The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-06-08
THURSDAY,J JUNE s, 1898.
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~. E2411 e 81; = 4 !.
TIFF, WORLDS FAIR,

The editor is home again from
Chicago, the National Editorial Con-
vcntion and the Worlds Fair. OF
course lie is expected to say something
about the great Columbian Exposition,
and he is disposed to oblige his readers
if he only knew where to begin and
what to say. But here is the rub.
Where there is world of wonders
exhibits from every civilized portion
of the globe, the oriental countries
and even the Free States of Africa
one is so bewildered and confused he
does not know what claims special
attention or is most worthy to be men
toned
Think of the number and magni-
tude of the buildings and the immen-
sity of the grounds included in Jack
son Park which constitute the " White
City," and some idea may be formed
OF what the Worlds Fair is.
Let us say in the outset that there
are 535 acres in the park, II of which
are water. 1t has frontage on Lake
Michigan of II, miles, and the dis
lance from the main entrance to the
back is still greater. There are 50
exposition buildings proper. with
floor space of $50 acres. noIuding
the galleries there are exactly 1907
acres that must be trampcd over in
order to edo the Worlds Fair-and
this does not include the side-shOws
to the big circus where much sight
seeing may be done. The Midway
Plaisance, some distance from the
main exposition buildings, but within
the same Enclosure, is mile long and
about Goo feet wide, and contains So
acres more. Here are the places where
an extra admission fee offrOm 0 cents
to SI.oo is charged. They include
bazaars of various nations, Irish and
Eskimo villages, Libby's glass works
Something every one should see) the
trained animal show, &c. Many of
these will we'll repay the time, trouble
and cost to see while others will not.
But there is great deal more to be
seen in the exposition buildings proper,
to all of which your ticket of admis-
sion to the Fair grounds go cents
entities you than time and energy
and endurance Will admit Of.
Grouped around the main buildings,
the largest of which Manufactures
and Liberal Arts covers II acres, are
81 State and Territorial buildings, IS
buildings erected by foreign govern
= men,s, and 10 others for use of the
management, restaurants, advertising
wares and enterprises of various kinds.
The sightseer who starts out to take in
the whole thing must prepare to walk
along I24 miles of aisles. Add to
this the distance from one building to
another, which must of necessity be
travelled many times, and you can not
go in a straight line on account of the
lagoonS which must be passed over on
bridges located at certain points, and
the total distance to be covered will
reach fully $50 miles or more. So
you see there is walking ahead" OF
the visitor who expects to see all OF
the Worlds Fair.
While all the buildings were finished
many Of the exhibits were incomplete
at the time of our visit. This was par
tlcuiarly true of many Of the foreign
governments. In all of the main build
ings laborers were busy erecting payil-
ions and arranging the exhibits OF
both American and imported articles,
and it looked as if it would be several
weeks before everything would be in
place and the Fair fully under way as
visitors will see IL later on.
In the Agricultural building the
displays made by Iowa, Illinois, Wash
ington, Nebraska, Minnesota, Kansas
and Missouri impressed US most, while
the State buildings of Illinois, Wash
ington and California, with their
varied and well arranged exhibits, are
almost a Worlds Fair in themselves.