The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1901-01-18
ITS BEAUTY SUPREM E.
The Pan-American Exposition
Spectacle to be Mag
nificent Surprise.

1t is promised for the Pan-Amcrican
exposition that it will surpass in beauty
any previous exposition in the world s
history. 1t is also expected that it will
outrival its predecessors in many other
ways, for at no time have such wondrous
achievements in all arts, such perfection
in the hundreds Of trades been attained.
But the purpose of this article is to treat,
IN general way, of the plan Of the ex-
position, the symmetry Of arrangement
and the exterior beauty that represents
the careful expenditure of several mil
lions of dollars. Accompanying this ar
ticle is birdseye view of the exposition
plot, showing the magnificent work in its
completed state. The view is from the
south and shows an area one mile and a
quarter long and half mile wide, there
being $50 acres in the enclosure. In the
immediate foreground is portion Of
spots of Buff alo: The view shows thu
Park lake with the North bay at the left
and in the left foreground south Of the
bay may be seen a portion Of the Al
bright Gallery of Art, a beautiful perma-
nent building of white marble, the gift
ing over 100000. North Of the bay is
the New York state building, also per-
manent structure of marble. These two
buildings are in the style Of Greek tenn
pies, one containing reminders of the
Parthenon and the other resembling
somewhat the Erechtheum upon the
Acropolis at Athens.
Between the North bay and the lake
the city Of Buffalo has built at large ex-
pense new and beautiful bridge of
heavy masonry, known as the Bridge of
the Three Americas. This bridge carries
the broad thoroughfare which leads from
the main southern entrance to the APP
proaches Of the exposition, as seen in
the foreground just north Of the lake.
On the northern shore Of the lake is stu
ated the lifcsaving station erected by the
fedora! government, where daily exhibit
tons will be given by a crew of ten men
showing the uses of modern lifesavins
apparatus as employed upon our coasts.
Hidden from view, upon the southern
bank Of the lake, a beautiful casino and
boathouse has also been built by the city
Of Buffalo for exposition uses
The symmetrical grouping of buildings
will be at once noted by the observer.
Beginning at the formal approach. just
north Of the lake, the eye follows north
ward between two rows Of ornamental col
umns to what is known as the forecourt.
East of this are the state and foreign
buildings forming in themselves very
Near these, also. are the buildings for
the products Of several hundred manufac-
tories in this line Of work West of the
forecourt will be rne outdoor horticul-
tural displays and the Women's building.
We cross now the Triumphal bridge.
which will be remarkable for it's tall
piers, richly ornamented with statuary.
the product Of the genius Of Karl Bitter.
the director Of sculpture and other IA
nous sculptors. On either side are the
Mirror lakes, which form a part of the
Grand canal, more than n mile in length.
which surrounds the main group Of build
ings. We come next to the Esplanade.
which is nearly two-ffths of n mile long
and $50 feet wide The western end
of the Esplanade is enclosed by the Hor-
ticulture. Graphic Arts and Mines build
ings. The eastern end is shut in by the
government group Of three large build
inGs. Sunken gardens with elaborate
fountains and many groups of sculpture
occupy the two arms Of the Esplanade
and tho decorative features throughout
this broad space are very numerous and
beautiful. North of the Esplanade is the
Court Of Fountains. with the Ethnology
building on the right and the Music
building on the left. Two subordinate
courts also open into the Esplanade from
the north, the one On the right being
known as the Court of Expresses and
Next, north Of the Ethnology building on
the right, and fronting upon the Court
Of Fountains is the Manufactures and
Liberal Arts building and on the opposite
side the Machinery and Transportation
building. In the Court of Fountains is
large pool, having an area Of about
two acres and containing many beautiful
fountains. Proceeding again northward
we come to the Mall. n broad avenue,
half mile long. extending from the
eastern boundary to the western gate of
the Exposition. Fronting upon the Mall
on the right is the Agricultural building
and on the left the Electricity building.
feature of the Exposition. the massive
electric tower. 391 feet in height. This
tower stands between the Court Of Foun-
tains and the Plaza. in broad pool.
about two acres in extent. This will be
the most ornamental feature of the great
for special and elaborate electrical illu-
mination. Immediately north Of the
electric tower is the plaza, with its
beautiful sunken garden and bandstand
in the center Of the Propylasa or monu-
mental entrances at the north, the en-
trance to the Stadium on the east and
the entrance to the Midway on the west.
BY day there will be most pleasing
display of floral and fountain effects. The
many buildings with their elaborate and
delicate tracery of ornamental plastic
work, and their radiance of color, the
many groups OF statuary in every part
OF the grounds will constitute a picture
never before paralleled. At night all the
buildings, will glow with the soft radi-
ance of thousands Of electric lights. max
ing n scene of unrivaled brilliance and
splendor. More than 100000 lamps will
be used in the electrical illumination.
1t should also be added that the Mid
way at the exposition will be the most
extensive and novel that has ever been
prepared. II will be 5000 feet long, hay-
ing more than mile of frontage. Over
thirty very interesting features, many of
them covering several acres, will make
up this gigantic collection of wonders.
The athletic features Of the exposition
will be shown in the Stadium, which
covers about ten acres Of ground and
contains q seating capacity for more
than $4,000 people. All of the exhibit
buildings will be filed to completion with
the very latest products Of Pan-American
genius and industry, and will offer an op-
portunity for every inquiring mind to
learn a most interesting lesson of New
World progress and civilization.