Final Report of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission Part 58

The exhibit in the division of anthropology, Administration Building, was one of the finest of its kind, and one which attracted the attention of archaeologists from every part of the world. Gen. Gates P. Thurston, of Nashville, collected and installed the exhibit, which was made up from the private collection of General Thurston, the Hicks collection, and the collection of the Tennessee Historical Society.

During the life of the exposition large quant.i.ties of advertising matter were distributed from the State building and from the State s.p.a.ces in the exhibit palaces. This advertising matter was furnished in part by the State, in part by the different cities and counties of the State, and in part by the railroad companies of the State.

TEXAS.

On January 9, 1902, a corporation known as "The Texas World's Fair Commission" was chartered under the provisions of the laws of the State of Texas on application of citizens of Texas, and appointed Texas World's Fair Commissioners by Hon. Joseph D. Sayers, then the governor of the State. It was believed by the commission that with State aid to the extent of $200,000 added to sums that had already been guaranteed by subscribers, the State could make a creditable showing at the World's Fair in compet.i.tion with other States and Territories. Accordingly the commission memorialized the twenty-eighth legislature for an appropriation of $200,000. The bill which sought to authorize the appropriation was reported to the house and was opposed by the governor of the State on two contentions: First, that the const.i.tution did not authorize such an appropriation, and, second, that the limited revenues of the State would not justify it. When the commission failed in this direction, a meeting was held to determine whether the commission should attempt to go ahead with the work or abandon the enterprise. The commission decided by an overwhelming vote that Texas could not afford to deny herself partic.i.p.ation in a universal exposition where all the States and Territories of the United States would enter in friendly compet.i.tion, and the executive committee and the general manager were instructed to proceed with the organization. The task of reorganizing the work by counties was resumed, but with limited success. The plan was to call upon the counties for a sum equal to 2 cents on the $100 property valuation, with which to create the Texas World's Fair Commission fund. Out of 243 organized counties in the State the following subscribed and paid the amounts set against them:

El Paso, Tom Green, Tarrant, Dallas, Harris, Jefferson, Galveston, Smith, Nueces, and Comal.

Navarro, McLennan, Grayson, Travis, Harrison, Collin, Palo Pinto, Fannin, Lamar, and Bexar counties endeavored to raise the a.s.sessments set against them, but did not succeed in doing so, although their subscriptions in the aggregate were generous. The subscriptions from the counties mentioned amounted to $49,096.34.

The railroads of Texas subscribed approximately $25,000. Early in the organization of the commission the Texas Bankers' a.s.sociation pa.s.sed a resolution calling on its members to a.s.sess themselves for the Texas World's Fair Commission fund at the rate of one-tenth of 1 per cent on their capital stock. About one-half of the banks of the State subscribed and paid on that basis an amount in the aggregate of $11,672.65. The State Lumbermen's a.s.sociation gave $3,133. The Texas Cattle Raisers'

a.s.sociation subscribed $2,150.

The above sums, augmented by scattering amounts from different sources, const.i.tuted a total fund to the commission of $126,780.14.

The Texas commission was composed of the following-named persons:

John H. Kirby, president; L.J. Polk, W.W. Seley, and Walter Tips, vice-presidents; Royal A. Ferris, treasurer; Louis J. Wortham, secretary and general manager; Paul Waples, chairman executive committee; A.W.

Houston, Barnett Gibbs, B.F. Hammett, Jesse Shain, E.P. Perkins, L.L.

Jester, Monta J. Moore; P.P. Paddock, executive commissioner; R.H.

s.e.xton, resident commissioner.

The members of the board of lady commissioners were: Mrs. L.S. Thorne; Miss Kate Daffan, Ennis; Mrs. B.F. Hammett, El Paso; Mrs. O.T. Holt, Houston; Mrs. W.R. Roberts, Brownwood; Mrs. Fannie Foote Emerson, McKinney; Mrs. J.B. Wells, Brownsville; Mrs. W.F. Beers, Galveston; Mrs.

C.L. Potters, Gainesville; Mrs. E.P. Turner, Dallas; Mrs. William Cameron, Waco; Mrs. William Christian, Houston; Mrs. W.F. Gill, Paris; Mrs. W.E. Green, Tyler; Mrs. J.F. Wolters, Lagrange; Mrs. F. Hufsmith, Palestine; Mrs. I.H. Evans, Austin; Mrs. J.C. Lea, Dallas; Mrs. W.F.

Robertson, Austin; Mrs. Bacon Saunders, Fort Worth; Mrs. T.V. Sessions, Nacogdoches.

The Texas commission installed and successfully maintained exhibits in the palaces of Fine Arts, Education, Transportation, Mines and Metallurgy, Forestry, Agriculture, and Horticulture. The cost of the installation was as follows:

Fine Arts ................. $1,225.50 Education ................. 948.00 Transportation ............ 459.30 Mines and Metallurgy ...... 10,577.85 Forestry .................. 4,477.05 Agriculture ............... 6,899.87 Horticulture .............. 6,099.14

The contract price for the Texas Building, which occupied one of the most admirable sites on the exposition grounds, was $45,562.

