St. Landry democrat., 1884-08-02
New Orleans Exposition
Buildings

The Boston Herald says that the main
building of the New Orleans exhibition
is in some respects the most remarkable
edifiCe ever built in this country. 1t is
much the largest exposition building
ever erected in the world. The archi-
tect has succeeded, at moderate cost,
in producing the largest single room,
every part of which can be seen at any
| point, of which there is any knowledge.
The building is 1878 feet long by 905
feet wide, and covers 80 acres, or II
acres more than the Philadelphia Cen
tennial Exposition of 1876. There are
| ,656, 800 square feet Of floor space, in
Guiding gallery. The reader may form
a better impression of the vast dimen-
| sioDs of the structure by imagining
three ordinary city blocks one way and
five the other covered by q solid roof.
And if he chooses to allow his fancy to
carry him still farther, he can picture a
try, extending before his vision unin-
terrupted by single object except the
supports.
The active commercial rivalry of the
different sections is aptly shown by the
distribution of contracts for the mate
ria!s. The roof, which will cover 1000
600 square feet, is being made in Cincin-
natl. The windows sashes come from
Milwaukee, Wis. The glazing will be
done by St. Louis parties. Four thou
sand kegs of nails are being shipped
from Wheeling w. Va. Nine million
feet of Mississippi lumber will be con-
sumed. A massive group in bronze,
typical of America, to be placed over
the main entrance, is being made at
Canton, O., as are also statue of
Washington and Columbus, and coats
of arms of all the States, will appear in
medallion form as part of the exterior
ornamentation. Finely modelled cor
nices are being made at New Orleans,
| The building will be go feet high, with
a tower lis feet high, and the architect
| has been fortunate in rendering the eX-
terror unique and attractive. A plat
form will be erected on the tower,
reached by elevators, from which yisi-
tors may have an exceptionally fine
view OF the city of New Orleans, the ex-
position grounds, the Mississippi river
and the surrounding country. There
will be one line of gallery extending
around the entire circumference of the
building. to which visitors will be car
ried by 90 steam and hydraulic eleva-
tors, representing II the manufactu-
rers of these conveyances IN this coun-
try.
The musib hall situated in the center
eff the building, will be 1854 feet wide,
and will comfortably seat ! ], 900 persons.
A platform is being built for 800 musi
clans. To light the building with in
candescent lamps will require $4,000
lights and 1900 horse power. To light
with the arc system will require 700
lamps, and 700 horse power to operate
the dynamo. The total steam required
for lighting and for the machinery hall
will be at least 5000 horse power. In
this estimate is included the power for
five arc lights of $4,000 candle power
each, which will light the grounds.
These are the largest single lamps ever
constructed. The cost of this great
structure, lacking no single desirable
feature for the purpose intended, will
only be about 100000, and the other
buildings will be proportionately mex
pensive.