The record-union., 1897-03-29

count has been kept-are a palace for
| the accommodation of the public in gem
eral, gorgeous affair, which it is de-
! clared shall contain everything that
heart could wish and money will buy.
There will be very few things that are
| free. It is not the custom of France to
give something for nothing In fact, it
would seem grievous wrong to the Pa
risian who has to pay a centime every
time he sits down in public park to
| permit the people of the world to take
advantage of the comforts, inside or out
of the exposition, without paying for
them.
The captive balloon will be present in
all it's greatness as it appeared at the
Worlds Fair and other expoSitionS.
Then there will be an exhibition of the
works of man from an early period up to
date. This will apply particularly to
the more notable inventions of great
artists, etc, and will include portraits,
statuary, manuscript, etc. An immense
telescope has been suggested by Nj.
Deloncle. The same genius also sug-
geSts 200-ton clock. A wine vat that
will hold $4,000 gallons is another sug-
gestion. Then there are four movable
platforms proposed, which are to-be i'm
PEELED either by steam or electricity.
Mines and geological exhibits without
number are among the plans submit
ted Camille Flammarion the famous
astronomer wants a tremendous moon
constructed, around which those who
desire shall circulate in a balloon.
AS for theaterS, panoramas. etc, there
~
course, it is proposed to have the Pas
sion play. Another idea is to have the
submarine theater. Then comes the
usual Alpine panorama, and another
which it is alleged will represent the
mysteries of the ocean. The doings of
the recent expedition of the French to
Madagascar are what someone wishes
to exploit on canvas. And so it goes.
Among the features suggested already
must be selected that one which 1T is be-
lieved will linger in the mind long after
the details of the exposition have passed
from memory. The entries for geniuses
have closed and now the members of
the exposition commission must delib-
crate over what is before them. While
eighty-f four suggestions have been held
to be worthy of consideration, really not
more than sixty-one Of these projects
are at all in accordance with the general
plan of the exposition. One of the Com
missioners has gone so far as to say
that only twenty-three of them are at
all appropriate, but this question must
be settled by the Commissioners as
whole.
To fully appreciate the immense
amount of labor required to place the
site of the exposition in proper condi-
ton for the beginning of the erection of
the buildings, it must be understood that
the work which is now in progress is
simply the first step-the demolition of
the buildings which now cover the site.
This is one of the facts which indicate
the determination of France to excel the
world. Never before has an immense
section Of a city's heart been torn to
pieces in an effort to provide room for
an attraction Of sufficient magnitude to
make this busy world pause and wonder.
While all the details of the architect
ure have not yet been worked out, it
is certain that the Palace of the Troc-
adero. which was utilized both for the
expositions of 1878 and 1889, will be
exposition halls of 1889 in the Champs
de Mars, although there will be changes
in all of them On the site of the Pal
ace of Industry in which the exposition
of 1855 was held, Will rise a splendid
structure to be used as the fine arts
hall of the Exposition Universale. Just
west of this location and on the same
side of the Champs Elysees, the ground
has been broken for the hall of liberal
arts, which is to be a permanent edi-
flee. A broad avenue will extend be-
tween these two buildings from the
Champs Elysees to the Seine. At its
meeting place with the river the stream
Will be spanned by a stately bridge,
which will be known as the Alexander
bridge, for the present Emperor laid
the corner stone of the foundations
thereof the last time he visited Paris.
1t is promised this bridge will not only
be remarkable for it's strength, but
equally notable for it's architectural
beauty. This bridge, too, will connect
the Champs Elysees and the Esplanade
de Invalides =
Thus it can be fairly said, and for the
first time, that the work of constructing
the exposition has begun. The plans
as revised are as stated The key note
of it all, however, is the determination
of France to excel everything in the
way of expositions that the other ma
tions of the earth have accomplished.
1t is their purpose to spare neither time
nor money Genius is at their COM
mand. The brightest minds of Europe
ard America have contributed their
Thp fro Mt lima Of
France has developed what may pos
sibly be termed the most extraordinary
suggestions that ever emanated from
human brain. The Eiffel tower was a
wonder The Ferris wheel astonished
the world. 1t is no extravaganza what
ever to assert that the Exposition Uni
versale will give birth to a marvel at
which the nations of the earth will gaze
in amazement.
lit is almost stupendous when you
stop to think of it. that eighty-four
features have been suggested which the
exposition commission deem worthy of
consideration. Hearking back to the
days of the old Crystal Palace of which
England was so proud and which IS
stiN the boast of every Londoner it is
doubtful if all that period that inter
vened has produced more than a very
small proportion of the number of
ideas of the sort which expositions seek.
Il should be understood that what can
be looked upon as the feature of an eX-
position is something far above and be-
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