Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1890-08-27
TOWER OFLIGHT.
Edison to Put Up an Electric Mountain
at Minneapolis.

at Minneapolis.
A great feature OF the Minneapolis
Exposition this year will be the Edison
electrical exhibit, and perhaps the most
attractive feature of that exhibit will be
the great tower in the center of the build
ing. Speaking of the exposition and the
electrical exhibit the New York Electri-
cal World says:
The efforts that have been making to
secure a complete exhibition Of the elec-
trical industries at the Minneapolis In
dustrial exposition during the coming au-
tumn have already been mentioned in our
columns, and it gives US pleasure to be
able now to announce that, through the
energy of the general manager, William
NJ. Regan, these efforts have been crown
ed with success. 1t is now settled beyond
a doubt that the northwest will this year
enjoy an opportunity of examining and
studying one of the most complete exhi-
bitions of electrical devices that have as
yet been gathered in any part Of Ameri-
ca.
The main feature of the fair will be,
as has already been announced, the Edi-
son exhibit from the Paris exposition.-
This has recently been seen to great ad-
vantage in the Lennox Lyceum in New
York City, but at Minneapolis in will
be very considerably enlarged and ex-
tended. In addition to the Edison many
of the other large companies will send
exhibits and it is reasonably certain that
every branch of the trade will be repre-
sented.
The exhibition hall in Minneapolis is
366 feet square. The exact division Of
the $4,000 square feet Of space thus
available has not yet been definitely de-
cided upon, but some of the plans are
now practically settled and the most strik-
ing of them we are already able to Illus
trate
In the centre Of the great hall of the
exposition will be erected a huge electric
light tower, seventy-fve feet in height
and of corresponding diameter. Sur
rounding this tower will be pool of wa
ter, with all the usual effects of landscape
hills, marsh lake, &c. a circular
track, constructed on the edge of the lake
will give opportunity for running train
of cars by means of perrvt moier. The
tracks will run through tunnels, over
trestles, up and down grade and on the
level. Current will be supplied through
the rails, and automatic block signals
will apparently control the movements Of
the train.
The tower itself will be n great mass
of electric lights, arranged in sixteen cor
rugations. The lights will in the main
be clear, but colors-red green and blue
will be sparingly introduced to enhance
the effect. They will be controlled from
n switchboard in the basement of the
building and so arranged that the differ
ent rows can be operated separately OF
together. Thus one of the most beauti-
ful effects produced at the Lennox Lyce-
um, that of lighting and extinguishing
the tower slowly or rapidly, gradually or
simultaneously, can be repeated at Min
neapolis, but on a grander scale.
In the circular pool already mentioned
will be placed on the surface, on the bot
tom, and at various intervening depths
incandescent bulbs Of all colors. 1t is in
tended also to place in the water a guam
tity OF gold fish and other beauties, and
it. is to be hoped that a colony Of that
most valuable friend to electricians, the
common frog, will be established on the
banks of the pool to gaze ssdately upon
the miraculous results Of the twitching Of
their ancestors legs.
The total circumference of the circle
designed to include this exhibition of light
and power, with its accessories Of land
scape and water, will be 300 feet. Group
ed around it will be the remainder Of the
Edison exhibit, and in other parts Of the
great hall will be the exhibits of other
electrical companies. As a whole the
Minneapolis exposition of 1890 will GER
tainly deserve to be a great and trium-
phant success.
A West Virginian, noted as being dread
ful slow pay, was in the city recently look
ing for an Office, and called on Commits
sioner Miller to see aboutit. A day or two