El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-12-18
THE ELECTRIC TOWER

THE ELECTRIC TOWER
Magnificent" is not too strong a word
to express the character of the COM
pleted work. He is man of dull imag-
ination who. now visiting the grounds,
cannot picture in some degree the come
illness and stateliness of the finished
enterprise.
The Pan-American Exposition is in
tended to be in every way an artistic
triumph. From the very beginning
1t has been the purpose of those who
have been intrusted with the making
of this Exposition to present to the
world the most artistic creation ever
conceived for a like purpose. The ar
rangement of the buildings, the style
of architecture. the decorative work,
the establishment of the grounds and
the electrical illumination are some of
the features that will stand out promi-
nentIy in the Exposition picture. There
are 33 acres in the courts around
which stand the principal Exposition
buildings While the whole EXPOSE
ton plot of $50 acres will be as beauti-
full as nature, with the artistic help Of
man. can make it, the several courts
will be the particular center for formal
decorative work. The courts are ar
ranged in the form of a cross. the
north and south courts bearing the
names of Court of Fountains, Plaza,
Fore Court and Approach and being
nearly 5000 feet in extreme length
The Transverse Court is known as the
Esplanade and is LOO feet from east
to west. Two subordinate courts open
into the Esplanade, known as the
Court of Lilies and Court of Expresses
The combined area of these courts is
approximately two and a half times
the area of the courts at the Worlds
Columbian Exposition and for this rea-
son gives a far greater opportunity for
artistic treatment
1t has been said of this Exposition
that il would outrival all former enter
prises in n number of important fea-
lures. The first of these is in the court
settings just described. The second
is in the plastic ornamentation of
buildings and the elaborate use of
sculpture for decorative purposes. AS
a third may be mentioned the hydrHul-
&c and fountain effects. These are of
a most elaborate character and are
to be seen in all of the courts A
fourth feature is the horticultural dec
orative work Sunken gardens and
formal floral ornamentation will be en-
ployed at every point where the bright
colors of foliage and flowers will add
to the beauty of the scene. As n fifth
feature may be noted the color decora-
ton of the buildings. This is a very
elaborate undertaking, the result Of
mature study upon the part Of the best
mural painters of the world. Consid-
cred a very difficult, if not embar-
RAISING, problem at first, it has been
worked out by patient study until re-
suits very pleasing and happy have
been achieved. A sixth point of excel
lence will be the electrical illumina-
ton of all the courts. Then the bril-
lance of the gardens and the radiant
beauty of the buildings will be height
ened by the glow of 100000 electric
lamps arranged with artistic concep-
ton and Illuminating with fantastic
hues the numberless fountains and
pools and turning the scene into one of
unrivaled splendor.
The style Of architecture is what is
described as q free adaptation of the
Spanish renaissance. 1t is particularly
appropriate for the purposes of an
Exposition since it gives opportunity
for the employment Of many architec-
tural features OF 1eSuye character.
Thus the visitor may see many lofty
towers and lanterns, graceful domes
and minarets, airy pavilions and other
decorative work that will produce a
sky line free from any suggestions Of
monotony or severity.
The Electric Tower, standing in a
broad pool between the Court Of Foun-
tains and the Plaza, is to be the center
piece for electrical illumination. This
tower Is 80 feet square and 375 feet
high, with circular wings curving from
the east and west sides to the south
ward and forming semicircular space
in which are to be many beautiful
fountain features. From the southern
face of the Tower a cascade will gush
from a niche, 20 feet from the ground,
and fall upon terraced base. At night
this cascade and the fountains and
pools will be illuminated in fantastic
colors. Floating lights upon all the
pools will form an interesting feature
Of the general scheme of illumination.