Expenditures in furnishings and in ornamenting the grounds were $12,000.

The Texas Building contained exhibits of a character intended to demonstrate the kinds of homes in which Texas people live, the kinds of schools in which their children are educated, and the churches in which they conduct their worship. These demonstrations were the conception and work of the Texas Federation of Women Clubs.

The work which the Texas commission did for Texas in forcing a recognition of the rights of breeders of pure-bred cattle below the Federal quarantine line, and the rights of breeders and raisers of beef cattle, on the attention of the exposition management was noticeable.

The original ruling of the Live-Stock Department of the exposition was to the effect that pure-bred cattle from below the Federal quarantine line should not be allowed to partic.i.p.ate in the live-stock show at the exposition, and that none but halter-broke cattle should be exhibited in any event. The effect of this ruling, the commission claimed, was, first, to shut out from partic.i.p.ation the breeders of pure cattle from below the quarantine line, and, second, to prevent a demonstration that should show what the immense cattle ranges of the Northwest and Southwest are capable of producing.

When the supplementary appropriation of $4,600,000 was under consideration by Congress, the commission, through its general manager, Louis J. Wortham, who acted also as the official representative of the Texas Cattle Raisers' a.s.sociation, succeeded in having a provision added to the bill permitting an exhibition of pure-bred cattle from below the quarantine line under such restrictions as the Secretary of Agriculture might deem advisable, and, further, permitting the exhibition of range cattle in carload lots.

As a result of this action, the exposition provided for an exhibit of cattle from below the quarantine line and of range cattle in carload lots in November, and set aside $19,000 in prizes to be divided among exhibitors.

UTAH.

By a legislative enactment the State of Utah, on the 12th day of March, 1903, appropriated the sum of $50,000 for the partic.i.p.ation of Utah at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. Subsequently about $10,000 additional was received from the legislature for the expenses of the State at the exposition. The act making the appropriation appointed Governor Heber M.

Wells, of Salt Lake City, as chairman of the State commission. The governor appointed as his a.s.sistants Hon. H.L. Shurtliff, Ogden; Hon.

Willis Johnson, Salt Lake City; and the board elected S.T. Whitaker, of Salt Lake City, as director-general and John T. Cannon as secretary.

The Utah State Building was erected from designs of Director-General Whitaker, and was a replica of a residence of the State of Utah. Mrs.

Inez Thomas was appointed hostess of the State building.

The State had exhibits in the Mines and Metallurgy Building, Educational Palace, and the Agricultural Pavilion. It received 3 grand prizes, 140 gold medals, as well as several minor awards.

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT INDIAN EXHIBIT.

The United States Government Indian exhibit was opened June 1, and was visited by hundreds of thousands of persons, who p.r.o.nounced it one of the most interesting and instructive exhibits at the World's Fair.

Authority to establish and conduct the Indian exhibit at the exposition was granted in the following letter from the Secretary of the Interior to Mr. Samuel M. McCowan, superintendent of the Chilocco Indian School in Oklahoma:

Sir: In connection with the Department letter of May 22 last, detailing you for duty as superintendent of the Indian exhibit at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, and on the recommendation of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, you are hereby detailed to erect the required building, perfect the details of the transfer of Indian families and pupils from their homes and schools to St. Louis, install and conduct the exhibit and supply the Indians with necessary food, shelter, and medical attendance.

You are hereby authorized to disburse the funds appropriated by act of Congress approved June 28, 1902 (32 Stats., p. 445), so far as expenditures are required by your duties in connection with the exhibit.

You are hereby also authorized to pay your actual necessary traveling expenses incurred in connection with the exhibit, including transportation and sleeping-car fare, payable out of $40,000 appropriation.

The exhibit occupied a reservation of about 10 acres in the northwest corner of the fair grounds, and its location at the extreme end of the anthropological exhibit typified the advancement of a primitive people toward civilization. Around the border of the reservation were arranged in a semicircle the native dwellings of the "blanket" or uncivilized Indians, as follows: Beginning at the western end of the semicircle, a Kickapoo bark house; the Maricopa-Pima group in two kees, one tent and summer houses; Arapaho group, one stockaded tepee; Geronimo, the great Apache medicine man, one (decorated) tepee; p.a.w.nee group, ceremonial earth lodge or residence temple; Wichita group, gra.s.s lodge, summer house, and one tepee; Pueblo group, two tents and two summer sheds; Pomo group, one tent; Apache group, two tepees. These habitations were erected by the Indians themselves.

