The morning call., 1894-02-04

The grand Illumination. which was 70
be the most pronounced step toward the
final completion of the exposition, took
place in the evening. 1t was a success
from every poiuC of view. The 5000 in-
eandescent lights which decorated the
main buildings for the first time. the 200
arc lamps which diffused an effect of
picturesque whiEeness over the grand
court and through the roadways, the aug
Tnented number of visitors, the unusual
animation in all quarters, served to make
the night a memorable one.
The day had scarcely been allowed to
disappear at all. Most of those who had
paid their entrance fee in the morning or
afternoon had come prepared to tarry for
the great event of the evening. Long be-
fore sunset the SIX great dynamOs in the
south side CT the Manufactures building
were set ag0g in the presence of numbers
Of curious Onlookers. The revolvin 2
shafts and coils and copper cyl inders be-
gan 70 prepare themselves or the task of
obHterating the transition from day to
night. One huge wheel took upon itself
the presnmptuOus responsibility Of fur
ntshiBg light to girdle of 1900 lamps
that was TO extend in double circle about
the grand court, while dozen minor ones
divided among themselves the work OF
feeding with the electric ire no more than
200 lamps of larger size and scattered more
difusely through the grounds.
By 6 80 O'clock the generators had
stored themselves 10 their limit. The
sun. was already sinking, the shadow
creeping over the park. and night threat
ening to come Gu. The engineer gave the
word, the crowds were warned to be out
WOni0 fin
witness how man Is master even over the
powers of darkness
The little lever was turned the slight
connection Of two ends of a wire made,
and instantly light began TO spread
through Sunset City that ssipated all
shadows and did away with all phases of
night, Tor the deeper the darkness that
settled the brighter the colors which
human invention sent TO oppose it. The
current OF electricity went successfully
through all the com piications Of its course
and esta bllsbed a brilliant and mellow
light that endured until the closing of the
gates far on in the later evening.
The effect was beautiful beyond that of
anything which California has yet seen
within its own borders. The incandescent
lights were run in continuous lines along
the caves and up and down the spires and
mlnarets or all the main buildings, accu-
mulatlng most gorgeous effects in the maze
Of superficial elabOratiOns Of the Admins
tratlOn building. There they sciutlllated
alternately with the brilliant cOlOrS of the
dome, and cast back soft reflection over
the upper end OF the court, the allegOrical
fountain and the Clear basin beneath il.
Free once from this structure IL was as
il the electric current had taken a playful
liberty upon itself and run haZardousIy
along the curves and edges Of the HoTti-
cultural building, leaving a trail of yellow
light through all its path; as if 1t had
jumped timidly over TO the Impressive and
sacred Art building, and reVeTentiaIly only
tipped it with train of lamps, fearful to
touch too heavily with the sign manual OF
modern invention the eXemplar Of so an
eieut civilization as if from there 1t had
fed to the Manufactures and Liberal Arts
building as to proper nome, and in exul-
tant pride spread itself in every way in
contrast to ats darkened pr0genitor.
Incandescent lights were everywhere on
the Manufactures building; in the most
remote Tecesses, on the most unexpected
corners and cornices, in little windows and
turret openings. They gave to the varied
coiOrs Of the structure an even more pic
fuTesque effect than they bear by day
light. And overhead, in Moorish tower,
conspicuous above all things in the fair
grounds, was great arc lamp Illuminating
the entire building and lmpartlng to the
electric lighting tout ensemble which IL
would be hard 10 fancy more perfect.
A double line of incandescents girdled
the Mechanics building-towers, sides.
caves and all.
Are lights were numerous and brilliant
IN the court. II only the great tower had
been lit up. as it will be soon, nothing
more could have been desired. The llu-
mination would have been complete.
The interior sof the buildings was of
course. more brilliant than the court with
out. Many Of the exhibits we're in place
some of the most interes ting-and throngs
of people visited them The Manufac-
hpf no Rfnf ha
Mechanics building was we'll crowded,
and even the Horticultural building in
which the least mum Der ofeXhIbitS are in
place, draw goodly company.
The settees about the band stands were
popular. The evening was not chilly and
many, who seemed TO care N ore to remain
in the quiet and repose and impressyeness
OF the grand court to trudging amd the
exhibits or carOusIng among the conces-
sons. gathered in the benches before the
Administration building. or in those be-
fore the Manufactures. and listened 10
the two bands of the evening" UnhaDpiIy.
the pleasure of some were marred by the
Iowa State Bands eXecrable rendering of
certain pieces. IN particular of the Wash
ington Post"
Outside of this single proVocation the
multitude was cheerful as California
multitude always is; and of such good
nature that few observed one little fault
which shOne through all the evenings sue
cess. The dynamos which supplied the
incandescent lights did not carry q SUI
icient current Despite the brilliancy of
the illumination as a whole the lamps
gave forth only about one-half the regula-
ton 16-candle light. This was due to the
inability of the generator to attain the
requisite speed for 500 voltage on account
of having governor too small for the
machine.
The admin stratiOn had announced its
intention of lighting the roadways leading
from the car terminus to the entrance, but
1t was observable last night that their in
tentions had not been carried out.
BRILLIANT CONCESSIONS.