The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-11-23
NOTES OF THE WAYS
Leading, Lines Preparing Exhib-
its For Pan-American Fair.

tits For ~Pan-American Fair.
ORNAMENTAL STATION GROUNDS
Several Big Railway Systems Con.
sidcring Plans to Induce En-
pIoyces to Make the Depot Grounds
and Buildings More Attractive.
A New LOGON olive. ~, 4:
leading railroads are laying claims to
the highest honors to be bestowed by
the jury Of awards Of the tr%ansporta-
ton department of the Pan-American
exposition, says the Chicago Record.
These roads now are devoting consid-
cradle time, energy and expense to the
preparation of their exhibits, which are
expected to surpass those shown by
the railroads at the big fair in Chicago
seven years ago.
Realizing that the receipt Of the Jury
Of awards first honors will mean one
of the greatest advertisements imagi-
nable. the roads purpose to leave
nothing undone toward making the
best showings possible. Even the
smaller roads. which make no preten-
sions of competing on equal lines with
the larger carriers. are planning to
spread" themselves.
Work on the Machinery and Trans
portation building at the exposition
grounds is being carried. Oh rapidly.
The building will be 800 feet long and
$50 feet wide, with a central court 175
feet long and 100 feet wide. 1t is To-
Gated on the west side of the main
group of exhibition halls. opposite the
court Of fountains. which is expected
to be the most popular place on the
grounds. 1t is being built in the type
of the Spanish renaissance. modified to
suit the conditions of the exposition. 1t
is to be done" in reds and yellows Of
light tints. .>.'
The four facades will present an
arcaded effect, with broad overhang-
ing caves. in imitation of the Spanish
mission buildings in old Mexico. Each
facade. however, will be broken by an
appropriate architectural feature and
each corner thanked with low pa%vilions.,
Loggias. pavilions and balconies are to
be ornamented with shrubs and fow-
ers, blending with the coloring of the
building. The openings will be grilled
with specimens of wrought iron re
jas" or screens. such as lent beauty
to the Spanish architecture of the six
teenth century.
Officers Of several of the big railroad
systems, according to the st. Louis
GlObe-Democrat. are considering plans
to induce agents and others concerned
to make stronger efforts to beautify>
station grounds and buildings. Dur
ing the past year or two particular at
tention has been given to making the
stations more attractive. The North
western, Rock Island, Burlington and
Illinois Central have accomplished con-
siderable in this way. The stations of
the Northwestern and Michigan Cen
trail. after several years work. have
been Transformed into veritable floral
gardens.
Early in the summer the Burlington
issued orders to all employees that the
grounds and buildings adjacent to the
right of way must be main
tanned clean and orderly. The roads
official gardener vas instructed to turn
his attention to the work of beautify-
ing the suburban stations between I'm
station, Chicago. and Aurora. SO
miles out. The work mapped out at
the beginning of the summer has been
about three-fourths finished. Switch
shanties, t~oolhouses. yard offices and
have been covered with \
running vines. and the grounds about
each building have been made into
awns. over which shrubbery has been
At Douglas Park, Willard
avenue. La Vergne, La Grange and
other points the railroad grounds have
been artistically arranged.
1t has been suggested that prizes be
offered agents for floral displays at
their stations, after the plan Of the
and Maine road. This company
gives yearly cash prizes for artistic
at stations. The awards for
the season of 1900 have just been
made as follows: First class, $50.
South Lancaster, Mass; second class,
$40. Waltham. Mass; third class. $25.
Devereaux, Greenwood and
Pleasant Hills. Mass, and Hillsboro
and Wing Road. N. H.
A high speed locomotive which has
'een shown at the Paris exposition has
attracted considerable attention from
he engineering press. 1t was con-
IN somewhat novel lines and
vas designed to draw heavy trains at
high speed, says the New York Post.
t is quite striking in appearance. as
he cab for the engineer is placed on a
in front of the boiler and over
he forward trucks. The fireman Is
placed in the usual station behind the
boiler and is in communication with