Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-17


ING TO ACCOMMODATE TRo.sANDs OF VISIT
ORS.
From the N Y Sun
NEW ORLEANS December 1O-The Worlds
Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition
opens here Tuesday 1t has required immense
efforts to get things in order for that day. and
it IS to be regretted that there is not more time
for preparation. There are not many things
yet to be done around the grounds.
If during the opening month we are favored
with such weather as has lately blessed this
city, the northern visitor will find the railroad
pictures Of Southern scenes" representing
ladies and gentlemen walking through groves
OF bananas, with parasols to protect them from
the sun, scarcely exaggerated. The weather
has been perfect not touch Of chilliness, but
clear, radiant. and bracing. 1t has brought the
exposition park out in its brightest colors. The
Park. which covers nearly 800 acres of ground,
is the old Foucher de Gree plantation The old
house has long since disappeared, but the ave-
nues OF live oaks. which led up to the colonial
mansion, once one OF the finest in Louisiana. still
remain, many OF them over a century and half
OF age. These forest mOnarchs are ALWAYS the
most striking features of a Louisiana landscape.
of immense breadth-thirty or more feet in cir
cunference-thev are low. but with large
branches, spreading an acre or more. The in
evitable Spanish moss drapes their b0ugfis.
and gives picturesque relief to their dark
green leaves. There are several hundred of
these in the park in clumps and avenues and,
as they are evergreeus, they will prove an at
traction the entire winter. The gentlemen hav-
Ing charge OF the decorations of the grounds
have wisely concluded that they ought to plant
nothing but evergreens, and confine themselves
mainly to tropical and semi-trCpica plants Ice
is very infrequent here in winter. and trees and
plants OF this kind are seldom injured. They
have laid out a number OF orange trees Just
now bearing their fruit, and avenues of mag
noiia. 1aponica. canella and similar winter
blossoming plants. he Mexican, FlOrdan.
Californian and Central American gardens will
contain the best specimens of the fora of these
countries. There are very handsome coilec-
tons OF maguey. agave and cacti of every va
riefy from the tiniest dots to Others as big
hogshead. The graceful cocCanut palms. the
royal palm. and the date palms are in abund-
ance. most of them bearing their half ripe
fruit; and there are. besides these clusters of
banana trees. giant and dwarf, fg cacti. the
cochineal plant. and nearly every shrub grown
in the tropics The grounds, fortunately are
the most advanced portion of the work and
will be very nearly completed by opening day.
The exposition presents picturesque and
attractive view from the river. This water front
will be great advantage to it in every respect.
The great question Of the hour is how to trans
port to the park the great crowds expected to
travel there daily. There are five street lines
running there. but the mule cars of New Orleans
are small, slow, and Objectionable In many
WAYS. The steam railroad from Canal street will
not be completed until some time in January
In the mean while there promises to be ter
rife crush and crowding. The only means Of
escape from this is the river From Canal street,
the center of the city. to the park is just six
miles by the Mississippi. Boats will run hourly,
stopping at all the principal avenues, and as
New Orleans is nearly alriver front, nowhere
running over a mile back to the swamps every
body can reach the boats without difficulty The
water trip will certainly be the most pleasant
and convenient mode OF making this short jour
ney. 1t will give one an opportunity also to OBJ
tain panoramic view Of the city. especially at
tractve at night. as the front is lighted by cleo
trclty throughout its entire length.
From the levee in front Of the park is obtained
the finest view of the Mississippi in its whole
course of 1000 miles. Just opposite, at Nine
Mile Point. is the old Zeringue place. the scene
OF Cables picturesque story Of Bellies DemOi-
selles Plantation" Here the giant river puurs
down on the land with such force and fury
that it looks as if it would sweep everything be-
fore 1t, and you wonder why the feeble dyke on
which you stand Is not carried by the boiling,
eddying torrent before you. On the opposite
side are miles Of cane. still green and uxurant,
the finest orange and banana groves in the state,
the sugar houses. with their tall begasse CHIN
neys looking like some feudal castles especially
with the little village of whitewashed cabins
clustered around them.
In the park, just by the river bank Is the
Mexican National Building. Mexico by the by,
is going to carry off all the foreign honors of
the Exposition. 1t has gone into it with great
zeal and energy. The streets of New Orleans
are thronged with Mexican soldiers There is a
regiment Of infantry here already while the
Mexican band discourses soft Spanish airs to
the New Orleans public in the Music Hall. But
wait, say los Mericdnos until their cavalry repi-
ment comes. every man OF which is mounted on
a horse OF the purest white. Then you will see
what the Mexican Army Is.
The great bulk of the Mexican exhibit will be
IN the main building. Several dozen car loads
OF articles have already arrived, and are in DO
sition. In addition to this, however, Mexico
has constructed two additional buildings one
for the display Of its minerals, the other for
specimens OF its flora and fauna and as quarters
for its troops. These buildings as far as archi-
tectural. grace and elegance are concerned. far
exceed anything on the grounds The National
Building Ia OF the purest Saracenic architecture.
and is Intended to represent on a grand scale
the residence OF rich Mexican gentleman
There are four interior courts In terraces. and
here are displayed handsome natur al history
collection of rare birds, plants and animals The
exterior Of the building ia horidly ornamented
and colored in the richest OF hues
The Mexican Mineral Tower is one Of the most
graceful buildings ever erected 1t Is trans
portable and will be taken hence to the city OF
Mexico for use in the great exposition that our
sister republic hopes to hold at some early day
for Mexico Is determined to follow with one.
which probably explains the great interest it Ia
showing here and the handsome display it is
making. The Mexican headquarters, as it is
called. stands Immediately in front of the main
building. 1t will consist of hall. capped by
tall 0ctagonal tower, composed wholly of glass
and iron. The ironw0rk Is intended to repre-
sent the fora Of Mexico its vines and plants
and fOwers-and will be painted In brilliant
green's, Colds, reds and similar bright colors
The glass will be colored, giving the whole
building an Oriental appearance
The other editices cannot compare with those
OF Mexico In architectural beauty. The main
building presents very pretty facade, whether
seen from the river or the city. 1t is of nearly
quarter Of a mile frOnt-relieved from any
barrenness or stiffness by TALL graceful towers.
which give 1t some resemblance to the Louvre
The Government Building is very similar in its
general appearance. The most striking feature
In each is its size. The main building claims
the Notwithstanding in American ewes
OF being the largest ever erected, covering
about thirty -three acres. The whole interior ia
free from distractions, except the Music Hall.
IN the center. Long avenues stretch in every
direction, and the visitor who wants to see
everything within will have promenade of over
twenty miles Of aisles and avenues before him.
The Government Building is devoted to the
United States exhibit, which is here already; to
the collective State exhibits, to those made by
the railroads, and ipally to those known as the
"Colored Department" great effort has been
made to secure q handsome exhibit, that will
display the progress made by the negroes since
emancipation. handsome sum was subscribed
from the exchequer Of the Exposition for the