The times., 1899-06-11
AN EXPANSION Snow
In CONTEMPLATION
A Western Scheme for Por.
traying Our New Lands.
The Philippines and Other Islands
in Miniature Presentation.
Geological and chronological Fen
lures of the Groups to Form
Part of the Exposition.
Correspondence of the Boston Transcript,

present than to gather together for the
purpose OF an chronological exhibition a
large number OF specimens of the peoples
newly taken under the protection of Uncle
Sam-the Filipinos. the Hawaiians, the
would go to see it-particularly IL the mere
show element were eliminated as Tar as
possible from the enterprise. which ought
to have for its object the representation of
these races exactly as they are found on
their native islands
This is precisely the scheme that is now
being quietly inaugurated with practically
unlimited capital behind it. A company,
headed by millionaire named Her. has
been organized at Omaha, and has offered
to buy the buildings used for the recent
Trans Mississippi fair. These. together
with the vast grounds, are TO be used for
another kind Of exhibition next year, which
might be called the Exposition Of Expan-
sion. inasmuch as ut will be devoted chiefly
to an immense display illustrating the
resources, etc, Of the new colonies OF the
United States.
The idea is in the FIRST place, to present
to the eyes Of the visitors vivid and
striking picture Of the newly acquired ISL
ands in the Pacific and Atlantic. This
Is to be accomplished In a very ingenious
ence OF the eminent artist in landscape
gardening who did such wonders at the
fair in Omaha, far surprising those OF the
Chicago Exposition. The archipelago OF
the Philippines Is actually to be laid out
in miniature. and yet on a considerable
scale, with the correct diversifcations of
land and water. 1t may be that actual
water will be used, SO that people may
be padded about in boats from Luzon to
OF the group On the other hand, it has
been suggested that perhaps it would be
better to employ glass to represent the
water spaces, SO that 1t could be walked
upon comfortably without danger of get
ting wet. Details such as this can easily
be settled later.
Now, as to the islands themselves, they
are TO be built in as close likeness as pos
sible to the originals OF the great archi-
pelago. The large ones. such as Luzon,
are very mountainous, and thus will be
very picturesque, even in miniature. Many
tropical trees and plants brought from the
South Pacific expressly for the purpose VIII
lend beauty to these fairy isles. But this
is by ne means all. There will be people
on the islands, at all events the biggest
OF them-native Filipinos, dwelling In their
customary huts, and living In all respects
as they do when they are at home Not
Tagals. but also representatives OF the
Aetas-the half-wild, monkey-Iike dwarfs
Of the interior Of Luzon.
However, exclusive attention Is by no
means to be given to the Philippines. The
Hawaiian group will be represented IN a
similar way. and Cuba and Porto Rico
There VIII be an opportunity for visitors
to see with their own eyes how the Kanaka
lives when he is at home, and what he
IN frr1F Tr-EII Is.S
way with the Porto Rican and the Cuban:
both Of these will have a conspicuous place
in the exhibition. According to the plans
already formed, about fifteen hundred
natives of these various islands are to be
fetched to Omaha for the purpose, together
with an immense quantity OF material with
which to furnish them with their appro-
pirate environment. Much of this stuff,
necessarily. must be the real thing, inas-
much as it cannot very well be counter
feited. -.-----
The idea of this exhibition is that the
people OF the United States shall have an
opportunity to become acquainted with
their new eOmpatriots, il such they are to
be termed-to find out what they look like
what their customs are, and all that sort
of thing. As for Cuba, 1t is not yet a part
Of the United States, but there is no doubt
whatever that it will be annexed very soon
a.
much more interested in the Cubans than
they are in the FiIipinos, because the lat
ter are so very far away; 1t is doubtful
whether this is so in the East. On learning
the first few details of the scheme here
described, the average person will eXclaim:
why. it will simply be another Midway"
But such a notion would be altogether in
correct. So far as the part already de-
scribed is concerned. it will be an eth
biological exhibition. accurate and complete
as possible in all respects, with the "cir-
Gus" element omitted.
1t is expected by the management OF
the enterprise that the Government viii
be willing to assign its best chronological
experts to the duty of managing that part
of the exhibition. in order that everything
may be correct down to the smallest detail.
Thus the affair will be under supervision
ly Uncle Sam, while all expenses are paid
by the Omaha company. First-rate botan-
lists and geolOgists will likewise be requir-
ed. Take for example the Island of Lu-
Zon, as reproduced in miniature. The con-
struction of the island itself must be per-
formed under the superintendent OF q
competent geologist, such as Prof. Becker.
of the United States Geological Survey,
who is thoroughly acquainted with the
Philippines. Next comes the work OF the
botanist. who sees TO the arrangement of
5.
ly, the ethnologist directs the operations
of the workmen who put up the native
houses. lay out the burying grounds, etc.
Burying grounds are very apt to possess
much chronological Significance, and doubt
less one or more of the Filipinos will die
while they are in Omaha. affording an op-
portunity for interesting funerals.
This sort OF thing, with notifications.
will be followed out in respect to other
H.
of the exhibition to give as complete a
view of the new colonies as practicable
of the geological features OF the various
islands, of their plant life, of their min
eral resources. of their manufactures. and
so forth OF course. their animals ought
not to be left out, and so there will be
a superb menagerie, divided into two parts.
In one part will be the mammals and birds
of the United States, and in the other part
as many kinds Of animals as are obtained
to represent the fauna of the Philippines.
the Hawaiian group. Cuba, and Porto
Rico. Some Of these animals are very odd,
indeed. In the Philippines there is a wa
ter buffalo, big ape called the ma
caque." a black baboon. several species OF
gigantic bats, and a lemur-like creature
called the "tassier," which nothing any
where else on earth resembles nearly.
There are also in the archipelago many
peculiar deer and some extraordinarily
beautiful little birds. The Hawaiian ISL
ands have no native mammals except bats
and rats both OF which were doubtless i'm
ported on ships originally, but they do
possess some notable birds. In Cuba the
only important mammals are a big. rabbit
like creature called the "hutia" and a huge
shrew Porto Rico has bats and rats. but
nothing else in the way OF mammals
One of the most interesting features of
the display at Omaha will be an active
volcano in working order. II will be ar
tiiicial of course. real VOLCANOES being out