Omaha daily bee., 1897-12-05
DREAM CAUGHT IN REALITY
Vision Of the Transmississippi Exposition
is Taking on Form.
ARTISTS VISION IS NEARLY FULFILLED
Dirdscyc view of the Grounds N Copy
of what Is Really I'm Exist
cnrc Mt Kountze Park
mt Present.

rlppi and International Exposition issued as a
supplement with The Bee OF this date shows
the exposition as seen from an elevated point
southeast OF the grounds, the spectator look
Ing directly towards the northwest The en-
tire grounds occupied By the exposition are
shown, the picture being technically correct
On even the minor details almost without ex-
ceptlon These details were taken from the
plans and drawings in the offices of the va
rlous Departments OF the exposition and are
not the result OF the imagination Of the
artist who made the picture. 1t gives cor
rect aud comprehensive idea OF the appear
anco the grounds will have when the gates
open June l, 1898, aud tho artistic merit OF
the drawing speaks for iteelt
The exposition grounds are located in the
northern part Of the city, in the heart OF one
Of the principal residence districts OF Omaha
Tho main entrance Is two and one-elgntn
mites from the postofiice aud three double
track electric street rlilwdy lines now run
direct to the several gates. From topo-
graphical standpoint the grounds are almost
a perfect level there being just suhiclent
variation in the levels to insure good Dram
age and pleasing landscape effects. They are
divided into three sections, oich section De
ing devoted to a distinctive purpose. These
sections nave been designated as the Main
court the Blum tract and the North tract.
In a general way the purpose TO whlch each
is devoted may be summarized as lolloWs.
In the Main court will be the main EXHIBIT
buildings: on the Buff tract will be the
state buildings and other exhibit buildlngS
OF secondary importance from an archltec-
tural standpoint and on the North tract VIII
be the irrigation. agriculture, transportation
and other exhibits which require large
amounts of space
To return to the pictute, the first thing
that attracts the eye is the Main court. This
appears in the picture to the left OF the
middle foreground and is exactly one-halt
mile in length, the long axis running directly
east and west. On this portion OF the
ground is concentrated the main archltec-
tural effect, and the grouping OF the buildings
and the general ensemble of the whole court
is the result of careful study on the part
Of the architects The central feature OF TINS
court is the lagoon. or canal, basin or clcar
water 150 feet in width at the end nearest
the spectator and broadening into a wide
pool, known as the Mirror. al the farther
end. Arranged along the banks OF this BODY
of water and reflected from its crystal sur
face are over one mile OF buildings Inc
perspective Is enhanced by the use OF COW
cred colonnades between the buildings, Great
ing the effect of immense distance in looking
down the lagoon, and, at the same time, ar
fording a covered passageway entirely around
the main court.
NEAREST OF THE BUILDINGS.
The large building on the Main court
which is nearest the spectator Is the Manu-
factures building. owing to the position
of the spectator he Is unable to see the very
handsome main facade of this building, but
he may Judge OF it's beauty by looking at
its twin directly opposite across the lagoon,
the Machinery and Electricity buiidlhg'
These buildings are the same size ana poth
were designed by Chicago architects, the
Manufactures by S. S. Beman and the Ma
chinery and Electricity by Dwight II. Per
klns They are much the same in exterior
decoration except that the central mass OF
the Machinery and Electricity Is square IN
shape while that of the Manufactures puild-
ing is circular. Both have covered colon
nades extending along the front Of the build
ings.
The building between the spectator and
the Manufactures building in the Main
court. appearing rather small by compari-
son as it nestles snugly in the corner OF
the ground Just inside the high fence which
shuts out the gaze OF the outside world, l.
the Auditorium. In the corresponding cor
ner of the Main court to the right, with
flags and banners flying from every point, Is
the Girls and Boys building, where the
little folks are to be amused and enter
tanned while their elders inspect the other
portions of the exposition and where the
mothers and others interested in such mat
tcrs may examine the latest improvements
in the care of children, nursery Furnishings
etc.
On the side of the lagoon nearest the
speutator, Just beyond the Manufactures
building, is the Liberal Arts building and
opposite it is the Mines and Mining build
ing The former was designed by Fisher &
Lawrie of Omaha and the latter by John
j. Humphreys OF Denver.
Just beyond the Liberal Arts building Is
the main entrance to the exposition grounds.
This entrapce Is an arch of stone ninety
feet in height spanning the Twentieth
hNt,1 in Vytl ha
distinguishing feature OF this arch is the
series OF Superimposed arches forming the
frieze, each arch containing in its recess
the coat of arms. in colors OF one OF the
transmssissippi states. These coats OF
arms give to the arch its name. the Arch
of States. Arranged at either side Of this
arch in semi-circular form are the ticket
windows. where the hurryinE crowd may be
supplied with the credentials necessary 10
admit them to the grounds.
ADMINISTRATIONS HEADQUARTERS.
Directly opposite the Arch OF States Is
tho Administration arch, also spanning the
Twentieth street boulevard and serving the
double purpose of an entrance onto the
plaza extending to the north tract as well as a
building for the reception of distinguished
guests. Both of these arches were designed
by Walker q kimball, architects-in-ch OF |
the exposition.
Beyond the Arch OF States. on the south !
side of the lagoon. is the Art building, a |
beautiful structure designed by Eames G. |
Young of 81. Louis. This building Is in |
two sections or wings, connected by an |
open court, with colonnades extending along |
the front and rear Of the court which give |
the exterior the appearance of being one |
building.
Opposite this building is the Agricultural
building, which is the same size as the
Mines building and designed along similar
lines by Cass Gilbert OF st. Paul MINI.
Extending across the farther end OF the
Main court, facing the east, Is the
Government building, the huge structure
which Is being erected by the federal gov
ernment for the housing OF the exhibits
showing the functions and administrative
faculties" OF the several departments of the |
government, The statue surmounting the
dome of this building will be IT'S feet from
the ground and Will be the highest point |
on the exposition grounds.
In the foregoing OF the picture Is the
Bluff tract sO-called because II lies at the |
edge OF a steep blum overlooking the
broad valley of the Missouri commanding a |
view OF the winding river for miles up or |
down. This blum disappears in the picture
for the reason that the spectator is dl- |
rectly above il looking downward and the
difference in elevation of the walks shown |
In the foreground and the railroad train
seen approaching cannot be shown AS a |
matter OF fact the walks referred 10 are
seventy-fye feet above the level OF the