By Water to the Columbian Exposition Part 10

Having left the imposing Electricity Building, we repaired to a structure in close proximity dedicated to exhibits of the mineral kingdom. Never before, the records of international expositions gave account of a similar fact; namely, that the display made of MINES AND MINING was so capacious as to require the erection of a special edifice. Its size and architectural beauties rivaled those of the great structures in Jackson Park. The magnificent arched entrance of the north front was richly embellished with sculptural decorations emblematic of mining and its allied industries. This s.p.a.cious gateway led us to the main floor, which presented a spectacle so weird that its impression cannot be easily effaced. In temples and pavilions of ineffable gorgeousness were exhibits of gems and precious metals of dazzling beauty. Useful ores and their products, building stones, soils, salt, petroleum--indeed, everything that man furthers from the dark entrails of the earth, was offered to inspection.

Besides the mineral resources of the world in their original state, the displays embraced many devices of mining machinery; such as pumps and engines used in mining, moving, and delivering ores; apparatuses for breaking out ore and coal; for crus.h.i.+ng and pulverizing; for reducing metals, for instance the extraction of gold and silver by milling, lixiviation, and fire; furthermore, boring and drilling tools; grinding and polis.h.i.+ng substances, etc.

The galleries containing especially the metallurgical collection, had the appearance of the scientific department of a museum combined with the laboratory and library of a university.

Moreover, there were offered to view many interesting and instructive working models, various unique exhibits, and thousands of geological specimens.

Germany, France, and New South Wales were the leading foreign countries in this building. Great Britain and her numerous colonies occupied the largest collective s.p.a.ce. The brilliant outlay of the Cape Colony included 40,000 rough diamonds, and ill.u.s.trated the method of polis.h.i.+ng them.

Canada's mineral showing was so ponderous as to exceed the weight of 125 tons. It comprised every known species of mineral, marble, and granite in that country. In this enormous collection we discovered a block of pure nickel weighing 4,600 pounds as well as very large nuggets of native gold and silver. Mexico made its most extensive contributions to this departmental structure. Brazil, the Argentine Republic, Russia, Spain, Greece, Italy, j.a.pan, Belgium, Austria, Ecuador, and other foreign nations were likewise well represented.

The most prominent exhibits were grouped in the eastern section of the ground floor. They proved the unexcelled mineral wealth of the United States, particularly in iron, the annual production exceeding 10,000,000 tons.

Pennsylvania took the leading place being pre-eminent in her iron and steel industries. Her supremacy in the production of "black diamonds" was manifested by a rich display; one trophy from her immense coal-mines was a shaft of coal sixty-two feet high, and ten feet square. Colorado's fine exhibit of precious metals had, as an appropriate frame, a beautiful pavilion erected entirely from her local products. The abundance of gold in this important mining state is evinced by the fact that twenty-one of her thirty-three counties are producing that most desirable and malleable of all metals.

California--nicknamed the "Golden State"--showed among her vast resources gold, silver, platinum, quicksilver, copper, lead, zinc, iron, tin, graphite, crystal, alabaster, corundum, chrysolites, tourmalines, garnets, diamonds, and other gems. Montana had most largely contributed to this departmental structure, and inclosed her display of precious metals in a temple adorned by the famous statue of Justice. Cast from pure silver valuing $315,000, and modeled after the celebrated actress--Mademoiselle Rehan--it was set upon a pedestal of gold, forming altogether a work of art of rare magnificence.

Michigan ill.u.s.trated attractively her great copper industry; the deposits of this metal among the primary rocks of her northern section being the richest in the world.

Of special interest were the mining products of New Jersey. This state furnished minerals not found anywhere else; for instance the franklinite--a compound of iron, zinc, and manganese--named from Dr.

Franklin.

Missouri, the first state in the Union to place exhibits in the Mines Building, environed the same with a beautiful pavilion built from local products.

The curiosities included in the various State and Territorial displays, were too numerous to give an account of them all.

Special features were--a miniature coal-mine shown by Iowa; a section of the world-renowned Mammoth Cave in Kentucky; a statue of rock salt representing Lot's wife, a contribution from Louisiana; a tunnel containing a double tramway for the carrying of ore displayed by Pennsylvania; a model of the largest lead-reducing works in the world from Missouri; and a miner's cabin built of mineral specimens from the different counties in the territory of New Mexico.

All the mining exhibits--in their selectness and profusion--gave evidence of the inexhaustible wealth yet stored up for man's future uses notwithstanding the geological fact, that the earth's crust has no great profundity compared with its diameter.

The "_Golden Door_" an immense archway enriched to an extraordinary degree with carvings, paintings, and overlaid with gold leaf, ushered us into the TRANSPORTATION BUILDING. It was dedicated to present the origin, growth, and development of the various methods of abridging distance used in all parts of the inhabited globe--from remote antiquity up to the present day.

We were charmed with a striking vista of richly ornamented colonnades which added considerably to the impressive effect of the exhibits. The latter comprised three general divisions: the railway--marine--and ordinary road vehicle transportation.

