The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1888-05-04
NO. 13.
SU B-T h0pltAL EXPOSITION.
WHAT 4 TAR ;fEELiAN SAW IN
TUE LAND or FLOWERS.
When Sou'b"~nnT~ tttemp. to DO II
Thiu-, They DO Not ~. ii Half WAY
Description of the Buildings, Nc.

In the Winter Ct 1887. through a sug-
| ge>tlon from he FINES UuIou. the citizens
of Jacksonville, Florida, became aroused
as 70 the eXptdiency of holding a Sub Trop-
lca Exposition, In order to make a display
| OF all the resources and products of Flori-
da also uf The Bahama :, West Indies,
| Mexico and South America. A general
meeting was held April Sth, 1897, and
preliminary steps taken to organize a com
pany-Ihe plan laid vide and deep
ana on such scale as TO admit of future
development and without limit thus af-
fordlng a field for study and qualification
for visitors as we'll as an educator for the
| people of Florida.
Every county in the State was invited
to participate, but only - or IS respond
ed and these, without any assistance from
State or Government, raised the amount
| necessary to organize, and a subscription
meeting was held July 12th and Il contract
awarded Work on the building began
at once and made ready for the display by
January 18th, 1888.
The handsome structure is in a central
location in the watelworks groundS-Ia
about 325 feet long and 81 feet wide this
includes the towers, in number which
adOrn either end of the transept The gen
eral width Is 1872 fee without the towers
! The height Of main tower from the ground
on the northeast side. The height of build
| ing inside is about so feet a. the center
the outside wall is 20 feet and then it
gradually llses by steps or sections and
long rows of sky lights and windows
afford abundant light. In the center of
| the building Is a beautiful fountain built
| up of native stone. coral, sponges and
| shells, and mounted with stuffed water
birds which are perched on the top on
branches of coral, yet not exposed to the
| trickle of the water which is thrown up
very gently and without spray A great
eagle with outspread wings crowns the
summit. Around the basin lilies and
other plants are growing in vases. AT
| night the water in the basin is illuminated
with colored gets of electricity. Around
tie fountain, seats are arranged in
semi circle and opposite on the gallery
the orchestra furnishes fine music at stat
ed hours each day.
Above the fountain rises the dome -
| feet IN diameter and runs up to a height
| Of S5 feet. On the south side Of the build
| ing are number of cribs of earth in which
are growing rare troplcal plants, such as
bananas, coffee trees, palms, pineapple
crotons, spice trees, &c. The north side
is devoted to tropical and sem-tropical
| plants. Through the centre of the build
ing are the fruit stands, quantities of or
anges, lemons, grape fruit, Japan piums,
&c, &c, products of every kind. grain
woods, vegetables and roots. My atten-
ton was especially called to the ca sava
root from which it is claimed 80 tons of
flour can be produced from one acre.
The display of pot plants and cut flow
ers is very beautiful. There is fine
work of all kinds displayed by the ladies.
The display OF tobacco is quite extensive.
1t mas been demonstrated by Successful
experiments the past season that some
| parts of Florida can grow tobacco that Is
| equal to that grown in Cuba, and the
| manufacture of it is developing rapidly.
| There is one thing very noticeable that
| every man who attends counter or stand
never weares IN displaying and praisirg
the products of his especial county, and
one goes out Of that building believing
that Florida is indeed the garden spot of
the United States.
Outside of the main buildin. three coun-
ties, fernando, Citras ard Pa<co, united
and built very artistic house IN the form
of a Greek cross, thatched viii palms.
These counties certainly have adtto.a ii very
interesting feature TO the exhibition. The
artesian we'll furnishes an abundant sup
ply IF water for the miniature lakes and
all other purposes. The alligators i'll the
little lake and the wild deer in the grounds
|
The building is provided with all convc-
nences. tela-, aph Office. a bureau OF in
fog nation and post Office. At the south
| east corner Is substantial s.nli 6iXs>
feet two stories high, the torer part is
occupied as restaurants, offices. Slttng
rooms, and t ,ilet rooms The second story
is the Art gallery "hl-h l. said to be the
third or fourth in size in he | uited states.
1t is octagonal III shape and admirably
adapted for the display of paintings. Tie
walls Of hard pine wood are painted Il
dark maroon W hich is considered the best
color to show the pictures. In the center
of the room is a triangular shaped inner
room in which is displayed the largest
plct ures, and when one enters the gallery
, the first painting that greets the eye !s
''Christ's entry into Jei usalem," the con
ception by Gustave Dore, reproduction
by the artists of the r. a. of London. The
size is lo by "a feet and valued al $40, 900
There are three very old pictures OF
exhibition. One St. Simeon and child 25o
e wears old. and Head Of Christ 800 years
: old, painted by Jacobo Robusti who died
1894. There are 250 paintings IN all, 2
$ description of which was kindly furnished
4 me by Mrs l. ". Quimby, of Minncapo
: lis. the lady manager Of the Art Depart
S ment, and believing it will interest al
5 lovers of art, append it.
f The Art Gallery.
In the Art Gallery are over 800 pic
c lures from celebrated painters III thi
e country and Europe. Some exquisite fig
ure paintings by Charles Emile Jayne pre-
o sent unexceled treat meat in fabric paint
! ing. bringing out marvellous effects 0
. texture and quality. Silk satin, plush
A velvet, lace, and heavier goods, have eacl
! a quality and a sheer peculiar to them
r selves Daz i, represented in severa
l. wood interiors III rich dark coloring; G. +
y Ream the eminent fruit painter has frui
It that almost deceives the eye in its perfec
II ton of form and color. He also has som
k heads that are master pieces IN their treat
h ment OF high lights. He has the dlstlnc
:, ton of being compared to 'Rembrandt
: in some of his best FORKS "a Brow
Is Study has attracted much attention froI
" Connoisseurs. Corot, kusean, Dupre CaI
1t rabain and Miralles are among eminen
g European artists represented. Albert Brr
d stadt. one of Americas foremost landscap
j. painters has fine pictures III the collection
le j. G. Brown whose name has become
household word for his ini imitable rend
q, tions of street games, boot blacks, &c
o. has two fine pictures. One section Of III
I'd gallery IS given to marlDe views. Anon
56 them are works of De Has, Hayne
Ill Schlesinger, Chra, Ronzse, Smlllle, M
in coll Schaffer and others. Roishoven an
ho1 Z. t,ti nf I.