The Indians were grouped as follows: Six Pima, Arizona; 5 Maricopa, Arizona; 23 Arapaho, 35 Cheyenne, 50 p.a.w.nee, 35 Wichita, 5 Comanche, 9 San Carlos Apache, 20 Osage, all from Oklahoma; 29 Pueblo and 23 Navaho, New Mexico; 35 Sioux, Rosebud, S. Dak.; 2 Pomos, California; 8 Jicarilla Apache; 25 Chippewa, Minnesota; a total of 310.

The school building was a two-story structure of the old Mission style of architecture, standing at the rear of the reservation and extending the width of it. A hall ran the length of the building on either side of which were the booths containing the exhibits. The idea was to show the contrast between the civilized and uncivilized Indians, and to this end the booths on the west side of the hall were occupied by the old Indians working at their crude, primitive trades, and those of the east side by the new Indians (pupils of the various Indian schools) pursuing the up-to-date methods taught them by the white man.

The exhibits were as follows: On the west side, beginning at the south end of the building, Chilocco School exhibit, showing work in agriculture and stock husbandry, methods of instruction and results; Pueblo, San Juan, N. Mex., expert potters and weavers with needle loom, primitive millers, and bakers of wafer bread; Pomo, California, makers of fine baskets, mats, stone tools, and musical instruments; Pima, Arizona, makers of coiled baskets and pottery; Maricopa, Arizona, makers of fancy pottery and basket workers; Navaho, Arizona, famous blanket weavers, workers in silver, sh.e.l.l, and turquois; Sioux, South Dakota, decorative artists with porcupine quills, beads of buckskin, manufacturers of bows and arrows, and the calinite pipes, axes, and hammers; Apache, Arizona, expert weavers of blankets and makers of pottery; Apache, New Mexico, makers of coiled basketry of a peculiar type; Navaho, Sante Fe, N. Mex., Indian School, modern blanket weavers; Navaho, reservation, N. Mex., workers in silver, sh.e.l.l, and turquois; Pueblo, New Mexico, makers of pottery, blanket weavers and silversmiths.

On the east side, beginning at the south end of the building; Chilocco cla.s.s in domestic science, model dining room, furnishings made by the pupils of the Chilocco School, Chilocco, Okla. This cla.s.s gave daily demonstrations in cooking and serving food, Miss Peters in charge.

Laundry cla.s.s from the Chilocco School, under the charge of Miss Peters.

Cla.s.s in printing the Indian School Journal, printed daily by a cla.s.s of students from the Chilocco School, E.K. Miller in charge. Painting, blacksmithing, and wheelwrighting cla.s.ses from Haskell Inst.i.tute, Lawrence, Kans., K.C. Kaufman in charge. Manual training, Haskell Inst.i.tute, C.F. Fitzgerald in charge. Domestic art cla.s.s, students from Haskell Inst.i.tute, Miss Taylor in charge. Harness-making cla.s.s from Genoa, Nebr., School, J. McCallum in charge.

The halls were decorated with the work of the Indian pupils in penmanship, literary composition, arithmetic, sewing, lace work, bead work, and basketry. Every school in the service was represented in this display, except Carlisle, Phoenix, and Riverside. The exhibit was remarkable for its beauty and extent. In the model dining room the tables, dishes, napkins, rug, floor, chairs, wall paper, and general furnishings were all manufactured by pupils of the Chilocco School.

In the rear-center of the building was the a.s.sembly hall, where were held the daily cla.s.ses, under the direction of Miss Harrison, and the musical and literary programmes, under the direction of Miss Crawford.

There were in attendance at the school during the exhibit 150 boys and girls.

The following daily programme was observed:

Reveille ................................................ 6.00 Flag salute ............................................. 6.45 Breakfast ............................................... 7.00 Band concert ................................... 9.30 to 11.30 Industrial work ................................ 9.00 to 11.30 Literary cla.s.s work ............................ 9.00 to 11.00 Literary musical programme .................... 11.00 to 11.30 Dinner ................................................. 12.00 Band concert .................................... 1.00 to 3.30 Industrial work ................................. 1.00 to 4.00 Literary cla.s.s work ............................. 1.00 to 3.00 Literary musical programme ...................... 4.00 to 5.00 Old Indian sports and ceremonies (on plaza in front of school building) ..................... 5.00 to 6.00 Flag salute and dress parade ........................... 6.00 Supper ................................................. 6.20 Taps ................................................... 10.00

The band concerts, under the direction of Mr. Lem Wiley, were always well attended and heartily applauded. The feature that attracted more attention, probably, than any other was the musical-literary programme.

At these entertainments the hall was always crowded, and the audience never failed to be interested. The following programme, chosen at random, will give an idea of the character of the exhibitions:

1. Prelude --------------------------------------- Orchestra.

2. Vocal solo --------------------------------- Dolly, Dolly.

Mary Leeds, Pueblo.

3. Scarf drill ------------------------------ Kindergartners.