Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-10-29
CHARMING EFFECTS PRODUCED
AT BUFFALO's EXPOSITION.
SCENE ALREADY PLEASING
Work on Grounds at an Advanced
Stage = Artistic Use of Trees,
Flowers, Plants, Lakes, Lagoons,
Canals and Fountains-UnusuaI
Features.

visitor to the grounds of the Pan
! American exposition is the attractive
ness of the scene which is already
presented six months in advance of
| the opening day. This is due in no
small degree to the landscape effects
which are in a most unusual state of
| forwardness.
When the Paris exposition opened
visitors had to wade through shavings
and rubbish of all sorts if they wished
to see the exhibits. This naturally
detracted great deal from the enjoy
ment the exposition as a whole might
have afforded. Judging by the prog
ress already made there will be no
hardships and inconvenience of this
kind, no unpleasants sights or sounds
to detract from the agreeable effect of
the scene when the gates of the Pan
American exposition open on May 1,
1901.
Already there are within the big
fence which encloses the grounds
seemingly boundless stretches of vel
vety lawn. A few months ago this was
chiefly hard, dry, almost bare, clay.
The work of the landscape architect
and the horticultural department has
wrought remarkable transformation.
The grass which covers these newly
made portions of the site is as fresh
and green as the grass of April or
early May. The promenade bordered
1o+ 1o
Grand Canal which completely encir-
cles the grounds is already delight
full place for stroll. The banks of
the canal are green and inviting and
the poplars have attained such
growth that they already afford
pleasing shade.
A large area on the west side of the
grounds which, even in July, was a for
midable clay bank, is now finely grad
ed and covered with grass and is as
gree nand smooth as billiard table.
The shrubbery which has been plant
ed is doing finely and the scene as a
whole indicates that not only will the
buildings be complete and the exhib-
it's installed when the gates open, but
the finishing touches will have been put
upon the landscape and everything
will present the appearance of readi-
ness for the expected guests. Of
course it is of the greatest advantage
to the exposition to have as a part OF
the grounds the finest portion of Della
ware Park, with it's lake, wooded hills,
winding roads and pathways and rare
shrubbery, plants and flowers. All
this represents a work of 80 years and
an expenditure of millions of dollars.
1t would be folly to alter in any radical
manner the character of adornments
Of this beautiful park. It is natural
gardening and the buildings Of the ex-
position which are situated in Della
ware Park proper will not disturb to
any material extent it's present char
acter but will add to, rather than de-
tract from, the natural beauty of the
landscape.
Highly colored and formal beds
would be out of place in the environ
ment of this park But as one passes
from the Delaware Park adjoining it
where the principal group of exposi-
ton buildings is situated the scene
changes. One scarcely knows where
the old park ends and the new park be.
gins but the change is striking. For
NAL avenues take the place of wind
ing roads Straight line terraces with
sharp angles, and a more generally
formal arrangement of the landscape
denote the gardens of the orient and of
Europe for centuries past.
Beds of towering plants are intro
duced profusely to add to the brilliancy
Of the general effect In the wide
spaces on either side of the great
Esplanade, facing the buildings of the
government group on the one hand
and of horticulture, mines and graphic
arts on the other, will be sunken
gardens, surrounded by the choicest OF
flowers and bordered with such rare
aquatics as the exotic Nymphaeas and
the Egyptian Lotus. The fountains in
the center of these sunken gardens
are now being constructed, the grading
has been done and many of the beds
of flowers are assuming shape
In the space to the southwest of the
horticultural group, across the Grand
Canal, is an extensive area which is
partly wooded and partly planted with
shrubs. Here, and in an adjoining
area which has been left mostly clear
of trees and shrubs, some of the finest
floral exhibits will be made. Nursery
men, florists and horticulturists gen
orally realize the opportunity which
they will have at the Pan-American
and are competing eagerly for places
for exhibits. Thus the display of this
character is sure to be the finest Of
its kind ever made and will greatly
enhance the beauty of the landscape
and the attractions of the exposition
as a whole.
The work on the horticultural build
ing is making fine progress and the
other buildings of the group, those of
mines and graphic arts, are nearly
completed The Conservatives con-