The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-07-24
THE GREAT BUILDINGS.


Worlds Columbian Exposition can
give but faint and imperfect under
standing of what the visitor will be
confronted with in '93. The readers
of the FREE PRESS can, however, gain
something of an idea of what is being
done in Chicago by perusing the fol-
lowing condensed description, which
is issued from official sources, and can
be relied upon as being absolutely
correct:
The general scheme of the grouping
is so arranged that while each build
ing is perfect of itself and of its kind,
each is also an integral part of a grand
harmony. There are two grand courts
upon which the buildings face. From
any point in either of these spaces the
building form varying but ever har-
monious compositions. The culmi-
mating point of the architectural
scheme is the.
ADMINISTRATION BUILDING.
This superb building is designed by
Richard M. Hunt, the president of the
American Institute of Architects. Its
general plan is that of a square COM
posed of four pavillions. 1t will COW
er an area of $50 feet square and will
rise to the height of 22O feet. The
crown of the structure is a splendid
dome 80 feet high, including its base.
The general design is in the style of
the French renaissance.
Externally, the design may be d.
vided in its height into three princi-
pal stages. The first stage consists of
the four payillions, corresponding in
height with the various buildings
grouped about it, which are about
siXty-five feet high. The second stage,
which is of the same height, is con-
tinuatiOn of the central rotunda, 175
feet square, surrounded on-all sides by
an opon cOlonnade of noble proper
tions, it being 20 feet wide and 40 feet
high, with columns four feet in diam
eter. This colonnade is reached by
staircases and elevators from the four
principal halls and is interrupted at
the angles by corner payilliOnS,
crowned with domeS and groups of
statuary. The third stage consists of
the base OF the great dome, 80 feet in
height, and octagOnal in form, and
the dome itself, rising in graceful
lines, richly ornamented with heavily
nodded ribs and sculptured panels and
having large skylight of glass to
light the interior. At each angle of
the octagonal base are large Sculp-
tured eagles, and among the spring
ing lines are panels with rich gar
lands.
Immediately to the right of this
building is the
PALACE OF MECHANIC ARTS.
The central idea carried out in this
building, whicc covers a space Of $50
by 500 feet, is that of the railroad
train house. The building is designed
according to the Spanish renaissance.
1t is difficult to assign pre-eminence
among such a collection of architect
ural triumphs, but the richness of the
facade of this great palace is uneX-
celled by any other of the buildings.
A feature of this triple building, for
such it is in plan, will be the use of
the three enormous travelling plat
forms to carry visitors from end to
end, thus affOrding a complete view
of all the machinery without fatigue.
Facing this and on the other side of
the Administration Building, are two
great buildings.
THE ELECTRICAL BUILDING
is the first of the two reached. 1t COW
ers a space of 700 by $50 feet; that is
to say, more than five and half
acres. And yet this enormous space
will scarcely suffice for the vast cleo
trical exhibits to be made. The gen.
eral design of the building is the Ital-
ian renaissance. The motive of the
building is very cunningly carried out
in the delicate spires and turretS
which crown it. At the south end is
a great semi-circular arched entrance,
to be marvel of sculptured and col
ored decoration, and in the center of
which there will be a statue of Frank
lin. Beside this building is the
MINES AND MINING BUILDING.
1t is of the same dimensions as the
Electrical Building, and is severely
classic in design. The main features
of this building are the two grand en-
frances, one at the north and one at
the south end.
These are each 100 feet high and 80
feet wide, and open into vestibules 8S
feet high, deliberately decorated. At
each corner of the building there is
pavilion 6S feet square and 90 feet
high, surmounted by a dome and or
namental flag stats. A broad balco-
ny, 60 feet wide and % feet high, sur
rounds the whole building, and eight
handsome stairways leads to this bal
cony. This group of four buildings
faces upon a T-shaped basin and canal
toward the lake, and the view from
the Administration Building, pro-
longed across the basin between the
Liberal Arts Building and the Agri-
cultural Building, shows the Casino
situated upon the long pier, and ris-
ing in artistic and capricious form
against the blue waters of the lake.
THE AGRICULTURAL BUILDING
is by many architects and artists con-
sidered to be second in magnificence
only to the Administration Building.
1t will cover a space Of S00X500 feet,
almost surrounded by lagoons and ca
nails. In design it is purely classic,
and the exterior presents richness Of
decoration skillfully handled, so as to