Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-04-12
MARVEL OF BEAUTY
Will be the Worlds Fair
Grounds at Night.
Electric Lights Equal to l5,90o,0O0
Candles will Shine Forth
Over she Vast Grounds and Throughout the
Mammoth Buildings.

| CHicAGo, April ll.-Whiie the World 5
Fair directory has been straining every
nerve 10 ind some teehnicality that would
legalize the opening of the Exposition on
the Sabbath, they have at the same time
been forging what will prove one of the
most potent weapons in the hands of their
opponents
| Thousands of dollars have been spent
upon the construction of the most COM
ple,e and efficient electric light plant ever
projected, and as result jackson Park
will be more attractive by night than by
day.
| Every inch of the 633 acres covered by
the EXPOSITION and included in the Midway
Piaisance will be Respondent in an electri-
| cal glow that will outrivsi the suns rays in
| light and will be free from their scorching
heat. The exterior of each of the build
ings will be adorned with constellation of
| incandescent globes, and arc lights will
| ilIumine the interior.
| Search lights of dimensions never before
| dreamed of will be mounted on the domes
| of the principal buildings, and, like min
iature planetary system hundreds of feet
ovexhead, will serve to blend together and
soften the glare of the myriad of lights in
the world below.
A visit to Jackson park by night will be
revelation in electric light effects, and
will furnish an answer to that threadbare
question, When will the wage-workers-
and how many of us are not wage-workers
get an opportunity to see the Worlds
FAIR" There are few of us who will be
denied the privilege of seeing the park by
DAY, but such as are deprived of this pleas
ure may rest assured that after sundown,
when the suns rays have given place to the
fresh lake breeze, Jackson park will be
more comfortable and infinitely more beau
tiful than by daylight.
For the editicaiion of the ladies who are
generally credited with weakness for sta
tistics, it may be stated that the total vol
ume of light to be difused over jackson
park will be equivalent to 10 5,900,oO0 can
dies, twice the amount of electric light now
furnished to the entire city of Chicago.
The mammoth search light which will
cast its radiance from the summit of the
Manufacturers building, an altitude of 25o
feet, will be visible for over 100 miles and,
when turned upon the business section OF
the city, seven miles away will cast trail
of light comparable only to the midday sun.
This monster light will be supportei by
eight smaller ones in different parts of the
grounds. All of them will be manipulated
by skilled electricians, and, through the
agency of colored slides, many weird and
beautiful effects will be produced, as the
buildings, chameleon-like, will be made to
change colors with every succeeding mo-
ment.
Besides the soft radiance of search lights
the miles upon miles of paths in the park
will be lined with are lights mounted upon
ornamental posts, either singly or in groups
of two or three. For this purpose nearly
10 600 lamps of 200o candle-power each
will be employed. As far as possible they
have been arranged in straight lines, thus
forming vistas OF light thousands of feet In
length, each light having shlmmering
counterpart in the dancing waters OF the
lake.
Another prominent feature of the illumi-
nation will be produced by the myriads of
incandescent lights that have been arranged
on the outer walls of the buildings in such
a way az to enhance the architectural effects
aud TO add to the general radiance of the
scene. Every building will be encircled
with band OF ligli, at uniform height of
60 feet.
The Grand Basin, extending from the
Administration building, with its gildcd
dome, on the west, to the magnificent peri
style on the east, and from the waters of
which Daniel French's colossal statue of
the republic towers to the height of 60 feet,
will be girdled by band of fire. This
flaming girdle will be composed of lO5o
electric lights. three feet above the water
line AMI two feet apart.
To the south of this basin, far above the
dome of the Agricultural building, and
batlied in a halo of light, Diana, who, until
a few months ago presided over the desti-
mes of Madison Square Garden, has found
a resting place. Below the dais. upon
which the huntress is enthrJnrd, is sunken
r, ffs,tor and a multitude of lights which
will battle her golden beauty in food of
light, and make hr form stand out ike
goddess of fire, against the blackness of the
night.
Then plan of lighting the exterior of the
exposition il spectacular, and, while the
necessity of providing light in every spot
which might serve IS \ lair for the thug or
the pickpocket has not been overlooked, the
main idea has been to produce artistic and
strikingly orlgina effects. In the interior
of the buildings the reverse of, this rule has
been followed. While artistic effects have
not been forgotten. the principal aim has
been to furnish an abundance of light. and
to furnish ii in such way as not to fatigne
the eye.
In interior lighting the Manufactures and
Liberal Arts buildirg may be taken as a
type. In this building there will be five
grea. chandeliers four of them consisting
of so arc lights each and the fifth of -.
These lights are situated 40 feet above the
floor. and ike She search lights on the
outside, will cast mellow light over the
entire interior and blend together and hsr
monte the effect produced by the thousands
OF smaller lights in different parts of the
hall.
Several hundred additional arc lights are
distributed in the galleries and around the
outer edge of the building. For the light
ing of the individual exhibits some so 600
incandescent lights will be used.
The cost of this immense profusion OF
light has already reached the hunire1ia Of
thousands. and will considerably exceed
: 600 900 before the Plant is completed
AMI the operating expenses paid. Twenty
two thousand horse power will be required
to generate electricity for the entire ssstem,
and the current will be distributed through
network Of tunnels, every foot of wire
being accessible for repairs without excavat-
| ing the -oadways or demolishing the walls
of the buildings.