Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-08
THE NEXT CENTURY
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE
PARIS EXPOSITION OF 1000.
POINTS OF VALUE TO EXHIBITORS.
The Huge Theatre That VIII DC
One of the Star Attractions
II H. tn he the Biggest fi"'-
house I'm the World.
house I'm the World.
lcorresnondence Of the Dlspatch)


Paris Exposition from the ffty-fve ma
tions that have been invited to par'ici
pate in tho fair is the strongest oil aisu-
ments that this exposition is destined 10
ecllpse every one that has preceded IT,
or these fifty-fve countries to when IN
vitations have been sent, only one Egypt
has decided to take no official part. ne
struggle for supremacy at the eXposi'ion
of 1900 will be q friendly one between ma
tons" said the Hon. Ferdinand W. PECK
Commissioned General Of the Unl'ed
States. the other day; "it will not be an
industrial competition between manuiac-
turers of the same nationality
Foremost among the nations that are
arranging to exhibit at the Paris EXPO
sition are the United States and Great
Britain. The friendly rivalry referred 70
by Mr.. Peck will be strongest between
these two nations. Five acres oil the
exposition-grounds will be allotted to the
exhibits from the United States and every
State will send its most useful inventions
and finest products Besides the EXHIBITS
there Will be many interesting and artistic
~
which the United States commissioners
have control one OF the most interesting
Will be the monument 20 the memory OF
LAFAYETTE. which the school children OF
America will erect as a present 10 the
country giving the exposition. This monu-
ment. which is to be constructed at COST
Of $4,000. is TO be unveiled on July 1, 1svO
which VIII be known as United states Day
al the Paris fair.
Up 10 the present, Great Britain, Win
the Prince OF Wales as the Commissioner
General is the foremost nation In prepa-
ration for the fair. The Prince has thrown
himself into the arrangements for the
British exhibit with his customary energy
and is overseeing every preparation In
person Those who are fond of calling at
teution TO the superiority az American
energy and enterprise had better keep an
eye on these British commissioners, VINO
are working away at the preparatory
arrangements for the fair with an energy
that has almost carried their task 10
completion, while that Of the United
States is still being talked over.
Among the projects that are planned 10
add to the attraction Of the fair are the
reat revolving lOO-foot tower. an enormous
nous bell I'm great belfry. the
Street Of Centuries the Palace of
Toys, the wonderful Alexander III.
bride across the Seine, struc-
ture whose ornamentatiOn will make
II the finest bridge that ever spanned
river, the Press Palace, and d list OF
novelties too long to enumerate one OF
the most interesting will be the movable
platform or railway. a road OF this kind
was exhibited at the Worlds Fair, in Chi
cago. also. at a recent exposition in Ber-
lin. But it seems 10 be reserved for Paris
10 put the movable platform 10 practical
use At Paris, in 1900, this novel mode of
traction is to be introduced in the shape
Of an elevated railway within the eXposi-
ton There will be TWO platforms-one
running at a speed of two and a half miles
an hour; the other. AT a speed OF five
miles. Visitors will experience no diff
Guilty or inconvenience I'm stepping from
the less speedy platform 10 the faster one
Another novelty will be the largest
theatre i'm the world, which is thus de-
scribed by a newspaper on this side: "Ac-
cording TO the report Of VI. Raulin, the
architect who has been entrusted with
its construction, it Will surpass any other
building Of the kind from the point OF
view of size and seating capacity. 1T
Will be erected within the Well-knOVn
Galleries des Machines and will accOmO-
date from 1890 to 1850 persons. The
tiers rising one above the other, and slop-
ing backward till the topmost reaches the
very roof Of the 'Galoric, while these cir
cles at the rear will present the appear
ance of enormous arcades supported by
colossal columns. Each Of the five bal
comics will be approached by six gigantic
doors, all having double staiTcases leading
10 and from them, and spacious enough
10 empty in minutes the section with
which they are connected. The stage
which is to be circular and capable in
parts of being moved round on a turn
table will alone measure 800 feet in d.
ameter. OF course, pageants, process
sions, and spectacular displays are chief
~ TO be exhibited in this latter-day
Coliseum" With such structure at
their disposal. theatre-goers at least
ought TO be pleased with the exposition
one of the features that contributed 10
the success of the Worlds Fair will be
copied at Paris by the inauguration of
the State days, or, as they will be known
here. "les jOurs des provinces" when the
fete days Of Provincial France will be
observed with all their picturesque fea-
lures.
The American commissioners, from the
head down 10 the humbest attache, were
chosen Tor their competency. and ii has
already become a proyerb in Paris that
If the Americans We're running the whole
exhibition II would have been held and
over by this time. The magnificent suite
Of offices occupied by the American Com
mission in the Avenue Rapp is a hive Of
industry.
The Merchandising. General II. ID.
Woodward, who, since Commissioner
General Peck left for Chicago has been
in charge of the American Commission
has won universal praise for the ability
and tact he has displayed i'm dealing with
the exposition authorities
Colonel Chaile-Long, who has represent
ed the United States and other nations
as consul in the far East. and who speaks
many languages, is in charge Of the De
partment Of Foreign Correspondence and
Preliminary Business. lie is a very busy
man these days.
The work done by these energetic men
will enable American exhibitors TO make
tho best possible exhibits. There is no
suggestion Of red tape.
The exposition authorities are being
fairly swamped with plans for novel
schemes. Most Of these will remain what
they are nOw-beautful structures erect
ed i'm the minds OF the promoters The
authorities are investigating every prOpo-
sition carefully, and very small per-
centage OF the ambitious schemes will
ever reach practical stage. The Ameri-
can headquarters are being daily boseged
by crowd of United States citizens, who
speak lEnglish with a strong Partisan ac-
cent. and who come in person to explain
their valuable schemes, and end by re
questing a small loan on short terms
ice-Commissioner-Gen Woodward ex-