Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-11-09
The Atlanta Exposition.


corning the extent and Importance of this
exhibition dwindle into comparative insig-
nificance by the side of the grand realiza-
ton. Starting out with sole reference to
advancing the great staple, the cotton inter-
est of the south, it has grown in extent,
broadened and deepened in its scope till, as
Stunning proportions more than quadruple
the size originally contemplated, it is a
grand museum of everything that is valuable
in the vast southern region eastward to the
Atlantic, southwark to the gulf, southwest.
erly to the Rio Grande, and away west
wardly beyond the great Father of Waters
Products of the soil, valuable woods from
the forests, ores from the earth, minerals
from the quarries, the creations of manufac.
tories, the machinery and tools used in all
departments of southern agriculture and in
the development of southern industries are
there displayed in one vast bazaar, and
there the southern representatives of varied
and unlimited resources meet, as at grand
exchange, the northern mill men, manufac-
turers, merchants, shippers and capitalists,
on whom the development and utilization of
the great natural wealth of the south so
largely depends. Those intimately &C.
quainted with the extent and character of
the exposition maintain that it is the largest
showing ever made of the products of the
country; that, barring the foreign and the
government exhibits, it is much superior to
the centennial exhibition. Five hundred
car loads of exhibits have thus far been laid
down at Oglethorpe Park and more are COM
ing. No visitor to the centennial failed to |
see the Kansas building, and to gaze in open
mouthed wonder at its marvellous dislays of |
material resources; the representation at |
Atlanta of that buxom member of the sis |
terhood of states far outshines her display |
at Philadelphia. Twenty-Five southern rail |
roads display the varied resources of wealth |
that exist along their lines. Florida, in |
special building, shows her oranges and the |
long list of rare fruits cultivated in the |
"Italy of America" South Carolina ex-
hibits her phosphates, and the old north |
state, from standing pines, shows how tar,
pitch and turpentine" are raised" and as |
a slight suggestion of what her bowels con-
tain, sends bituminous coal in solid blocks |
which tip the beam at six tons. A splendid |
chronological exhibit shows what the south |
can do in the way of bugs and butterflies,
concerning which many of the boys in blue
who attended the grand southern exposition
that closed sixteen years ago are fully posted |
A fine display Of domestic utensils and |
musical instruments and an art exhibition |
OF commendable extent and merit are among |
the attractions which relieve the severely |
utilitarian character of the exhibition. In |
the park around the building many southern |
staples are growing and methods of cultiva-
ton practically exemplifed. Governors |
Day at the exposition was signalized by the |
manufacture of two complete suits of clothes
from growing cotton, all the processes being
Completed within the space of twelve hours |
IN the evening of that day, Governor Bige.
low OF Connecticut and Governor Colquitt |
OF Georgia appeared at separate receptions
arrayed in these garments, and submitted
themselves to the admiration of the public. |
1t would be too much to expect that this
Atlanta exposition will fill up and obliterate
entirely all traces Of the bloody political
chasm which once yawned to measureless
depth between the north and the south.
But that this free mingling of southern
men with northern men, the union of in
terests and purposes which will be COM
menced at Atlanta, the better understand
ing that has already begun and will be
there strengthened, with the thousand amen
tiles of substantial character which flow
from such systematic and aggressive WOO
ing of the arts Of peace, will have mighty
influence towards obliterating old sectional
prejudices, is already an assured result and
one of the happiest of the Atlanta exposi-
ton. lrreconcilables may carry their old
confederate antipathies TO the grave with
them, and certain half-civilized element
in the old political formation of the south
may for awhile longer use the shot gun
against the ingress of the new social and
political methods which must follow as
the light the day" the march of the true
idea of the Atlanta exposition TO its legti-
mate conclusion, but the end is coming and
through these industrial agencies more than
and speedier than through the agency of
politicians will the social and political revo-
luton of the south be consummated.