The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-02-28
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
THE WORLDS EXPOSITION.
Description of the "Time Service"-The
Exhibits of Several States, &c.
BALTIMORE, February 23d, 1SS

BALTIMORE, February 23d, 1885.
Messrs Lonqnecker Bros.:-An important fea-
ture of the Worlds Exposition at New Orleans Is
the "Time Service On the west tower of the
Government and States building is ball similar
to the one on the observatory at Washington,
known as the "Time Ball." At Washington
where time is reckoned this ball drops from the
top of staff, from which it is suspended, exactly
at IL o'clock noon each day. The ball drops at
New Orleans or the Government and States build
ing simultaneously with the ball at Washington
each day. This is done by electricity and is d.
rectly under the supervision of the observatory at
the CAPITAL. The dropping of the balls are SIM
infamous from the fact that the time it takes the
electric current to 60 from Washington to New
Orleans is SO small that it cannot be reckoned. A
current of electricity will travel around the world
seven times in one second. The time of day at
New Orleans when the balls drop is just o'clock,
there being one hours difference in the time be-
Nv ecu INC LII ILL., -i--i 80 .iIN q -
eminent and States building are regulated each
day at IL o'clock. A torpedo is exploded at the
same time in the artificial lake, representation
of Lake Ponchetraine. On this artificial lake the
Government has erected house, representing the
life saving station, and shows how the service is
conducted On the main tower of the Main build
ing is another time ball that drops at 10 o'clock
each day. This is governed by Prof. Pritchard,
of the observatory of the Washington University
at ST. Louis Mo. This observatory reckons the
time for the Goth meridian the Mississippi Val
ley region, having been authorized to do SO by
the Government A large clock in the Main
building, erected by the Seth Thomas Clock Co.,
rings out the quarters and hours, great convent
ence to the exhibitors who want correct time In
the different parts of the building.
will now continue my description of the States
exhibits in the Government and States building,
taking up each State it comes in rotation on the
floor. There are four main entrances and two
main aisles aisle running from the east to the
west entrances, is bounded by the Government ex-
hibit on each side, slight description having
previously been given, and interesting this at
right angles is the other main aisle running north
and south.
We will now enter at the southern entrance and
we find on our right the Maryland exhibit which
has also been described. Maryland had her pic
ture taken soon after the display was completed.
The photograph was of the entrance, showing the
coat of arms on either side of which has also been
placed coat of armour. Two flags are draped in
such manner as to show the model of the Battle
Monument in the background, forming very
pretty picture, which caught the photographer
| eye, hence the picture.
After passing through the Maryland exhibit
| you come to the Delaware space on the east of
MARYLAND She has only about one-third as much
| space as Maryland, but they have some very fine
| exhibits. Delaware is known as the Diamond
State by reason of it possessing such an abundance
| of wealth in such a small place. A number of ex-
hibits are arranged in the form of a diamond. A
large portion of the display is of manufactured
| iron, shown by the Diamond State Iron Co. The
vegetables and fruits of the State are shown as
well as other resources. A pretty collection of
stuffed birds are shown, presume one of each
kind found in the State.
The State of Pennsylvania borders on the north
of MARYLAND and Delaware geographically, but in
this building it ie east of Delaware. New Jersey
should have come next but it did not. The State
displays large collection of vegetables, arranged
on tables to good advantage. They have house
covered entirely, both sides and roof with slate,
very likely quarried at Delta. By the way, Mary
land shows slate from the different quarries in
Hartford county. A large disc of copper, ii feet
in diameter, is shown from Pittsburg. promi-
nent and pretty collection ofcolored glassware and
bric-a brac is shown. The space allotted to Penn
sylyania is about the size of Maryland, but the
display is not quite SO varied. The headquarters
of Pennsylvania is under the gallery and is quite
ao.;Iy atfod M. and has been nsed on several oc
casions in receiving the prominent visitors from
that State.
Next in order is New Jersey, which will be
given in my next. AS every State and Territory
in the Union except Utah has an exhibit, it neces
sarly follows that the mention of all will be brief
w. III, RIDDLE.