Omaha daily bee., 1897-09-21
TURNING NIGHT INFO DAY
Arrangements for Illumination of the
Streets and Buildings.
H .U2ANUS OF LIGHrSAlO&G ri; STREETS
Public and Private uiuminntions Far
Exceed Anything heretofore
Seen i'm the city or
the West.

The man who first conceived the idea of
an Omaha organization that should break
down the barrier between this city and the
country surrounding it and who chose to
entitle that institution the name of the
commonwealth spelled in it's reverse order.
had every reason to feel nattered as he
walked through the principal streets of
Omaha last evening and saw the exhibition
of handiwork wrought through the influence
OF the knights of Ak-Sar-Ben and heard the
plaudits of thousands of hosts and guests,
Omahans and their visitors.
For two years the occasion of the Ne
braska State fair in Omaha has been cele
brated with great pomp and ceremony by
the citizens of this city. There have been
gorgeous decorations and brilliant illumina-
tions. But on none OF the previous occa-
sions has there been seen anything to
closely rival the blaze of glory that last
evening made the streets of Omaha almost
as bright as at MONDAY and much more
picturesque. AS 1t appeared last evening
the only work of previous displays of this
character has been to prepare the people
for what so auspiciously followed this sea-
SON.
1t doesn't take long to say that there were
over $500 incandescent lamps and 120 big
| arc lights, in addition to those ordinarily in
use, giving forth their brilliant rays to IL
lumine the streets last evening. And ii
doesn't take much longer to state that these
additional lights required the use of twenty
eight miles of electric light wire or to add
that over 5000 incandescent lamps burned
brightly on the principal buildings of the
business portion of the city. 1t took much
longer time however, for the eye to take in
the illuminatons and for the mind to appre-
ciate the work involved in preparing for
| such veritable outburst of electricity in the
form of light No word picture can give an
accurate description of the appearance of
the principal streets OF Omaha last evening
and neither can photography until that
science has been made more perfect in the
reproduction of color. There was much
brightness, but ii was softened by the dis
play of so much color th>~ the effect
not offensive and dazzling, but rather har-
monious and pleasing.
BRIGHT LIGHTED THOROUGFARES
Throughout the principal streets. including
Farnam, Douglas Dodge and Sixteenth, there
were long rows of incandescent lamps sus-
pended along both sides of the streets. AS
these lights were of variegated coors, for
the most part the green, red and yellow of
| the knights of Ak-Sar-Ben, they presented
most attractive appearance. On each street
| there was myriad of these small lights, and
| they totally changed the ordinary appearance
] OF THESE DuSy Dul
| The illumination Of the streets, though of it
self feature pleasing to the great crowds
! that walked the streets during the entire
evening, was insignificant compared with the
far grander display on the leading public
and private buildings of the city. Never be
| fore has there been such elaborate decora
tion and illumination of buildings in Omaha.
| The greatest crowds were attracted to the
| top of the Farnam street HILL where the bril-
| liant illumination of The Bee building, the
| nt1y 10 ~
| bined to make most wonderful scene. 1t
was the general verdict Of the populace that
| the county commissioners had eclipsed all
previous efforts in the magnificent decoration
and illumination of the court house. In front
large American flag was formed by electric
| lights of colored globes and the deft manipu-
| lation of the switchboard gave to this flag
J the appearance of its folds being blown in
| the breeze. Below was beautiful display of
| the national colors spread across the entire
width of the main entrance On the east side
| was large star composed of small electric
lights. Along the four edges of the roof were
| displayed small flags of Ak-Sar- Ben colors.
| The massive columns of the building were
| wrapped in the same bold colors. 1t was the
! dome that attracted the greatest attention
| however, and there was scarcely place
within the city limits where the bead of
| lights encircling the head OF Justice could
| not be seen. The dome and the large statue
of Justice in her new gown of white appeared
| to the greatest advantage, and were well set
| off by the new coat Of paint recently put on
| the cornice of the building. From the four
corners of the building to the dome were
| rows of Ak-Sar-Ben flags that will undoubt-
| edly make Samson and Samson, jr feel very
good when they ride along Farnam street on
Wednesday evening.
| LIGHTS ON OTHER BUILDINGS.
The Bee building appeared well with its
| brilliant illuminatlons. Over the main en-
| trance and the large windows facing Farnam
f,t of cd
| trio lights and the bold outlines of the build
| ing were made more prominent by lines OF
! incandescent lamps
| The city hall was brilliantly adorned with
several hundred electric lights of Ak-Sar-Ben
| coors most of which were ranged in vertical
| columns on the Farnam street front, while
the tower, lighted by horizontal lines of white
lights appeared better by night than by day
The telephone building had its large win
dows marked out with most BEAUTIFULLY
coOred array OF lights.
| The Millard hotel was ornamented witt
several hundred white lights.
The main office and the branch Offices o
the American District Telegraph company
were brilliantly Illuminated.
Maurer's was made easy to find by the sus
pension of seve al rows of gaily cOlored elec
trio lights above the roof, meeting at th'
tcD of tall flagpole.
All the railroad Offices were handsomell
decorated but the palm of the passenger mel
was fairly voted to the Quincy route office
where several novel features were introduced
in the window decorations.
The Elks' club rooms were designated b!
an Illuminated head of an elk and other deco
rations.
D-exel's Kiplingers and several othe
stores made noteworthy displays.
The Commercial club extended hearty wei
come, which was shown in bold design o
electric lights.
Nearly all the stores and the more proml
nent buildings were decorated with Ak-Sar
Ben colors, and those that were not. will b'
by noon today, or Ak-sar-Be III will knoF
the reason why.
KING AK-sAR-BEN's FINAL EDICT
Last of His Subjects Received and
Plans of Conquest Laid.