Newport weekly independent., 1903-08-21
ARKANSAS AGRICULTURE.
Unique Pavilion of Cotton, Corn and Tobacco, Built in the Great Palace of Agricul-
 ture Shows the Farm
 Products of State

St. Louis, March 31. Special to Independent. Corn, cotton and tobacco, the great agricultu- ral triumvirate of Arkansas, serve two distinct purposes at the Worlds Fair. They show the chief farm products of the enterprising commonwealth and they furnish building material for the architects of the Arkan- sas pavilion in the great palace of agriculture.
 The Arkansas pavilion, now nearly completed, is one of the unique attractions in the largest exposition palace on the grounds. As to exterior and interior it is built entirely of corn, cotton and tobacco. The framework is of wood, but all the visible mate rial is either corn, cotton or to- bacco, with the exception of a groundwork of red or blue burlap which peeps out here and there.
 This pavilion, located west of the main aisle near the center of the building, is 100 feet long by 40 feet wide. Its front facade is the chief decorative feature. This facade is a fantastic con- ception but very pretty, never theless, resembling in it's general outline the front of a bazar booth in Hindoo market place.
 The central feature is biz dome, rising to height of about thirty-fve feet above the floor. The dome surmounts the central part of the facade, and is cover ed entirely with split corn ears and the soft white cotton. Ur- derneath the dome is the entrance to the pavilion. The door opens into a room about ten feet square, which is finished in corn, cotton and tobacco. Every part of the interior is thus decorated. Both inside and outside walls of the facade are entirely covered with split and sliced ears of corn, ar ranged in artistic designs, and with white cotton and the brown cotton see hulls in layers or stripes, giving variety of color effects. In the wall at each side of the entrance, are several win dows or archways, through which the visitor may see from the out side the various agricultural ex- hlbits of Arkansas, arranged on tables and stands inside. On the panels between the arches the decorations are of sheaves of wheat, oats, rye and other ce- reals from Arkansas fields.
 The work of covering the ex- posed parts of the pavilion with the field products of the state is a tedious operation, requiring considerable skill and artistic ability. Special machines are used for cutting or sIicing the ears of corn so that they may be tackled to the surface. Red, white and yellow corn is used, the col ors alternating to give variety. The whole effect, as viewed from a distance, is that of a skillfully painted surface.
 Six distinct hues go to make up the coloring. These are the three shades of corn, the white cotton, the white cottonseed and the dark yellow of the tobacco leaf. In addition there are a number of sheaves of wheat and other cereals capping the front wall at regular space, which add greatly to the beauty of the structures.
 Inside the pavilion is being ar ranged display of the farm products of Arkansas which con- tains some surprises. For in- stance, there are stalks of corn twenty feet tall. These were shipped to St. Louis in long cases, arOuSinU mnch curiosity o,o +bo