In April, 1903, the legislature of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations enacted a measure providing for a State exhibit, and appropriated $35,000 for the purpose of the same.  It was subsequently found that the sum appropriated would not be sufficient for the purpose, and in April, 1904, the legislature passed another bill appropriating the sum of $30,000.

Besides the State appropriation of $65,000, the school committee of the city of Providence subscribed $2,000 for an educational exhibit, making the total amount available $67,000.  There was absolutely no private subscription or contribution.

The cost of installation, including cost of transportation, was as follows: 

Rhode Island State Building ......................... $26,000
Furnishing and equipment, contributed (valued at)....   6,000
Exhibit of inland fisheries .........................   2,500
Exhibit Department of Education .....................   3,000
Exhibit Department of Social Economy ................   3,000
Exhibit Department of Forestry, Fish, and Game ......   1,000
Exhibit Department of Agriculture and Horticulture ..   2,500

The State of Rhode Island was represented by exhibits in five of the exhibition palaces as follows: 

United States Fisheries Building:  By the commission of inland fisheries.  Palace of Education:  State board of education, Rhode Island State Normal School, Providence High School, and demonstration by exhibit of various schools of all grades in public school system of the city of Providence, Rhode Island School of Design, public schools of the town of Warwick, public schools of the town of Cranston, public schools of the town of Bristol, Miss Mary C. Wheeler’s Private School for Young Ladies, Providence, R.I.  Social Economy:  Board of State charities and corrections, Sockanosset School for Boys, Oaklawn School for Girls, department of factory inspection, bureau of industrial statistics, State Sanatorium for Consumptives, State board of health, State board of soldiers’ relief.  Forestry, Fish, and Game:  James W. Stainton, of Providence, R.I., exhibit of game birds and fish of Rhode Island.  Palace of Agriculture:  State board of agriculture, Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.

SOUTH DAKOTA.

Under an act of the legislature approved March 11, 1903, South Dakota appropriated the sum of $35,000 for the purpose of exhibiting the resources, the products, and the industrial, commercial, and social progress and general development of the State of South Dakota at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition.  A commission was also constituted, which consisted of three persons appointed by the governor, selected entirely with regard to their familiarity with the resources, arts, and products of the State, their business experience and executive skill, and all of whom were residents of the State.

Shortly after the 1st day of July, 1903, when the law creating the commission became operative, Gov.  Charles N. Herreid, then acting governor, appointed as commissioners, S.W.  Russell, of Deadwood; L.T.  Boucher, of Eureka, and W.B.  Saunders, of Milbank, who constituted the commission throughout the entire period.  S.W.  Russell was elected president; L.T.  Boucher, vice-president; W.B.  Saunders, treasurer, and George R. Farmer, secretary.