Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1898-09-02

Ye editor in company with his grip
an d bicycle last Saturday week ago
wended his way to the Exposition city,
on the banks of Missouri, arriving
there we took quarters out at Mrs
Jackson on Patrick avenue, where Mr..
H. w. Hughes joined with us; after
attending the Episcopal and A. M. E..
churches in company with our genial
friend, Mr.. Banks of Des Moines
Monday and Tuesday we attended the
Negro Press Convention, where very
interesting session was participated in
by the Des Moines delegation. After
the convention was over Mr.. Hughes
and the writer went to the Exposition
grounds, and to say that the sights on
fairgrounds were magnificent is put
ting it mild. 1t initiates the Worlds
fair, only it is not SO large, yet in some
respects it surpasses the White City Ex-
position, especially the illuminations.
The first building at the main entrance
at the west end of tho Lagoon is the
government building, which is the
largest building on the grounds, and
attracts more attention, because it is
the most interesting one on the ground.
Some OF the sp6c1aT feat lures 70 % seen
in this building 10 the American and
foreign soldiers and sailor. with the
various type of dress thst was used
during different periods of American
history. The Smithsonian Institute,
then the Fishery department., also the
Naval department with miniature size
of all our first and second class battle
ships with cruisers and other American
war ships. Then there was tho U. s..
postal and mail service, also the U. S.
mint and engraving machines. The
next building on the north of The La
goon was the Agricultural, where near
ly every state and territory was repre-
sented. The other important buildings
are: the Mines and Mining, Liberal
Arts, Fine Arts, horticultural, Manu-
| facturer. OF the state buildings Ne
braska was the largest, Illinois second.
OF course we arrived at the Iowa build
ing it was home, and we thought it the
best, at least the employees was the
most sociable and all visitors seem to
be at home. Iowa has the largest
register book of any on the grounds.
1t is ten inches thick thirty inches wide
thirty-two inches long and weighs 35C
pounds, and contains nearly 1000 pages
SO 100000 persons can register their
names. It was made by the Cedar
Rapids Republican Publishing Co., OF
Cedar Rapids and given to the com
mittee free. The Pullman Palace Cal
Co., had their finest Palace car on ex.
hibition, it il the finest car in the world
The Union Pacific Ry. .. had the smalles,
train of cars drawn by the smallest en-.
gine ia the United States, it was unique
The car made for Ex-President Abra'
ham Lincoln, in which he rode in, wai
there, it was examined by thousands.
Then to go down Midway and to see
the different shows and hear the vari
GUS kind OF music. Tho giant see saw
the chutes, the switch back, was each
having their share of the trade, as also
was "The Streets of all Nations" "The
Streets of Cairo '"The Moorish Palace
The Garden of Malze.' The foreign
countries village was quite interesting.
The Indian Congress was another great
drawing card. Another exhibit that is
of special Importance to the colored
race was the seperate Negro exhibit Of
the Missouri state, upstairs in the Lib
eral Arts building. The Lincoln Insti
tute of Jefferson City had the most on
exhibition; engines, press, buggy and ' ri
GUS other things from their Industrial
department. Macon City, Sedalias St
Louis and several other High Schools
were represented. The illumination
at night and the fire works were mag
nificant. The life saving crew rreform
ed some of their daring feats in the La
goon, which was remarLabl They
would shoot their life saving rope ou
into the Lagoon; also send their lii,
saving boat out to rescue the drowning
people. In short allow me to say, tina
that those who did not attend tn,
Worlds fair in Chicago, ought to by al
means attend the Omaha Exposition