The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-09-06

ter at Atlanta, is the secretary of the ex
position. Alexander w. Smith, the audi
tor, is member Of the bar, and the gen.
eral counsel, J. J. Spalding, is corpora
ton lawyer of high standing.
The details Of the various depart
ments are in the hands of some % COM
mittees. In addition to these there is
distinct department, the board of women
managers, the officers and directors of
which are prominent women who have
entire charge of the woman's building
and exhibits.
The chief of the department of pub
Lefty and promotion is W. g. Cooper, a
newspaper man who worked on The
Constitution under the much lamented
Henry W. Grady.
The Site of the Fair.
The site of the fair adjoins the city
and is practically suburb Of it. The
main buildings are on slightly higher
ground than the rest and are visible for
miles in every direction. The grounds
have straight frontage upon Bleckley
avenue of more than quarter of
mile and run backward along Pied
mont avenue, almost at right angle,
for more than half mile. On their
eastern side they are practically fenced
in by the Southern railway.
This latter feature is very fortunate
one, as it enables freight to be brought
from every part of the country and be
delivered from the train almost into the
very building for which it is intended.
On the south and southwestern sides is
a model electrical railway, while rival
one runs upon the northern and eastern
sides. 1t is barely possible that the two
will be joined together like the famous
Intramural at the Philadelphia exposi-
tion in 1876. The present plans make
the two roads close likenesses of the
electric railway which was so inter
esting feature at the Chicago Worlds
fair. In the southern and southeastern
corner is an artificial lake or lagoon,
which curves gracefully so as to give
between one and two miles of water
front. On it are steam, electric, naph-
tina and gasoline launches, gondolas,
Whitehall boats, canoes, sampans and
models of the craft of various nations.
The lake has been located with great
skill, so as to give water frontage to
nearly every one of the leading build
ings upon the grounds. In its treatment
and in the landscape gardening of the
surrounding territory there has been a
very ingenious attempt to give vistas Of
great length and beauty in different di
rections from about 20 different points.
This has been accomplished by arrang-
ing the structures in such mathematical
lines that there is no crowding together
in any particular spot, and no plotting
out of one building by larger one
along the line of sight from the leading
thoroughfares upon the ground.
The Buildings.
The exposition is represented by the
following notable buildings:
The United States government build
ing, with $4,000 square feet of floor
space, which contains exhibits from the
state, interior, agricultural, war and
navy departments and of the Smithso-
MAN institution and the United States
fish commission.
The Minerals and Forestry building,
under the charge Of the United States
government, containing full exposition
Of the mineral and timber interests and
resources Of the south.
The Manufactures and Liberal Arts
building, containing operating plants Of
every industry even remotely affecting
the development Of the south and south
ern commerce.
Machinery hall, containing the latest
and best inventions, both American and
foreign, pertaining to the entire indus
trial field.
Agricultural hall, devoted to the full
est possible display of the products Of
the southern fields
Electricity hall, containing all that is
new and up to date in electrical machin-
cry and inventions.
Fine Arts building, with representa-
tive works of many of the best artists of
the day, both native and foreign.
Woman's building, in which are dis
played the work of women in htera-
ture, art, music, sculpture, invention,
the domestic arts, etc.
Transportation building, which is
conducted on lines similar to those at
the Chicago fair.
A Horticultural building.
An Agricultural Implement building,
containing all the latest and standard
inventions in agricultural implements.
Auditorium, for meetings, conven-
tions, concerts, etc., having a seating
capacity of over 5000.
Negro building, for complete expo
sition of the negroes achievements.
Fire building, for fire apparatus Oh
display and for service.
Administration building, of unique
composite design.