The morning call., 1894-02-04


The grand illumination, which was Go
be the most pronounced step toward the
final completion of the exposition. took
place in the evening. 1t was a success
from every point of view. The 5000 in
candescent lights which decorated the
main buildings for the first time. the 20O
arc lamps which diffused an effect of
picturesque whiteness over the grand
court and through the roadways, the aug
mented 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 OF
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 agOg in the presence of numbers
of curious Onl0okers. The revolving
shafts and coils and copper cylinders be-
gan to prepare themselves for the task OF
obllteratlng the transition from day to
night. One huge wheel took upon itself
the presnmptuOu5 responsibility of fur
Gishing light to a girdle of 5000 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
diifusely through the grounds.
By 6:30 o'clock the generators had
stored themselves TO their limit. The
sun was already sinking, the shadow s
creeping over the park, and night threat
ening TO come On. The engineer gave the
WORD, the crowds were warned to be out
of door if they would see a fine sight and
witness how man is master even over the
powers Of darkness.
The little lever was turned, the slight
connection of two ends of wire made
and instantly a light began to spread
through Sunset City that ssipated all
shadows and did away with all phases of
night, for the deeper the darkness that
settled the brighter the cOlors which
human invention sent 10 oppose it. The
current of electricity went successfully
through all the complications of its course
and esta bllshed 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
minarets OF all the main buildings, accu-
mulatlng most gorgeous effects in the maze
of superficial elabOratiOns of the Admins
tration building. There they scntillated
alternately with the brilliant cOlors of the
dome, and cast back soft reflection over
the upper end Of the court, the allegOricaI
fountain and the clear basin beneath il.
Free once from this structure il was as
- ii the electric current had taken playful
liberty upon itself and run hazardously
along the curves and edges Of the Horti-
cultural building, leaving trail of yellow
light through all its path; as if it had
jumped timidly over to the impressive and
sacred Art building, and TeveTentially only
tipped ii with train Of lamps, fearful to
touch too heavily with the sign manual of
modern invention the eXemplar of so an
cent civilization; as if from there it 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 its darkened progenitor.
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
'uresque effect than they bear by day
light. And overhead. in a Moorish tower,
conspicuous above all things in the fair
grounds, was a great arc lamp Illuminating
the entire building and lmpartng to the
electric lighting tout ensemble which il
would be hard to fancy more perfect.
4 double lice of incandescents girdled
the MECHANICS DuHuluB-LOAeIS, SlQeS,
caves and all.
Arc lights were numerous and brilliant
in the court. If only the great tower had
been lit mp. as 1t will be soon, nothing
more could have been desired. The lllu-
mination would have been complete
The interior iof the buildings was. Of
course. more brilliant than the court with
out Many of the exhibits were in place
some of the most interes ting-and throngs
of people visited them. The Manufac-
lures building was the chief magnet; the
Mechanics building was we'll crowded,
and even the Horticultural building, in
which the least mum Der of exhibits are in
place, drew a goodly company.
The setiees about the band stands were
popular The evening was not chilly, and
many, who seemed TO care more to remain
in the quiet and repose and impressiYeness
OF the grand court to trudging amid the
EXHIBITS or carouslng among the conces-
sions, gathered iu the benches before the
Administration building, or in those be-
fore the Manufactures. and listened 10
the two bands OF the evening. Unhappily,
the pleasure of some were marred by the
Iowa State Bands eXecrable rendering of
certain pieces, In particular of the Wash
iDgton Post"
Outside of this single propocation the
multitude was cheerful, as a 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 a SUI
ficient 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 800 voltage on account
of having governor too small for the
machine.
The administration had announced it:
intention Of lighting the roadways leading
from the car terminus to the entrance, bu
it was observable last night that their in
tentions had not been carried out.
BRILLIANT CONCESSIONS.