The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-22
Exhibit OF tho Coast and Geodetic Sur
yey Mt the Worlds Fair.

WASHINGTON CITY, Nov. 2l.-lSpecial. lone
Of the most interesting of the government ex-
hibits at the Worlds fair in Chicago will be
contributed by the coast and geodetic survey
1t will include, TO begin with, a representation
of this country such as no one has ever seen
hitherto This will be a segment OF globe
In fact, a counterfeit presentment of that por-
ton of the earth which ia covered by the United
States aud Alaska. 1t will be huge slice cut
of from the terrestrial sphere, as one might
take piece of an apple with knife. The in
ten ion il that Ii shall occupy the middle par .
of the floor space devoted to the display of this
scientific bureau, rising out of the floor like q
round hill twenty five feet across. Visitors
who walk about it win be astonished to see
what great curve of the earth's crust lies be-
tween New York and San Francisco, so that q
straight line Joining the two cities would be
hundreds OF miles underground at Omaha
To most people, who have always mentally
pictured the United States as fiat, this correct
representation of the country as being stretched
over big bulge of the earths surface will ap-
pear most novel and interesting The exterior
OF the globe-segment will be a complete relief
map, showing all the important geographical
features of this part of the world. 1t will be
painted-the seas lakes and rivers in blue, and
the land in other tints. Everything will be re-
produced exactly on the scale In nature aud
the observer will be surprised to discover how
smooth and round this planet is after all, even
seeming hardly moro than trifng roughnesses
on this scale. The latter will be one loot to
every million feet.
Other great maps in relief win represent the
bottoms of the oceans as they would look If
all the water in them were taken away. People
will thus have an opportunity TO see how the
eastern edge of this continent is really far out
In the Atlantic, where ii falls suddenly to the
vast plain OF the seas-the depths where mon
strous carniv orous fishes, blind or with euor-
nous eyes, live by devouring one another, in
the entire absence OF vegetable liie In imagin-
alton they can dive into the wonderful holes.
six miles and more in depth, which one comes
across with the sounding line on the way
around from 'wfoundland to Alaska by wav
OF the West Indies and the Caribbean sea. Two
OF the most remarkable Of these chasms are
found in the latter place and Just north OF Cuba
Hnord.ng suitable retreats for whole tribes of
mighty sea serpents aud other mysterious hor-
rors- W lat spots 70 drop a speculative hook
and line in, baited with half an OK, maybe.
FOR the purpose OF exhibiting the apparatus
and methods employed for exploring the ocean
depths, the cosst survey steamer Blake, which
has been engaged for years past in such work,
viii be taken TO Chicago BY way OF the st Law.
renee river, and will be anchored in the lake of
the lair grounds. Not least interesting OF the
relic! models viii b. one representing the eitv
Of Washington and the District OF Columbia
from surveys which have been recently com
p!eted. IL will be attempted 20 make the entire
exhibit both scientific aud ed ucationai Learned
visitors viii nd in ii illustrations OF the newest
systems and instruments Tor surveying and
measuring the eaIths sur ace, while the peopls
at large viii be shown the stages OF progress
through which human knowledge on this sub
lsct has achieved development There will be
display OF map-makiug from the survey
ing processes 20 the engraving OF corner
plates and printing from them The standard
weights aud measures OF the L nited States will
likewise be placed OF view. On q wall will be
described curve 10 feet in length represent
ing cross-seettol OF the United states. with
the mountains and other geographical features
"a they would be found along a straight line
running across the continent IRON san Fran
cisco 20 Richmond, Va, with all the big cities
marked on the route. This again viii give
people an opportunity 10 observe how far around
the world Uncle sans domain ex:ends
one feature OF the exhibit, shown in operation
oy water admitted TO the building. Will lie q
gauge tor measuring the mysterious "ttdes" OF
Lake Michigan, accounted for by some on the
theory that they are caused by q monster Of in
credible size st the bottom. which alternately
swalltows vas. quantities of lake fluid and
voIaItS IL up.