St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-08-03
AT THE WORLDS FAIR.
,ooksou PARK and the Great City.

After congress had voted TO hold
Ala Worlds Fair at Chicago, the en-
terorising citizens of the second larg-
est city in America had to furnish
cite Even in a city containing 1872
souare miles, it was difficult to find
s5o acres where the fair could be
held But Chicago has the most ex-
,ersive park and boulevard system
If any city in the world, and Jackson
oork was selected for the exhibition
bindings, and the drive between
Washington and Jackson parks for
the midway plaisance.
Jackson park is seven miles south of
citv hall and the business portion of
tbe city. 1t is on the lake front and
;s the largest park in the city. The
northern portion ofthe park, or about
80 acres, was improved and used as
Measure resort before the Worlds
Fair was located there. WHAT'S now
the Iowa building was built by the
city and used as casino. A break
water protecting the entire front had
been built and the beautiful drive
from the Iowa building along the
lake southwark. The rest Of the
mark was mostly series Of sand
ridges covered with scrub oaks.
Within two years this park has been
changed from desert into garden,
and Jackson park contains to-day
the greatest and most beautiful col
lection of palaces the world has ever
seen. In February, 1891, the work
Of grading and dredging was begun,
and this work was completed in i've
months, at an expense of over half a
million dollars. Frederick Law Ohm.
stead, Americas greatest landscape
gardener, superintended this work
and it was fitting tribute to his sue
cess that both Yale and Harvard
gave him a degree at their last COM
mencement. The park now contains
winding macadamized roads and
walks, flower beds and shrubbery
and a system OF warer ways
that adds a great deal to the artistic
effect of the whole. There are 81
acres of water in the park divided
into several lakes and eight lagoons
The latter are alive with launche:
and gondolas, and at night are beau
tifully illuminated by rows Of electric
lights on the waters edge.
Julian Ralph, the noted magazine
writer, gave the fair the name which
has chung to itever since. Before thu
fair was opened, Mr.. Ralph christeneC
it the white city," because of the colo
ofbuildngs, and this very appropriate
name is now in universal use. Will
few exceptions all the buildings ar
pure white and excellent limitations
of marble. Two weeks after lief
the white city, stood in front o
the national capital at Washington
and the resemblance between thi
beautiful marble structure, costing
over $25, 100000, and some of TIL
larger buildings i'll Jackson park
which cost less than million dollars
was very striking. The buildings il
the white city" are covered will
staff and a composition Of plaster
cement and hemp. This staff, whel
first made, is very plastic, but 500
hardens like ordinary plaster. 1t i
both water proof and fire proof, AM
has been used for building purpose
for over 100 years. We areindebte
to the South Americans for the ide
of using staff for public buildings
though do not see how staff differ
much from stucco, which is of sue
general use in European architecture
The buildings have either an iron c
wooden framework, which is covere
with staff. The larger buildings al
ornamental with huge statues mao
firon or wood, which has also bee
covered with staff.
The artistic effect of the grounc
and the buildings cannot be owe
estimated. The larger buildings al
tar enough apart to prevent an
crowded appearance, and there is a
individuality about the architectu
of each structure which harmonic
perfectly with the rest of the bull
ings. When the grounds are
Illuminated in the evening and tt
McMonnies electric fountain is pla
ing, it is safe to say there is not