permanent nature and identifying the ground
upon which they stand. It is not available for
buying land, paying salaries and other purposes
as has been stated. Even the land upon which
the state buildings are to be located must be deed
ed to the state in fee simple before the fund for
their construction is available.
"The park will be permanent, at least eight of
the main buildings will be permanent with perma-
nent exhibit installed therein. Mid-winter expo
sitions in February and March of each year will
be held and other features promoted whereby the
investment can be realized upon.
"The general plan is to build a permanent and
comprehensive exposition of Mississippi's posi-
bilites and accomplishment where the opportuni-
ty will be afforded half a million visitors from the
North and East during the first three months of
each year to see and become convinced that our
state ranks alongside the best in the union"