The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-20
THE EXPOSITION AT PARIS.

h'VV' VIII unquestionably In many re
spects surpass all its predecessors. It 1
true that In area It will be less than tn
! onieago exposition, but when we remem
Der that Chicago had almost unlimite
space to draw upon. while Paris is con
nned within walled limits, the wonder 4
mat the management OF this new enter,
prise has been able to do so much.
Another fact that must be taken int,
consideration Is that while tho Chicsg,
exposition was complete display of seien.
tine and Industrial perfection OF Its tim,
as the Philadelphia centennial was OF III
own day the world Is now several year,
Older, and achievements that were then the
mersst visions of possibilities, Confined In
the minds of inventive dreamers, are now
accomplished facts, while other industries
that were then Of too slight consequence
to attract more than passing attention
have forced their way into prominence and
have become of gigantic power in the
world
There II the sub marine boat. the auto
mobile, the X-ray, the acknowledgement, not
to mention the countless scientific achieve
ments, and all of these will tend to make
the Paris exposition the greatest fair that
the world has ever witnessed.
~
To prepare for such gigantic enterprise.
however, was no small task. and 1t speaks
volumes for the brains behind the work
that things have already progressed 80
favorably that the management has been
able to announce that there Is NO reason
to believe that the date OF the opening
will have to be postponed
Heretofore the exposition ground has
looked more like an architectural enigma
than anything else, but at las, the veil has
commenced TO lift and the visitor can be-
gin to catch glimpsee of possible results
from the piles of masonry and the half
completed structures. mere frameworks OF
iron. steel and wood,
Already the Grand Palais and the Petit
Palais ara nearly completed and from the
appearance of these and the indications OF
grace and beauty that already distinguish
other structures, 1t is simple matter TO
decide that Paris Will not disappoint the
world.
rhe White City WAS larger, but in her
six acres Paris will concentrate all the
attractive features that can be conceived
who are striving to make thie event the
greatest finale to the great century.
Although TO the stranger 1t would look
as II the work of building the exposition
was scarcely we'll underway, the man who
Is familiar with this section of the city
can hardly believe that so much has been
accomplished In such short space of time,
for already this stretch OF the Seine is
almost unacceptable, What 1t will be
when the work is finished only the artist
can imagine. 1t will be Venice, with its
gondolas Amsterdam with its quaint
houses, Egypt Asia, the frozen North and
the tropical lands where civilization has
scarcely left the imprint OF it's hand. All
will be drawn together and concentrated
here IN a panorama so brilliant as to be
almost overpowering.
~
l can give only bird's-eye view, In
and incomprehensive. of the
architectural achievements that
have been conceived and that are now on
the high road to completion
First there Is the Grand Palais with its
wide portico supported by colonades OF
twin Ionic columns. In shape the build |
ing resembles the letter II, consisting as
bridge between.
In this structure the opening exercises
Of the exposition will be held and during
the progress of the exposition all import
ant events such as receptions to foreign
sovereigns and the awarding of prizes, will
take place within It's walls.
Around the four sides of the building
wide gallery extends, upon which every
room win open.
~ h. tat,
shorter side of the letter H, but
It is not less attractive than the
more pretentious front. In Its archltec-
ural design II reminds one of the Palals
lie iIndustrie, II having been provided
with large central porch and dome
ike glass roof. For their chief beauty.
however, both buildings viii depend large
y upon their artistic decoratione but to
describe these is now an impossibillty.
The Petit Palais is less massive in its
appearance, but it is doubtful II there
will be any structure on tho grounds that
will prove more attractive. Already It's
roof is In place-in fact. It Is nearer COM
Dletlon than any other building, and It's
central dome, on which gay female fig
Ire in bronze is TO be placed, looms up
strangely out OF place In this mass OF un-
finished structures. There are to be pa
-ilions at the four corners of the build
ng and the inner court, winch Is TO be ,
with sculpture. will be used
s a garden.
While the Palace OF Electricity is not
early completed, the workmen are Just !
utting the finishing touches to the I'm
,ense electrical fountain that is to play
q the facade or front wall OF the build 6
ng. AS electricity is the great achieve '
lent OF the nineteenth century, 1t Is In }
ended that the electrical building shall I
o tho architectural chef d'oeuvre OF the t
xpositlon, and this fountain is to DO the '
lagnet that Is to draw the millions OF r
isitors within It's walls. 1t 10 built en-
rely Of white marble and Will consist OF =
hundred distinct waterfalls !.
Many Of these cascades Will fall from :,
be windows OF the building Itself, SO that =
hen the fountain plays the entire front h
( the structure will be covered with r
aterfalls, while the electrical displays /,
lat will occur after dark will be one OF r
he most beautiful features of the Die h
how. s
In the Champ de Mars, where the cleo h
rical building win be located, Will also p
0 situated the buildings, OF agriculture v
nd food products, tie buildings Of mines, b
shing and forestry, civil engineering ana d
education and half dozen
cAta gHnN