Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-11-23
United States Railroads Move
Project for Paris Exposition.
MAP WILL COST OVER 100000.
Machine Invented to Fire Railroad
Locomotives Said to be a Success
-Holders of Passes Cannot
Collect Damages.

hibit on the part of the railroads OF
| the United States in the Paris expose
ton of 1900 is under consideration in
Chicago, and there appears to be no
doubt it will be carried out. This is a
gigantic relief map of this country,
showing every line of railroad as well
as telegraph, telephone and express
lines, steamship Lines on the great
lakes and ports of entry for trans-At-
lantic steamship lines. Mountains,
rivers and other features will be
brought out, and altogether the map
will be something that will attract the
attention of every visitor at the expo
sition and give him an idea of the vast
transportation interests of the United
States. As more than half the railroad
mileage of the world is within the linn
its of the United States, the showing
will be most remarkab BILE one in every
way. The cost of the map will not be-
| far from 100000, but as probably 100
lines of railroad will be represented,
the cost to each will be comparatively
small. This map will be built on a
scale of one inch to the mile, and will
be gao feet long and 140 feet high, oc-
cupying $4,000 square feet of surface.
This is the maximum size for such a
| map, but even if cut down it would
| give the observer thorough concep-
ton OF the vastness of the United Stat
es If he chose to study it at all closely
1t is proposed that the map shall be an
outdoor display, for there is no build
ing to be constructed on the exposition
grounds that could hold it. The most
/ desirable location for it would be just
outside the exposition grounds at the
end of some avenue or similar place,
and so conspicuous struc-
lure would be visible from
practically all parts of the exposition.
When all the details regarding the
matter have been decided upon by the
railroads, the construction work prop
er will begin in Paris, under the per-
sonal direction, it is probable, of C. B..
Vaughan, of Chicago, who first sug-
gested the idea. He interested the pres
idents of roads centering in Chicago
some time ago, and then called the at
tention of the presidents of the leading
railway systems of the country to IL.
1t is proposed to build working model
in this country so that all points likely
1 TO develop in construction could be
settled upon and the exhibit made prac-
tically perfect.
The undertaking isyprojected upon a
mammoth and magnificent scale, and
entirely worthy the gigantic interest
It is to represent. When the construc-
ton begins at Paris steel framework
Something after the style of the sky
scraper. will be erected. The founda-
tionseare to be set i'll concrete, and the
base of the steel frame is to be l. in
Jc1,o
of course, an upright, much rs a brack-
ct supports shelf. The entire steel
lskeleton frame is to be filed in with
thoroughly seasoned wood that has
| been so treated as to render it fire
proof, and the whole is to be fastened
/ together by a series of steel stringers
4 passing through each individual piece
OF wood and fastened in the steel
frame. This will give solid fireproof
wood surface of the size desired, and
so constructed as to practically climin.
4 ate the dangers of varying or swaying.
Ion this surface is to be drawn, an out
| line map of the United States, and at
! this point is to be begun the first work
1 in the way of showing the routes of
the various railroads. OF course, this
| is the main feature of the map. TAX
ing the first road on the list, the New
York Central, Pennsylvania, or what
ever it may be- nail or small rivet
is driven at its starting point. This
nail is driven in at the back of the
map, and itn point will show at the ele-
walton on the surface which marks
the elevation above the sea of the in
itial point Of the railroad.
To illustrate: If the nail was driven
in an inch it might show an elevation
of q mile, etc. Then the workman pro-
ceeds across the map with series OF
! nails, and thus marks the route. All
lines of railway viii be marked in this
way, and in the multiplicity of tapes
tags will be used o keep the various
railroad routes did net until the worl,
is done. Around We base of these
nails marking the elevations along the
4 line of the railroad, and when this il;
done tape will be fastened to these
| insulated, is to be done the wiring for
the electrical effects, the wiring to ac-
company the work of marking out the
routes OF the various lines of railroad.
! These wires ave to be brought to the
surface of the map at various points to
be selected, and the size of the lights
/ is vet to be decided upon. When every
dine of road in the country has been
marked and the wiring completed, staff
or other material is TO be used for fill
/ ing in, the tops of The nails atfording
an accurate index for all elevations
and depressions, while the tapes will
still be left to Indicate the railroad
routes. Under each line of tapes is 10
be made little trough, exposing the
electric light wires. In these little
troughs will be placed the small bulbs
or electric lights that will be specially
made for marking the routes, aud in
| this way it is possible TO give the eff
| feet OF solid line of light. When the
4 lights have been inserted in these
j troughs the tapes are to be removed
and the spaces around the lights filled
in with map-making material. Then is
the time for the master map-maker to
get to work to bring out the natural
effects of the country, showing the
mountains, lakes and rivers, and espec-
tally the finer scenic places along the
lines of the various railroads in minia-
| ture. When he has finished, the piano.
ramic artist will take hold and paint
the map, and then will be presented
! the United States in relief, with every
\ prominent and nOteworfhy faafIIra al