The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-09-25

fronts south on Sixth street. Last year
there was also front of $50 feet on Pierce
street which was of equal importance in
its design to the Sixth street front. But
the Corn Palace this year. although it
shows u decorated mass in whatever aspect
IL is viewed. cOncentra' es its main exterior
effects upon the south or Sixth street front.
The frontage OF tho structure is 23S feet
and its depth $50 feet.
The architectu is unique and difficult 70
describe except at great length of detail. 1t
is composite, the features o many distinct
styles being selected and all together sub
ordinated 10 the main purpose OF the whole.
The general result. perhaps. is more sug
gestive as u castle than Of anything else.
The roof is early English. The windows or
numerous openings are Moorish. The tow
ers and pinnacles are of various origin The
main wall of the building is thirty-five feet
hiah It includes two ample stories, il the
gallery running around the interior can be
counted as a story. Above this wall the
roof rises TO peak in the center. which
Is sixty-eight feet above the floor. The
main feature of the structure is the grand
tower, which rises over the center of
the south side TO height OF 1S6 feet
below the flagstaff. The tower is forty
eight feet square at the base, through
winch is the grand entrance. The tower is
intended as well for "a lookout as for the
other purposes which it serves. The
original plan OF equipping the tower with
an elevator had to be abandoned on ac-
count of the severe strain involved, but il
is provided with ample stairways. At diff
ferent heights there are four balconies run
ming around the tower. the uppermost be-
ing 161 feet above the ground, from which
an admirable view Is TO g had not only OF
the building but also of the entire city. On
either side OF this tower there are thanking
towers Of lesser height. but provided like
wise with balconies which are connected
with the main tower bv bridges. At each
extreme Of the south side. also. there are
towers. jnst beyond the lateral gables.
The entire face not only of the main
building but also Of the towers Is dressed
with natural products in fanciful forms.
Corn of all colors and kinds, and in all
parts of the plant, is the predominating
material. but all the grains. grasses and
seeds oil this region are used. The roof is
thatched with grain. The appearance of
the whole is gorgeous and interesting TO
contemplate. The interior Of the building
would present the general appearance OF
vast rectanglo IL IL were not broken in the
mid die by the projection OF the framework
of the main tower. This makes apparently
two open spaces TO the east and 10 the
west, but there is connecting space be-
tween OF more than one-hah the depth OF
the building. and in this space Is the raised
platform for the musicians. Eunning around
the interior Of the building. at the height Of
seventeen feet above the floor. is a gallery
guarded by a balustrade. The gallery Is
eighteen feet deep. The space under the
gallery Is ulNlutQ lnbO DOOluss 10 10 ulSO
the gallery.
Ii IL in the interior OF the building that
the finest artistic effects OF decoration are
wrought out. Every particle Of the space is
decorated. The work is freely done by the
ladies OF Sioux City. who are organized for
the purpose. Something Of the magnitude
OF this work may be inferred from the fact
that the floor space on the ground Is about
$4,000 square feet. and in the gallery over
III 600 square feet. For over three weeks an
average OF 275 ladies have been daily engaged
inIdecorating the interior. The materials are
supplied at the expense OF the Corn Palace
management. An army OF $50 laborers. also
employed by the management Is at the COM
mand OF the ladies. The latter are divided
into groups OF from five To ten, each under a
director. and each group is assigned 10 a
booth. A plan Of decoration Is invented and
approved. and when completed the group
goes to another booth. The stimulus OF
rivalry among the groups IL strong end
fruitful OF results. IL is simply impossible
TO describe the wonders Of the effects
wrought out In this way. They are so va
RED and complex. so surprising and so Gu
rious on account OF the materials used.
that "A volume would be required for full
details. and then the story could not bo ap-
preciateJ without visit TO the scene. The