Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-07-13

visit to it is ilS2 trip W iauyiauu.
On every side is the element of orig
inality. 1t is copy Of nothing ever
before attempted in this field. From
the, beautiful auditorium at the cast
ern extremity down to the magnificent
building abuttiug the western end Of
the lagoon and dedicated to the
United States Government every de.
tail strikes the eye as being unique
and original. In one respect only
does it suggest Chicago. 1t is white
city, every building being finished in
the material known as "statf." In
every other respect the "dream city"
of the ns-Mississippi and Interna-
tional Exposition is like nothing ever
before planned and accomplished in
America. Every crown, cap, figure
and pilaster is cast from models en-
tirely new, rich and tasteful, and all
are typical of the culture, the refine
ment, the progress and the resources
of the West.
Besides the usual buildings devoted
to the arts, trades, sciences and natural
resources of the West, nearly every
State west of the Mississippi River
has erected its own representative
structure.
In the Grand court at the Transmits
sissippi Exposition, looking east from
the island which occupies the center
of tho lagoon, one is impressed by the
artistic architectural effects before him.
When the great Government building,
with its massive dome AMI flanking
colonnades, was built at the west end
overlooking the court, it was thought
difficult, in view of the fact that q
viaduct at the east must connect the
bluff and main tracts, to finish that
end in like artistic and imposing
manner. But the architects happily
solved the difficulty in making the
viaduct not only thing of beauty and
usefulness, but one of the most artis-
tic conceits on the grounds. The Wis
itor may go by boat the entire length
of the basin from the Government
building to the Sherman avenue via
duct, passing many of the main build
ings. Arriving ut the east end he will
see beautiful green sward rising i'll
terraces, adorned with sculpture and
shrubbery, before him. Beyond this,
and facing him is a great hemicycle
stairway, thirty feet in width, adorned
on either side with tower. which is
crowned by a kiosk OF miuaret.
Sweeping out on either side and con-
Meeting these towers with others Of
like design are graceful arches. Back
of all this and rising in five gently
graduated towers, and crowned with
statues of heroic design, are the two
great viaduct restaurants. The tow
ers and stairs are tinted to an old ivory
shade, decorated with dull Pompeiian
colors.
Beyond and across the viaduct, the
bluff tract has been transformed into
park, where the various state build
ings are located and which also is the
site of the great Horticultural build
ing and some of the larger structures
o. the amusement sectlon.
At the eastern end of the lagoon the
auditorium, with q seating capacity of
twenty-five hundred, rears its front,
and abutting the western end OF this
grand canal the United States Govern
ment Building stands, a majestic
structure, overlooking the broad
basin, snrmounted by a handsome
dome with statue of Liberty bearing
aloft the flaming torch of progress
and enlightenment. The lagoon,
which is widened here by excavating
trefoll, is nearly 400 feet in width
and forms ater-amphith eatre,
which, with the colonnndes surround
ing it, easily forms one OF the