INDIAN TERRITORY.

Members of Indian Territory commission.—­Thomas Ryan, chairman; F.C.  Hubbard, executive commissioner; H.B.  Johnson, honorary commissioner; A.J.  Brown, honorary commissioner; W.L.  McWilliams; H.B.  Spaulding; J.E.  Campbell; J.J.  McAlester; William Busby; Miss Olive Blentlinger, clerk.

A fund of $50,000 was expended for the Indian Territory participation in the Louisiana Purchase Exposition.  Of this amount, $25,000 was appropriated by Congress and $25,000 was raised by popular subscription in the Territory.  The expenditure, according to the provisions of the Congressional appropriation, was made under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior.  It was the purpose of the commission to make the Indian Territory exhibit one that would primarily set forth the actual condition that existed in the Territory and to advertise the developments and resources of the same in a comprehensive manner.  The same general lines that were adopted by other States and Territories in similar work were followed as closely as practicable.

Because of its limited funds the Territorial commission deemed it advisable to make exhibits only in the following departments:  In the Mines and Metallurgy Building were displayed the coke and coal, marble, granite, and oil exhibits.  The corn and cotton exhibits were shown in the Palace of Agriculture.  In the Horticultural Building exhibits of the orchards and gardens of Indian Territory were maintained, and all other exhibits, such as educational, photographic, mineral specimens, etc., were installed in the Indian Territory Building.

The Indian Territory Building was completed and exhibits installed on the opening day of the exposition, April 30, 1904.  It was located on a beautiful site in the Plateau of States, near the southeast entrance to the grounds.  The building was a two-story colonial structure, 109 by 72 feet.  The first floor contained, besides the large lobby room, two exhibit rooms.  In one of these rooms was displayed the art and educational exhibit; in the other the photographic exhibit.  These two exhibits—­one setting forth the artistic, the other the commercial development of the residents of the Indian Territory—­went far toward dispelling the somewhat prevalent idea that the Indian Territory is a wilderness, where progress and civilization are unknown.

In the art and educational room were displayed many beautiful paintings, studies, laces, fine needle and bead work, and industrial work, all the products of Indian Territory students and residents.  In the photographic room were arranged 500 large photographs suitably framed and mounted, taken from all parts of Indian Territory, and representing the actual status and present commercial condition in the Indian Territory.