New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-18
SOUTHWESTERN EXPOSITION ASSO-
CATION.
The Exposition Buiiding-Cn ST. Charles
and CarOnGelet Streets-DimensiOns and
Objects of the Structure.


We scarcely know whom to credit for the
design of erecting building which shall
serve as a show room for machinery and the
arts as well as for the purposes OF concert 1
giving and amusement seeking but it is
known that it was thought Of about three
years ago, and that the plan met with such
favor that the stock Of the Southwestern
Exposition Company was soon taken, and
that operations were commenced in earnest
about three months ago. 1t is contemplated
to erect upon the site on st. Charles street,
between Julia and Girod, an immense struc
ture, the front OF which shall be OF the Re-
Nuisance order, with tower on each cor
ner projecting from the main body Of the
edifice, two columns ON either side of the
grand entrance, the caps of which are sur,
mounted with AN ornamental arch, high
plate glass windows in the second story,
with circular arched tops, an Or
namental balcony extending the
full length of the space be-
tween the two columns, while the entrance
itself Oh the ground tioor, consists of a
main doorway spanned by large arch, and
arch the whole rising to height Of eighty
feet. The plan has been skilifully devised
to meet the requirements of the business
ana to combine the useful with the orna-
mental, tie latter quality being exhausted
in the construction of the concert hall.
Besides this division of the interior and-its
proper appurtenances of ladies' parlor, sup
cSta
is to be fine art room, and ON the lower
floor a heavy exposition room:
In the way of gas, the front balcony will
be ornamented with fl fixtures OF the Jewish
candelebra pattern, while two statues are
to rest in the niche on the wall, giving in a
summary view an impression of great
beauty-a big clock standing in central
space ON the top arch.
The new Exposition building, now in
process of construction on st. Charles
street, will extend through the square to
Carondelet street, the handsome front
being the same on both streets The struc
turo will have the main entrance on ST.
Charles street. AT present the first or
ground floor only takes shape, and from
cursory view it can readily be seen what
an immense elevation will be finished when
the craftsmep's work is done. This floor,
in which scores of workmen are now busy,
is 81 feet in width, the upper floor being
supported by four rows of columns OF such
immense size that they would serve for the
swing posts OF the gates OF GAIA, which that
| ancient fighting man Sampson carried OFT.
| These wooden pillars stand on a pyramid
| of brick, and are set in iron tables The
| girders, which are larger i'll dimension. and
| that also run the entire length, are held to-
! gether by wrought iron, and united at the
| ends so closely that an ordinary Meet OF
| paper could not be inserted between The
entire length of the building is 3ll feet,
| and so extensive is the vista that on a view
downward the perspective where the build
! inc ends on Car0ndeiet street gives an I'M
preston that this portion is at least thirty
feet narrower. The ideS of strength and
compact solidity, without ornament OF any
kind, prevails IL this construction OF Tie
| ground Hoor.
Through the centre of this portion it is
| intended to run a railroad for the convent
ence of transportation. Midway, on the
| rinht hand side. is a recess, which Will he
| devoted to an engine, and from this belts
and shafting will run the entire length, SO
that the steam engines exposed may be
/ u
ceptedl. The design is to use this lower
floor entirely for the exposition OF steam
engines Of every kind and degree aud when
the betting is fairly at work, running each
individual piece of machinery, it will be
one of the grandest sights in the land.
Immediately over the ground floor It Is
| designed to have mammoth concert hall
and a fine art room. The hall will be 100
feet in length, 81 feet the entire width. I'll
feet from pillar to post, and 50 feet IN
height. Two rows of columns with Cor
| inthian caps. tluted, and resting on orna-
mental bases, a row of windows on each
side, handsomely ornamented. will be con-
structed. making this concert hall the larg
est in size and the handsOmest in appear
ance in the South. The ceiling is to be
arched and sloping on the sides tor the con
venience of sound, and the whole interior
will be touched up in TIE highest style OF
the builders and paluter's arts. The grand
staircase rises from the vestibule, which
opens on st. Charles street on the lower
floor, and consists Of two branches, leading
up into the ladies' parlOr, in the third story,
the length Of which is sixty feet, width
twenty feet, and whose interior is TO
be handsomely finished and magnif-
Gently fitted up with every implement OF
luxury. The concert room, entered from
the vestibue the visitor finds himself look
ing toward the other end, which having
reached down the long aisles, he goes
through a door and finds stairway leading
to the supper room in the third story, itself
large hall GO by - feet, sufficient to ac-
commodate thousand sitters at the table.
Of course there are other and smaller
rooms which, in the plan of the building,
one is forever getting into and getting out
of and there are stalrcases which he Is Tor
ever going up and going down, too numer-
Gus to mention III the scope OF this article.
Passing through the stair landing one
finds himself on opening the door, III the
fine art room devoted, as its name indi-
Gates, to the exposition of fine arts,
statuary, pictures, musical instruments,
paintings, sewing machines, and thou
sand other varieties of manufacture. Here,
also, we find the same two rows of columns
that have just been left behind III the con
cert room, but not SO handsomely orna-
mented or designed. The dimensions are
about the same as the concert hall.
Having given sketch of the building as
it is to be, it is but proper to devote some
space to the design of the Southwestern
Exposition Association. Mr.. William Arms,
the contractor, is to have the building com
plete in all its parts by the eleventh OF
April, and it is then proposed to prepare
the establishment for exhibitors. Finally,
on Wednesday, the second of May next, the
whole institution will be inaugurated, and
the actual occupation commenced.
As we understand it, exhibitors are to
pay for the space they occupy, attendants
in the future structure taking care OF all
the material and machinery. When the
fine art room is filed with statuary, marble
and bronze, the concert hall filled with an
appreciative audience, the supper room and
ladies parlOr with guests, the ground floor
| with samples of every sort of machinery