Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-06-13
By TELEGRAPH.
UNCLE SANS SHOM.
The Government Building Very
Popular at Chicago.
Foreigners Have Their Eyes Opened
to Our Richness and Resources.
vasiess Processes and 0eeafimsats d Cen.
sransnf Graphically illastraisd.

srnnsnf Graphically illastrsAsd.
WORLDS FAIR. June IA lSpsciall =
Uncle Sam is a very popular Parsonage at
the World Columbian Exposition. There
| Is no feature of the fair that attracts q
greater number Of visitors than his dis
play of the processes and efforts Of the
federal government. Foreigners who come
here are much surprised at the evidence
which they find here of governmental &C
tiyity in this country. They had enter
| tanned general sort Of notion that the
Americans were violently opposed to
paternaiism in government affairs, that
the government Of the United States was
about as simple thing as could bs
devised. But they are quickly convinced
of their error. While they find no evidence
of such paternalism as exists in some OF
the European countries and finds express
sion in state control Of railway and tele-
graphs, and of franchises in the trades
like tobacco monopoly, they do encounter
proof that in everything pertaining to the
welfare of the people and the development
of the resources and fertility of the land
our government is alert and energetic.
1t is impossible for an American to visit
the Government building, and the display
of government concerns made in the open
air near by, without a distinct sense of
pride in his country and its institutions.
Nearly all the things Uncle Sam attempts
to do he does well, and he attempts u good
deal AS an architect and builder he Is
rot perfect, by any means, as the struc-
ture which he has erected here for his own
use abundantly shows, but he is on the
eve of reform in that respect. In num-
Der of departments of his operations,
notably the hfe-saving service and the
weather bureau, he has easily led the
world, pointing a way of improvement to
European nations which they have been
glad to follow.
The government has an exposition of its
own here, and it is not surprising that it
should prove SO alluring to visitors. In n
building covering three and a half acres Of
| ground it shows every function of govern
ment, excepting the making of laws and
White House. What surprises most Wis
| itors is the enormous number of irons
Uncle Sam has in the fire. lie appears to
be in pretty much everything, aud after a
few hours spent among his display no Wis
itor will have need of further wonder as to
what our good, fatherly uncle does with
all the millions which We pour into his
strong box through the custom houses, in
ternal revenue offices and postoflices. The
wonder rather is how he manages to get
along without striking us for more.
To describe everything in the Govern
ment building would be like writing q
handbook of Washington, and that am
not going to do. 1t will suffice If we take
n passing glance at things shown here.
pausing now and then for a better view of
| some OF the more interesting features.
One of these is the most comprehensive
display of seeds ever made. The specimens
represent wheat grown in every county in
the United States-that is, every county
in which wheat is grown, and it is grown
| in about :. 600 counties. There are also sam
| pies of grain grown in all countries, from
| Japan to Mexico, and from Peace river
valley in northern Canada to Patagonia in
the southern end of South America. Every
seed in this collection was picked by hand,
and the varieties are shown in neat glass
compartments ON which are indicated the
weight, nature of soil and climatic condi-
tions.
The truth is, in one or other feature of
his big show, Uncle Sam starts somewhere
near the center of the earth, comes to the
| surface, and then sails away toward the
clouds. His geological survey exhibits
sections of the earth as deep down as any
| one has ever gone. Here the panorama Of
volcanoes, earthquakes and glaciers, as
well as the constructive and destructive
effects of water, are graphically pictured.
Almost everything on the face Of he earth,
the farms, water courses, harbors, lakes,
are shown in one way or another, and as if
this were not enough Uncle Sam builds a
huge model of the earth and sets it up on
n pivot for the curious to walk under,
around and over. Then be goes up in the
air with balloon and sets off dynamite
with which to bring rain, or Gen. Greedy,
of Arctic fame, flies balloon designed to
show the modern method Of military
signaling.
In Europe the use of balloons for observa-
| ton of the eneny's position and strength
has been common for many years. The
British and FreSch have regular balloon
corps, outftted with all necessary appa-
rat us for the initiation of the airships with
hydrogen gas and the manipulation of the
balloons after they are filled. Such cap
tive balloons were used very successfully
during the Rebellion, and Gen. Greedy has
had an airship constructed in France for
use by the signal corps Of the United States
army.
Gen. Greedy figures in the govern
ment display in another role. What
the French would call the piece de
resistance of Uncle Sans show is a
panorama or model of Fit. Conger, Lady
Franklin bay, Grinnell land, which was
for three years the home of Greedy and his
Inflated expedition. The scene Is repre-
sentative Of the return Of Lockwood and
Brainard from that famous journey in
which they made the "farthest morrill, APP
preaching within less than 400 miles of the
pole. Greedy has advanced some distance
from Fl. Conger to meet and welcome the
returning heroes, who with their Esqui-
maux assistant and their dog team form
quite cavalcade. The figures of Greedy,
Lockwood and Brainard are well executed,
and the animals are exceedingly life-like,
being the stuffed skins Of Esquimaux
dogs. The imitation Of ice all around is
realistic enough to deceive many visitors,
and the members Of the expedition who
are seen standing on the land in the back
ground, waving their hats with joy, add a
bit of spirit to the scene. Near by is dis
played the very flag which these brave
men planted nearer the pole than any
other human beings ever reached
Uncle Sam has won distinction in Arctic
work, as he has in almost everything else,
and this Farthest North panorama is al
ways surrounded by large crowds
of visitors. Many other Arctic relics
are shown here While this scene gives
glimpse Of the romance AMI
triumph of the Arctic field, but a few
feet away Is a collection OF articles which
speak eioquently Of TIE suffering and
death which sometimes follow effort in the
frozen north. These are the kettles, pans,
cooking stoves, sleeping bags and other
paTapherna.ia Of Catgp Clay, that dreadful
spot where tv o-,hirtls of the Greedy party
persisted By Starvation
Another Interesting exhibit here f. the
collection of presents made to General
Grant during his tour Of the world. 1t
will be remembered General Grant during
his financial troubles pledged these to the
Nanderbilts for money, and the Wander
bits generously presented them to the
National museum at Washington The
collection includes the presents received
from foreign governments. the golden box
containing the freedom of the city of Lon
don, and many beautiful swords and
caskets inlaia with pearls and diamonds.
An instructive exhibit is that illustrative