The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1892-12-17
DAHo,s MICA HALL
It Win 10 . Unique Exhibit ct the
Worlds Fair.

4
Idaho state building at Chicago viii b
isomething the other states may vel
envy. Mica for practical use is found
In but one other state in the union, and
that Is North Carolina. Idaho has the
finest mica in the world, and sheets
lSx0 inches are taken out Of the Nc
Connell mine in Latah county that arr
almost as clear as glass The owners OF
this mine have donated $500 worth OF
mica for fixing up hall The windows
and the panels in the doors will be
made Of mica. The wainscotting and
ether wood work will also be covered
with mica This hall will run trans.
versely through the second story of the
building, and ut each end will open out
on two broad verandas The panels of
the doors will be made Of blocks of
mica, and the four windows, one on
either side of both doors, will also be of
mica. 1t is the desire Of the commits
sioner to call attention to this product
of the state in the most striking manner
possible, and some day, not far distant
1t is hoped, Idaho win be supplying the
United states with mica, which is now
imported from foreign countries"
Miss Nellie Smith, of Kingston, Idaho,
assistant worlds fair commissioner for
ShOshone county. has collected over 20
different varieties of wood for the shield
which Is to mark the completion Of the
womans building at Chicago. These
boards are four inches wide BY three
feet in length. The shield was made in
C9ur d'Alene City by local mechanics
and is work Of art. Miss Smith has
at least b pieces of timber in the
shield, and she has taken great pains to
collect every variety of wood native to
this state. The shield viii be placed in
position at the dedicatory services of
the woman's building next May, Mon
tana furnishing the gold, silver and
copper spike and Nebraska the hammer
with which to fasten it.
Jay Rand Sanburn has received the
woods collected by Miss Nellie Smith
mentioned above, with list of same. The
shield has been made by Mr.. George
Conner, OF this place. 1t is now ready
for the carver. The names on the list
are: Alder, ash, ashen, birch, cedar.
chittem, cottonwood, dogwood, hemlock.
yellow pine, black pine dodge pole),
white pine, spruce tide landl, spruce
(high land. red fir, white fir, tamarack.
choke cherry, vine maple, red cherry.
service berry, willow, thorn and yew. A
few varieties native to the southern
portion Of the state were promised, but
have not been received.
In the matter of re-places the Idaho
building will have some novelties. As
these are designed mainly for orna-
mental purposes. they afford scope for
much ingenuity. The one in the mica
hall will be of pure white marble.
Pressed brick made from the clay in
kootenai county will be used in the ex-
hibition hall in the third story. In the
ladies' reception room the fire place will
be typical Of the early miners cabin.
The andirons will represent shovel. pick
drill and hammer, and the chimney
itself viii be built of beautiful mineral
specimens.
The ladies of Boise City have under
taken to raise money for furnishing the
ladies' reception room in the Idaho
building, and now have over $500 in
their treasury for this purpose. They
will have much larger fund than this
before the fair opens, and the room will
be fitted up in a style that will speak
highly Of their efforts. The architect is
preparing designs for interior decora-
tons, and these will be noticed from
time to time.
n fine specimen of the black wolf has
been secured for the Idaho exhibit at
Chicago next year. While the gray
wolf is quite common, the black wolf is
rare in this state, as elsewhere. This |
handsome representative of the black |
species is mounted with a rabbit in his |
mouth, and placed on a board covered |
with soil and stuck here and there with
sage brush.
The lava rock found in Logan
county is something no other state pos
sesses. A car load of this material is
now ready for shipment to Chicago for
the Idaho building. 1t will be used in
tiling the floor of the main entrance and
in facing for the brick work of the outer
wall of the first story. The lava is found
'n the ground in thin sheets in Logan
county and only awaits to be picked ~
~ the enterprising man for building
purposes.
As a mere business investment Idaho
would lose nothing by her appropriation
the worlds fair. a large part Of the
1hibit can easily be disposed Of for all
costs. But the state should be actu.
ted by higher motive. Many of the
lder states seriously regret the lost op-
ortunities of their early life for making
1iiections Of plants and animals. and
re now expanding much money for
museums. Idaho can well
ford to preserve her exhibit in the
eeping OF the state university or some
her institution for the information of -
ming generations in natural history.
The plan devised by the commissioner
r helping out the appropriations made
the legislature is meeting with good b.
ccess. Certificate pictures Of the =
aho state building rs it will appear at :,
licaDo arc snId IN oil ,,,,,,, all A.. =.