Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-25
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 Fountafns-Unusua
Features.

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 a 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 l,
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 a remarkable transformation.
The grass which covers these newly
made portions CT the site is as fresh
and green as the grass Of April or
early May. The promenade bordered
with poplars that surrounds the
Grand Canal which completely encir-
cles the grounds is already a delight
full place for a stroll. The banks of
the canal are green and inviting and
the poplars have attained such a
growth that they already afford a
pleasing shade.
| A large area on the west side of the
grounds which, even in July, was for
midable clay bank, is now finely grad
| ed and covered with grass and is as
gree rand smooth as a 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-
its installed when the safes open, but
the finishing touches VIII have been put
upon the landscape and everything
will present the appearance Of readi-
ness for the expected guests. Oh
| 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 so 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. 1t 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 coIored 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 brilIia1cy
of the general effect In the wide
spaces on either side of the great
ESDlanade, 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
pal cly 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 whole.
The work on the horticultural build
ing is making fine pros ess and the
other buildings O. the group, those of
mines and graphic arts, are nearly
completed. The Conservatives con-
Meeting the latter buildings with that
OF horticulture are among the most
beautiful architectural features of the
exposition, and when filled with rare
plants next summer will be a great
center of interest. The Conservatives
are now completed and will be heated
so that early in the winter thew can
be utilized for plants Although not
modern constructed Conservatives. |
they have all the requisites to the
growth and welfare of any plants
which it will be desirable to display.