The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-10-24
THE SOUTHERN EXPOSITION.
The Motive power of the Machin-
ery-The Mechanical
Department.

Very few visitors to the Exposi-
ton are aware of the steam and
engine power it requires to move
SO extensive an establishment.
No one has seen the exhibition
unless he passes out of the doors
at the south end and examines the
batteries of boilers which provide
the steam. At night the firing Of
the sixteen great boilers makes a
beautiful sight, and the scrupulous
neatness of all the surroundings OF
the boiler houses makes them a
very agreeable place to visit. The
system of receiving and handling
freight has become almost a dis
tinguished mark of the Southern
Exposition, and exhibitors accus-
toned to the delays and annoy
ances Of other expositions have not
yet ceased to wonder how all the
vast amount Of freight got into the
Exposition and to the right places
SO quickly and quietly. This
south end of the grounds by the
boiler house shows how this is all
done, with the double rail tracks, in
clined planes, and every appliance
for handling heavy freight. Furth-
er south and off toward Sixth
street is the fireworks house, where
Pain manufactures the brilliant
pieces that mark his displays.
Heretofore, very few persons have
gone out into the grounds at the
south end except on fireworks
nights, and then they hurry back
in the main building as if they
were afraid they might learn some.
thing they did not know before.
Visitors do not often have chance
to see SO extensive a system Of
steam batteries as may be seen
here, and nowhere probably may
such things be seen to such advan-
tage, in the way of cleanliness and
convenience. 1t will more than
repay anyone to 60 to that part Of
the grounds and look at the steam
giving power before they 60 into
an examination Of the engines
which apply the power to all the
moving machinery in the building
and the thousand or more of lights
scattered all over the grounds.
One Of the handsomest pieces Of
machinery at the Exposition is the
steam fre-engine, Cary B. Black.
burn. 1t was built for the Port
land district of the city, but was
thrown out of active service last
February on account of lack Of
funds. 1t is warranted to make
steam from cold water in less than
four minutes. The use OF the en-
CINE was rendered to the Exposi.
ton Company by the city.
1t is in charge of old and efficient
iremen, who sleep in the building
and are always on duty. The en-.
CINE is kept hot by the use Of
Mirck & Ferguson's heater and
automatic steam couplings. Dur
ing the fire works displays, the
horses are kept hitched up, so as
to be ready at moments notice.
A number Of hremen are also plac-
ed on the roof of the main build
ing during these displays. They
have with them lines of hose and
plenty of water to put out any
sparks that may fall from the fire
works.
Few visitors who observe the
electric lights in the Southern Expo
sition think of the vast space which
has to be Illuminated. There are
fifteen acres under roof, every foot
Of which has to be lighted. This
is done by a system of arc and in
candescent electric lights, which
furnish over a million candle pow
er. That is, it would require over
a million candles to be lighted
every night to furnish the same
amount of light The electricity
is generated in seventeen dynamo
machines, which are run by eight
engines, representing $50 horse
power. The steam required fol
these engines is furnished by four
batteries of boilers. After the Wis.
itors leave at night a circuit o.
light is turned for police purposes,
which runs until after daylight. In
addition to this, Central Park, al
the north end of the grounds, con
tanning eighteen acres of forest
trees, is brilliantly lighted with
electric lights, and at the south
of the grounds is the Amphithea
tire which is 400 feet square, and
also lighted. Over Fourth and
Sixth streets, at the entrances, are
Illuminated arches, which cast a
powerful electric light for many
blocks down each street, and the
outside of the buildings and the
gate-houses and boiler-houses
are similarly lighted. Visitors
should not fail. to examine the
electric light plant at the south
end ofthe main building, and the
engines and boilers, as they con
stitute at this time the largest
electric single plant in the world,
and in this electric age, which is
just dawning, form a whole expo
sition in itself.
The proverb has it, Every
man to his trade" and its truth is
exemplifed at the Exposition. In
the machinery hall are to be founC
a constant crowd of mechanics
closely watching and criticising and
studying the movements and me
chanism of the many engines dis
played. Occasionally is to be
seen an artisan standing apart witt
thoughtful look upon his brow,
and evidently working out some
plan by which the machine before
him can be improved or an entirely
new one invented that will do the