Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1894-12-21

position and the close of the Pacific Coast
Exposition, at San Francisco, it was felt
that many large exhibits could be obtained
for Atlanta with very little trouble and at
comparatively small cost. The fact that the
South was so little represented at the
Worlds Fair, and that the bulk of the Wis
lt0rs there came from the North, because the
Southern people were unable to attend, oW-
ing to the business depression, seemed to
make it almost Imperative that there should
be weIl-organizod movement to prC-ide
fer the attractive display of the wonderful
pro 1ucts OF the South
Atlanta, which is the capital of Georgia. is
situated on high rolling land bordering the
Allegheny range, and is HOO feet above the
sea. 1t has many fine sites for an exposition
like the one contemplated. OF these, Pied
mont Park, which is situated two miles from
the center or the city. was finally adopted
Its beautiful landscape features made it the
most suitable of the numerous sites which
were suggested by the enterprising citizens
The grounds slope from the hills on one side
TO the line of the railroad on the lower bor-
der, and were possible of development in a
very artistic manner.
part of this park was dug out so that an
inland lake, twenty acres in area, was pro-
vided, and around this lake, as around the
lagOOns at the Worlds Fair, it was proposed
to group the principal buildings. The lay
ing out Of the grounds and the Arrangement
OF the buildings and their location was done
by Grant Wilkins, Of Atlanta, who was made
Chief Of Construction. Mr. Wilkins is well
known to the South as a railroad and bridge
constructor, and has been very successful in
laying out the grounds for the Atlanta Ex-
position.
Piedmont Park is historic ground. When
Sherman was on his march to the sea At
+ lanta fell before him, General Hood being
unsuccessful in defending it, The ground
TO be occupied by the exposition of the pro-
tucts Of the South since the war, was liz the
middle OF the battle ground at the time
Sherman shelled Atlanta, when the CITY was
set on fire and almost completely DESTROYED.
Along that part of the park where the Mid
way Plalsance of the exposition will be-
even at this remote day, may be seen the
trenches behind which the soldiers fought.
Although 1t was at first proposed to have
only one building, which was to be large
enough to contain all the exhibits which it
was thought it would be possible to obtain,
so much interest in the exposition was de-
velOped in the South and IN other countries
that the scope of the enterprise gradually
extended until 1t was found necessary to
provide ten buildings for the exhibits alone,
| There will also be the Government Building
! TO build which and for the installation OF
exhibits the Government has apprOpropri-
ated $500. coo, ard the Administration Build
in, which, in addition TO holding the
offices of the exposition, will contain an au-
ditor.um that viii seat $500 people.
Mr.. wilkins gave TO the building set apart
for the fine arts the location on the top of
the hill in the most conspicuous part of the
grounds. The Government Building will
also be near by, on Il high plane of ground.
| The other buildings are all grouped about
the lake. Ii the centre ofthe park Mr.. Will
| kins provided for tropical horticultural gar
dens, in the centre OF which there will be an
electric fountain similar to the ones on each
side of MacMonnies fountain at the Worlds
Fair. The Terraces, as the Midway
Plaisance of the Atlanta Exposition is called
are winding street along the southern emu
of the park, which is broken by a bridge
over a lagoon near the centre. The TEL
races are situated where the old trenches
are still visible. Piedmont Park contains
1879 acres. II will thus be seen that there is