The Republican., 1899-04-27
THE VOLTIAN EXPOSITION.
Notable Exhibition and Congress 10
BE Held in Como, Italy, for
Five Months This Year.

Alexander Volta was one of the most
famous forerunners in the field of cleo
tricity, and now, in recognition of that
TACT, his natal city, Como, has decided
to honor his memory by holding an
electrical exposition during the coming
year, this being the hundredth ann1-
Versary of the great discovery which
bears Volta's name. The exposition
will also be known as the Voltian eX-
position, and it will remain open from
May Is to October Is.
The attractive features will be an in
ternational exhibition, showing the his
tory of electricity for the last hundred
years, and a congress of electricians,
who will point out howthe science has
advanced to its present stage. These
scientists will give many practical illus
trations of the manifestations of cleo
trical force and will especially dwell on
the great significance and importance
of Volta's work. Electricians from
every country will attend the exposition
and will vie with each other in honoring
Volta, ana ulso- IN 77eess,a,noring Gamo,
which has the good fortuneroo be the
birthplace of so distinguished man.
Volta's original inventions are partly
preserved in the Civic museum. at
Como, partly at the University of Pavia
and partly in the Royal Lombard Insti-
tute of Science, Letters and Arts. They
will be brought to Como and will form
the most interesting part of the exposi-
ton. Other notable features will be a
collection of autograph letters by Volta
and a large number of medals and other
testimonials which were awarded to
him by sovereigns and scientific So
cieties.
The history of electricity during the
last century will be amply illustrated
with many manuscripts, prints and de-
signs, as well as with pictures of ma
chinery and electrical plants and of
the various forms of electric force.
From piles and accumulators the Wis
itor will pass to dynamos, alternators,
transformers, electric motors and their
manifold applications. In word, here
will be seen the rapid and glorious his
tory OF electricity.
The exposition will be held in the
Campo Garibaldi, very beautiful spot
on the shore of Lake Como. The plan
of the building is the work of the we'll
known Como architect, Eugenio Lain
Gti, who is also the architect of castle
in Miasino. on Lake Orta, as well as of
other highly praised works: The gar
dens, which will be renovated, will form
with their flowers and fountains a
pleasant surrounding for the buildings.
The exhibition grounds when COM
pleted will have a total area of 10000
square yards, and the buildings will be
in one block, with the exception of one
special structure, which will contain an
the personal records of Volta. The lat
ter BUILDING Mibl id III 1R@sasyasnsa ysssa e ys ia
erected near the building devoted to
electrical instruments. Owing to the
| great value of the records which are to
be placed therein special pains have
been taken to guard this building
against fire.
The building will be in the Empire
style, which is decidedly appropriate,
since it was during the Napoleonic era
that Volta made his great discoveries.
Alessandro Volta was a count by
birth and was born in Como, February
is, 1745. He became noted as ply
sicist at an early age and for many
years he held the position of professor
in Como. His scientific discoveries at
tsacted the attention of Napoleon, who
made him a senator of Lombardy. In
addition to the Voltaic pile named after
him he invented the electrophore and
electroscope. He died in Como on
March 5, 1S27.-N. Y Herald.