Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-12-12
ATLANTA LETTER.
ATLANTA. Dec. 9. 1881,

az NhO AN"N Va NSACSdllOub AlOul ulue
ent and distant localities, it may
said "the half has not bee
told" The Queen of Shell
said the same thing ovC
two thousand years ago, but it answer
just as we'll now as ever before. I
write up this exhibition Of naturi
products, of machinery and art, eve
in condensed form, would fill man
copies Of large newspaper. Th
oompactDess and excellent classifca
tions Of this exhibition, give it gres
advantage over the PLiladelphi
Centennial. The buildings and differ
ent departments are SO close togethe
that much may be seen without tn
labor, the long tramps and the fatigu
experienced by all who trio
to obtain even a superficial viel
Of the Philadelphia Exposition
The outer walls include about sixt
acres, and there are about tWent
acres Of flooring including frat, secon
and third stories Of buildings. 1t is no
far from the mark to say that th
roofing covers ten or twelve acres. 7
walk through all this, up stairs an,
down stairs, taking a corsory glance a
the main objects Of interest, is
hard days work for any one. On tn,
second day one has a definite idea o
the situation, and according to tast,
or occupation, begins to see to som,
purpose. On the third the close, sys
tematicsobserver sees less, walks less
and sees TO better advantage. Still
there is always something new discov
cred at every point, no matter
how often revisited, and those
who have the time to spare could
doubtless spend two or three weeks
here without losing interest cr a sense
of daily renewed instruction and
pleasure.
The limitations of a single letter dc
not allow many details, but l desire tc
add the testimony of one who ha,
visited other aud larger Expo
sitions, to that of thousands Of
others, that when all the facts
are taken into consideration, this Ex.
position is one of the marvellous thing:
of this progressive age. 1t is the real.
lzation Of dream, which but yeal
ago no one expected to see within the
nineteenth century. The Vienna, the
Paris and the Philadelphia
Ezpositions were well worth
going half around the world
to see. They presented the products
the industries and the arts of the
whole earth. Every accessible coun-
try, civilized and barbaric, was repre-
sented. These Expeditions were
largely international in character
we're generously subsidized by their
governments, and lOs
tered By old and wealthy cities.
Atlanta was ploughed up by cannon
balls and partly burned during the
war. This destruction was not quite
equal to that of Jerusalem at the
final siege, but it waa next to Colum-
bia, S. @. Coming back here after an
absence which dates from the
fAteful 22nd. of July, 1864,
do not recognize a single
house in tho business portion of the
city. The old passenger car shed is
the only familiar feature, and even
this may have beer rebuilt since the
war. The angles of the principal
streets and their grades are about the
same as before. But it is bran new
city Of big fine blocks, first class
hotels, its factories, banks, whole
sale houses, street car line,
and ceaselcss din of machinery
1t looks like a few square miles of the
busiest part Of Chicago set down here
in the piuey woods of Georgia. Tht
press of the place is thoroughly met
ropolitan. The Constitution has few
equals as newspaper on this cont
nent, and is a power in the land
an engine Of progress which
works for the material development
Of the South. The st-Appoal is I
spicy, enterprising paper, 1t is NJ
especial wonder that tho go abeaC
people Of such a city should RESPOND
promptly to Mr.. Edward Atkinson
suggestion that they hold Cottor
Exposition, but that their aims anC
efforts in this respect should
take such a lroaG scope as tt
attract capitalists, manufacturers ant
interested visitors from all portions o
the country, and even from Europe, il
the most remarkable and significan
event in the recent history of tb,
South. The exposition as far as i
goes, taken in detail or as a whole
taken inch for inch, articl,
for article, and acre for acre
is not only equal to tn
Philadelphia Exposition, but is il
many points aud respects superior
Take for illustration the display 0
minerals, woods, grain, fora, etc.
all under one roof, and it is beyond a.
question far ahead Of anything tha
was seen at Philadelphia in material
in classification and in artis
tic display. This departmen
alone is worth the tri
to Atlanta by any one who takes a
interest in the rapid march of events
There is much that is new in a
kinds Of machinery, in articles {