To the first mentioned--as most important--a s.p.a.ce of over eight acres had been devoted. About one-eighth of this area was covered with the "Railways of the World," an exhibit of the Baltimore and Ohio Railway Co., showing the development of locomotives and cars from the earliest days to the modern time. One of the unique features in the American Railroad Section was the operation of air brakes on a train of a hundred cars, the longest ever witnessed in a single series.

In the center aisle of the annex, we inspected the chief display of the Pullman Company, a complete train sumptuously equipped. It embraced specially built Pullman Cars of the most luxurious character. The representation of the New York & Chicago Limited Express was, without doubt, the finest railway train ever constructed.

We received a very adequate idea of the wonderful achievements--evincing the genius of the age in which we live--in railway conveyance, by the out-of-door exhibit of the N.Y. Central & Hudson R.R. Co., at the southern extremity of the annex. Here, the contrast between past and present was most sharply drawn: The first train, ever used for traffic in this country, and running between Schenectady and Albany, N.Y.--the opening of this road was celebrated on the 24th of September, 1831--with its simple De Witt Clinton engine, was beside a locomotive of gigantic proportions, the fastest in the world. This stupendous piece of machinery const.i.tuted a portion of the Vanderbilt enterprise.

In the German Section, two locomotives and seven kinds of _Eisenbahnwagen_, enabled us to decide upon the relative advantages of this foreign system and the American method of railway transportation.

Great Britain contributed a complete train and locomotive, also a model of one of the original Stephenson locomotives--the "Rocket." The Railway Division of France comprised exceedingly interesting French locomotives, a car, and many models. In the Canadian exhibit, a complete transcontinental train compelled admiration. Its cars built of solid mahogany, and lighted by electricity, were constructed and equipped by the Canadian Pacific Railroad Company. Other foreign nations made their contributions to the railway division by models or ill.u.s.trations of different kinds; prominently Austria, Belgium, Mexico, New South Wales, Sweden, and Norway.

The means of water transportation were so diversified that their multiplicity can distinctly be conceived by those only who have viewed them _in persona_.

There were represented: the birch-bark canoe from Alaska--a Norwegian steams.h.i.+p in miniature--the bimba or log canoe from Africa--the Bohemian propeller--corials from British Guiana--the j.a.panese pleasure-boat "Hoomaru"--the padda boats from Ceylon--the caique from Turkey; furthermore, models of Spanish war-vessels--Malay boats--Swedish ice-yachts--folding boats from Canada--Chinese war-s.h.i.+ps--barges from Burmah--French torpedo boats--characteristic coast-vessels from India-- Venetian gondolas--Dutch coast sailing boats--the caravels, Santa Maria, Nina and Pinta, exhibited by Genoa--Siamese boats--life-boats--naptha launches--and a great number of small craft shown by the United States.

Of historic interest was the old _bateau_ employed by early French traders from Quebec, and a model of a boat showing the style used on the Sea of Galilee in the time of Christ.

The artistic reproductions in miniature of various American, British, and German ocean steamers played an attractive part in this division. Among the models of war vessels was the representation of the ill-fated English cruiser "Victoria," considered to be the finest marine model ever constructed.

A section from the center of a modern Transatlantic liner reached to the top line of the gallery; exhibiting a complete interior of an American steamer.

The development of wheeled vehicles from the first inceptive idea of the wheel to the present appreciable methods of its use was comprehensively ill.u.s.trated. The exhibits were so arranged that the different stages of improvement could be readily noticed.

The methods employed for conveyance on common roads were shown by hand-barrows--carts--trucks--drays--farm wagons--sprinkling carts--freight wagons--breaks, barges, wagonettes for pleasure parties--omnibuses--cabs-- hansoms--pleasure carriages, coaches for four or six horses, Victorias, broughams, dog-carts, buggies, phaetons, etc.; besides sleighs--snow shoes--steam and electric carriages--ambulances for the sick and injured--hea.r.s.es; furthermore, bicycles and tricycles--rolling chairs for invalids--baby carriages; in short, vehicles of every possible description.

Almost all the nations on the globe had made their contributions to the department of vehicle transportation. This rare collection embraced the palanquin of Africa--the mandarin chair of China--the bullock cart of Ceylon--the sedan chair of Colombia (South America)--the Sicilian cart of Palermo--the heavy lumbering cart of India--the queer traveling kroba of Turkey--the volante of Spain--the taranta.s.s of Russia--the hackney coach of France--and the dog-cart of England.

Among the relics of special interest to Americans because of their a.s.sociation with historical personages, we beheld the well preserved carriages of Daniel Webster and James Knox Polk.

A conspicuous feature in the central court was a model of the largest steam hammer in the world, utilized in the manufacture of armor plate for vessels.

On entering the PALACE OF HORTICULTURE north of the Transportation Building, our organs of sight and olfactory nerves were equally affected by the dazzling and odoriferous display of exuberant flowers and fruitage.

