The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-06-01

will be an instructive object lesson, just
rs Uncle Sans brick battleship in the har-
Dor gives them an even better idea Of mod
ern naval construction and armament, or
rs they may study to still better advant-
age the newest type of steamships by going
aboard the whaleback columbus" along
with four or five other passengers for
pleasant trip on Lake Michigan.
If one likes boats-and who does not?-
this is the place to see them. Besides the
acres Of models and pictures of larger
crafts there are innumerable smaller ships
and boats-fshing boats, cutters, yawls,
launches, canoes, fce-boats, dingies, pilot
boats. They have been gathered from all
lands. Side by side are the hide boats of
the Indians and the trim electric or oil
pleasure or fishing canoes Of modern build.
There are boats of steel, of iron, of wood,
of skins, OF barks, of burned out trunks of
trees, Of rubber. All their appliances of
oars, paddles, engines, screws, pTopellers,
sails, rigging and anchoring are shown,
too. One may proftably spend two or
three days here looking at nothing but
boats. He may see not only what man is
doing to-day but may study his efforts at
boat and ship building through all time.
There one dense group Of visitors Is look
Ing at an accurate model Of the Santa
Maria, one Of the immortal Columbus
little feet, and near by another group is
admiring the beautiful lines of the swift
"Campania." Between them stands the
staunch craft with which Grace Darling
saved SO many lives and won for herself
tmpeYishable renown.
We have had hurried glimpse at trans
portation by water and transportation by
rail. But many methods Of land transpor-
tation remain to be seen. It would never
do to forget street cars and vehicles for use
ON common roads for the more fascinating
steamships and locomotives. Even more
important to man than his railways or his
ships are his carriages and wagons. OF
these there are literally acres and acres
There Is nothing In the line Of vehicles for
use by man with draught animals that is
not shown here.
1t is a pleasure to note that both in de-
sign and workmanship the American
makers of wagons and carriages easily
lead the world. Where other nations fol-
low beaten tracks the American boldly
strikes out for new adaptations. This ID
particularly noticeable in the delds-hght
pleasure vehicles and wagons for special
Industrial purposes. In both these lines
the Yankee makers have made wonderful
progress during the last five or six years.
They fashion q new, light, graceful and
convenient road or driving wagon for
every day in the year. For every phase of
Industrial or commercial activity they
construct vehicle that saves power and
time. II you were to note the large num-
Der Of foreigners who go carefully and
adnairingiy about among this almost in
finite variety Of American vehicles you
would be as willing as am to predict that
the Columbian exposition is to have ire
mendous influence upon the carriage and
wagon trade Of the world. There is moth
ing in the whole exposition that causes
one moro amazsmenS than this display Of
wagons and carriages. All Americans are
accustomed to seeing great variety of
road vehicles, bat when one beholds acres
of them, and no two alike, he is likely to
think himself dreaming and wandering In
some fairy Land Of wheeled things.
There are electric railways, cable rail-
ways, compressed air motors, chemical
motors and horse cars in great profusien
here. Outside the building may be seen
In practical operation the first elevated
electrical railway ever built. Within the
building Is the first cable car-the one that
was used on the Clay Hill railroad in San
Francisco about twelve years ago.
But the list of methods Of transportation
has not been exhausted. There are pneu-
matte tubes, cash and parcel carriers for
use in STOKES, endless belt railways, wire
railways, sleighs, sledges, sleds, toboggans,
saddles and other fittings for use upon the
backs of horses, mules, elephants, camels,
goats and oxen. Over in the plaisance is
railway without wheels whose cars slide
on a film ofwater automatically compressed,
and IN the galleries of the great building
are thousands upon thousands Of bicycles
and trioyoles. There are baby carriages,
steam road wagons and carriages, and
even air ships for the carrying Of passsn-
gers and freight without either land or
water fer pathway.
II MATTER WELLMAN,