The Opelousas courier., 1884-06-14
"A Great Worlds Fair.
Erecting the industrial Exposition Building
at New Orleans.
IMMENs1rY OF THE ENTERPRISE.

pairing for q Worlds Industrial EXPO
sition, opening December |, 1883. and
continuing for six months, which now
promises to surpass the Worlds fair OF
London in size and the Centennial OF
1876 in variety of exhibits. A monster
building 1873 feet long by 905 feet in
width is being erected 10 the center of
the Upper City Park, and attracts
thousands of visitors, who are amazed
at the rapidity with which the con-
struction progresses. Nearly one
thousand men are engaged on the
work, and one section of the roof is
now being laid.
Hundreds of men are engaged IN
ditching, draining and embellishing
the grounds, and a large force is EN-
ployed in the erection OF an enormous
conservatory.
The buildings will be completed and
exhibits received in August. No
event in the history of New Orleans
has excited such universal interest.
Citizens of all classes manifest the live
Hest desire to make the enterprise a
success, and even the labor organiza-
tons of the city contribute a portion
of their weekly wages to the stock of
the Exposition Association.
A COLOSSAL STRUCTURE.
The largest Exposition structure
ever erected heretofore was the Lon
don building of 1862, for the Worlds
fair, which contained 1866, 900 square
feet, requiring 5000, 900 feet Of lumber,
1900 kegs of nails and 5000 boxes of
glass j u the construction. 1t will be
60 feet high with a tower of lis feet,
and have a music hall in the centre
with a seating capacity of IL 900. The
platform is to be built for 600 must
clans. To light the building will re-
quire $4,000 incandescent lamps or
700 arc lights, and the steam required
for the building will be over 5000
hQSe power.
The horticultural hall is a
handsome structure 600 feet long
by 1874 feet wide in the centre, with
glass roof and glass tower 80 feet high.
The building is being constructed by a
New York contractor. and will be
the largest conservatory in the world.
1t is designed to arrange around the
sides specimens of the choicest plants
from Mexico, Central America, Florida,
California and all parts of the United
States and Canada, and a special com
missioner visits Europe for the pnr-
pose of securing specimens of fruits and
plants in order to make this display
international in character. The cen
ire of this hall will be devoted to an
international fruit display, presenting
10000 plates or varieties. The larg-
est fruit exhibit ever made heretofore
was II 900 plates.
THE ART GALLERY.
An art gallery is being constructed,
composed of specimens of marbles and
stones of the various States and Ter
litories and of such foreign countries
as may send specimens. Mexico will
send d large collection of old paintings,
and u special commissioner has been
sent to Europe for the purpose of in
teresting European artists and owners
of collections. The Director General
will confer with the Art Union of New
York, aud arrange for a large display
by American artists and owners, but
from present indications the art build
ing will have to be very much enlarged
to accommodate the offerings.
One of the most interesting features
of this Exhibition will be the depart
ment devoted to live stock, poultry,
dogs, birds, etc. The demand for i'm
proved breeds of stock is general
throughout the South and extends to
Mexico and Central America. The
management arrange for sales on
stated days, and owners of improved
breeds will unquestionably find a com
paratiyely new market in the South
and in the Latin American buyers.
Grounds have been set apart to show
cotton, sugar, rice, jute, etc, growing
III the field experimental gardens are
provided for, and the display Of early
vegetation growing In December and
January will demonstrate that the
South has great sources of wealth in
improved truck farming. Near the
river accommodations are provided for
about forty sawmills, to be supplied
with logs and exhibited in motion, and
opposite these mills buildings are
being constructed for the wood work,
brick and tile factories il operation
ORNAMENTAL GARDEN.
The grounds will be embellished
with evergreens, gathered from all
parts of the world; artificial lakes,
fountains and ornamental gardens are
being introduced, and quite q compe-