Had it been admissible, we would have been glad to put our organs of tasting in active operation, likewise. For, we longed to try the relish of some of the exquisite pomological exhibits, whose multiformity was too immense to be portrayed in a pen-picture. Fruits of every form and description, sent from all zones, climes, and countries were represented here. Many of the exhibits were maintained at a high standard by being constantly replenished with fresh fruits at great expense, particularly the Californian citrus pyramid, comprising 31,150 oranges.

The richly decorated court planted with ornamental shrubs and flowers, led to the center pavilion which was roofed by a huge crystal dome. This translucent cover transmitted the light and suns.h.i.+ne necessary for the floricultural display beneath. Stately palms, tall tree ferns in great variety, and gorgeous specimens from the flora of almost every section, formed an immense pyramid of shrubbery. The luxuriously growing vines entwined their tendrils around the iron-work of the building, adding greatly to the beauty of the panorama. This superb spectacle recalled to memory Horace Smith's "Hymn to the Flowers." In one of its fifteen stanzas, the poet exclaims:

"Not useless are ye, flowers, though made for pleasure, Blooming over field and wave, by day and night: From every source your sanction bids me treasure Harmless Delight."

We descended a cavern, extending underneath this magnificent flower exhibit. Our scrutinizing eyes met with quite novel features. We observed that the grotto was lined with glistening crystals from the mammoth cave of South Dakota. Emerging again to broad daylight, we bent our steps southward to that portion of the building, where the silver model of the Horticultural Hall and the miniature Capitol of the Country compelled the admiration of the beholder.

The south pavilion encompa.s.sed the displays of viticulture.

Representations of actual scenes in the vicinity of California vine-yards-- wine cellars--cool grottos--and a highly ornamental fountain throwing sprays of wine, const.i.tuted the most attractive domestic scenes.

A picturesque panorama of the vine-clad banks of the Rhine with its romantically situated castles--reminiscences of feudal times--formed a portion of the German wine cellar exhibit; also comprising an excellent display of _Rhein- und Moselweine_.

Of the foreign wine-growing countries, the most attractive contributions were made by Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Chili, New South Wales, and Canada.

We abandoned the building in order to view the floricultural out-of-door exhibits, which covered the large s.p.a.ces on the lawns adjoining it and the Wooded Island.

Glancing at the beautiful orchids, roses, carnations, sweet peas, dianthus, asters, phlox, gladiolus, zinnias, and many other fragrant flowers, we experienced infinitely more subtle modulations of delight than can be easily described. The features of the horticultural displays were so striking that their memory is immortalized:--

"For this picture in my brain Only fades to come again."

In fact, we had witnessed multifarious sublime spectacles during that day's sojourn in the White City.

Returning to the pier where the "Marguerite" lay moored, we were greatly amazed as we caught sight of Lake Michigan--to find its waters lashed into fury by a northeast gale, of which we had felt nothing while in the pleasantly tempered Horticultural Building.

Since it was impossible to stay where we were, on account of the exposed situation, there was no help for it--but to put out for our usual anchorage, inside the breakwater at Chicago. For my own part, I decided to remain on deck. Perhaps, had I realized more fully what we had to encounter, I should have sought my stateroom, with the rest. But I can truly say: for three-quarters of an hour, my whole energies were employed to keep my place.

During our entire journey from Schenectady, N.Y., to the White City, we had not experienced anything like it. Everything of a movable character had to be secured; and it was an intense relief to all, when after an extraordinary upheaval--the last effort of the uncontrolled waves upon our stanch craft--she pa.s.sed into the peaceful waters behind the breakwater; completely sheltered from the raging elements, which broke with ceaseless roar upon the concrete ma.s.s.

The following morning as the rest of the party decided to remain in Chicago for the purpose of viewing the renowned play "America" in the Auditorium, I visited Jackson Park alone, spending many hours in the Liberal Arts Building, which inclosed (besides mult.i.tudinous magnificent displays ill.u.s.trating the department of Liberal Arts) the object of my special interest, viz. the educational exhibits. They comprised not only contributions from every State in the Union but also from Germany, Great Britain, France, Mexico, Canada, Russia, New South Wales, Spain, Belgium, and j.a.pan.

The general character of them was represented by models and appliances for teaching, text-books, diagrams, examples, specimens of the school work on the various scientific subjects, and ill.u.s.trations of the methods employed in instruction by the teachers of the different States and Nations.

By means of the ingenious arrangement of these displays, manifesting the great achievements made in the development of pedagogy, I augmented my professional learning during the hours of that day to such an extent as would otherwise require months of careful study. The means of obtaining these results of so great interest and profit to me as a teacher, were much facilitated by my knowledge of several of the languages spoken by the nations represented there. For, I readily understood the reports, statistics, and text-books sent from the educational inst.i.tutions of the leading countries. Furthermore, the commissioners of the respective sections, whom I addressed in their native tongue, complaisantly gave me all the additional information I desired.

As I inspected, among the manifold exhibits contributed by the State of New York, the specimen work from the best pupils of the Art Students'