Durango semi-weekly herald., 1903-03-19
BUILDING COVERS 20 ACRES.
Mammoth Structure for the Depart.
ment of Agriculture at the Worlds
Fair.

ment of Agriculture at the Worlds
Fair.
The contract FOR the completion of
the Agriculture building at the st.
Louis Worlds Fair was let on Satur-
day. February 2Sth for S529.g4O. This
building is 10 per cent larger than
any building at the exposition. and
is the largest structure erected for the
reception of single department.
II is 509Nl 600 feet. thus containing
a floor space of almost 20 acres
This building. and that to he built for
horticulture. will probably be the only
ones in the exposition bearing color
on the outer walls. The Agriculture
building will have used upon it green
with points OF brighter color
Garlands, wreaths and festoons of
fruits and flowers are to figure in the
color scheme. The architectural mem.
bers, such as the cornices, and the
piers between the mouldngs are to be
left white
The plans for this building have
been prepared under the immediate
supervision of MIR Isaac S. Taylor. di-
rector of works of the exposition. by
Mr.. Il. J.. MasQueray, chief of design
The building is probably the best
lighted on the grounds It's fronts
are practically successive series of
windows each 10 feet long and u
feet high. These windows are placed
II feet from the floor so as to allow
the use of the wall space inside for
exhibits. Triangular monitor windows
supply skylight, while they cut off the
direct sunlight, which would quickly
spoil many of the exhibits in this
building
The grand nave, lO5 feet wide,
which runs through the l.6OO-foot
length of the building. rises to a
height of so feet and supplies the
grandest vista of installation space of
any building ever designed for exposi-
ton purposes.
The entrances to the building are
distributed to serve the visitors. A
gradual rising approach will lead up
from the northeast, where is located
the main picture of the fair. The
II VI oioi''' vi lll- mn llt
building have been assigned to the
works of agriculture and horticulture,
and here during the fair will be main
tanned fine display of towering
shrubbery and of indigenous and exot-
ic plants. Hydrants to supply water
to these exhibits at all times have
been planned
On the south side it will have a gal
lery 800 feet long and % feet wide.
Here will be the Offices for Chief f.
W. Taylor and his staff reading
rooms where the leading agriculture
publications will Se kept on file; jury
rooms ana a large committee room.
There Will also be on this gallery an
assembly hall for the meeting of az
riculture and other societies. This
hall will be 1OG by 80 feet and viii
have a seating capacity of nearly
5000
1t is well worth noting that the
pleasant relation of the division of ex-
hibits and the division of works has
resulted, in this case, in building
which is better adapted for the pur-
pose for which it is constructed than
is sometimes true of exposition pal
aces.
The director of works sought the
advice and suggestions of the chief of
the departments, and as result many
notifications We're made in the first
plans suggested, all of which were
with the thought of making the build
ing as perfectly suitable for exhibits
as possible. Only those who have had
experience as exhibitors can appreci-
ate how much this means as compared
with building which is worked out
and completed by an architect. who
may not have had special exposition
experience, or knowledge of the de.
tails which may be included without
additional cost and without marring
the archit ectural and artistic features
Such slight changes will often modi.
fy the building so that instead of be
ing very badly adapted to exhibits It
contains all the requisites for permit.
ting successful installation. II Is
doubtful whether in the working out
of any exhibit building so much
thought was ever given to the comfort
and convenience of exhibitors The
contract calls for the completion OF
the building by September 1st. thus
leaving ample time for the most elab.
oTate installation.