The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1893-11-23
CLIFTON FORGE VIRGINIA. THURSDAY NOVEMBER %, 1888
THE WORLDS FAIR.
Continued from last week.)
THE FISHERIES BUILDING


The Fisheries Building, including two
smaller polygonal buildings connected
with the main building on either end by
arcades.I The extreme length of the
building is 100 feet, and the width 200
feet. 1t is built OH Il bananas shaped
island and sub-diyided into three parts
to conform to the shape of the site.
In the central portion is the general
Fisheries Exhibit. In one of the polyg
onal building is the Angling Exhibit,
and in the other the Aquaria. The build
ing is Spanish Romanesque.
The Fish Exhibit is a wonderful one.
and not the least interesting portion of
| it is the Aquarial or Live Fish display.
This is contained in circular building,
| 135 feet in diameter, standing near one
extremity of the main Fisheries Build
ing and in the great curved corridor.
in the center of the circular building
IS a rotunda 60 feet in diameter, in the
middle of which is basin or pool 26 feet
wide, from which rises towering mass
| of rocks covered with moss and lichens.
From clefts and creviees in the rocks,
crystal streams of water gush and drop
TO the masses of reeds, rushes and orna-
mental semi aquatic plants in the basin
below. In this pool gorgeous gold fishes,
golden ides, golden tench and other fish
disport. From the rotunda one side of
the larger series of aquaria may be
viewed. These are ten in number and
have Il capacity Of 1000 to y, 900 gallons
OF water each.
The total water capacity of the
Aquaria, exclusive of reservoirs, is ,725
cubic feet, or 0,000 gallons. This weighs
! ,192, 425 pounds, or almost 600 tons. Of
this amount about 10000 gallons are de-
voted to the Marine Exhibit. In the en-
tire salt water circulation, including res
eryoirs. there are about $4,000 gallons,
THE HALLS OF MINES AND MINING.
Located at the southern extrlnity of
the western Lagoon or Lake, and be
tween the Electricity and Transports
ton Buildings, is the Mines and Mining
Building. The building is 700 feet long
by $50 feet wide. is architecture had its
inspiration in early italian renaissance,
with which sufficient liberty is taken to
invest the building with the animation
that should characterize great general
Exposition. In plan it is simple and
straightforward, embracing on the
ground floor spacious vestibules, restau-
rants, toilet rooms, etc. On each of the
four sides of the building are placed the
entrances, those ON the north and south
fronts being the most spacious and prom
inent. To the right and left of each en-
trance, inside, start broad flightssof easy
stairs leading to the galleries. The gal
leries are go feet wide and 25 feet high
from the ground floor, and are lighted
on the sides by large windows and from
above by a high clearstory extending
around the building. The exterior pres
sents massive but graceful appearance.
The main fronts, with their enormous
arched entrances, look southwark on the
great Central Court and northward on
the western and middle lakes and IL
thickly wooded island.
The main fronts are IS feet high from
ground to top of cornice, and the main
central entrances are 80 feet to apex of
pediment. The great interior space is
ONE story high, $50 feet long, and $50
feet wide, with all extreme height of 100
feet at center and AZ feet at Sides and is
spanned by steel cantilever roof trusses
supported on steel columns placed Is
feet apartfongitudinally.
The exterior of this building, like that
of all the others, was made Of ''staff,''
similar to that used in facing the recent
Paris Exposition buildings The roof is
covered with glass and the building has
steel roof trusses. The cost of the Mines
Building is $250,0G0.