The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-28
GAY WATER CRAFT
FOR FAIR LAGOONS.
Electric Launches and Barges Are
to Ply the Waters of the
Exposition.
BOATS TO REPRESENT NATIONS.
Aquatic Carnivals With Singing
Gondoliers-Mississippi River
Steamboat Race a Nov
city of the Display.

Plans for the operation OF electric launch
es and barges and gondolas on the lagoons
of the Exposition were made public yes
to-day
Thirty electric launches. each carrying
twenty-five persons; two electric barges'
each having a capacity for seventy persons.
and twenty Venetian gondolas with sing
Ing gondoliers. each carrying eight 10 twen-
ty persons with many rcwboats, Is the
equipment
Besides these water craft. the contract
with the concessionaires provides for main
tenance on the lagoons of boats OF all ma
tions. including the houseboat of China
the balso of India, the out:iGgers or me
South Sea Islands. the surfboats OF Hawai-.
the canoes and dug-outs of the American
Indian and the catamaran of Australia.
Civilized nations will be represented oy
high-class boats Of modern type. named for
the ruler OF the country they represent.
They will carry the colors of the respective
countries and their coats Of arms. NoVel'y
boats designed on the lines OF the peacock
swan sea-serpent and other real and ia
bled animals will add to the picturesque
display. ,e
Water carnivals have been planned and
professions OF gayly decorated craft Will
enliven periods Of the lagoon service. The
decorations of boats will be under the SUI
pervision of the Director Of Concessions
Bridges crossing the lagoons have been de-
signed so that a head room OF twelve feet
will permit the tallest gondolier to stand
upright on the stern platform of his boat
and pass under the bridge without stooping.
Electric launches and barges will ply
along a regular course carrying passengers
between stations just as the lntramural
R.lway will do on the land.
The passenger may make the entire circuit
or end his tour where he pleases at the
various boat landings to be PLACED along
the route. A half hours ride will cost %
cents in launches and barges. An hour
ride on gondolas will cost 80 cents; me
lagoons touch every point on the main pic
ture of he Exposition. and offer an un-
equaled 1.ew Of the cascades and gardens
at the head Of the grand court.
MAY HAVE BOATING PARTIES.
The Intramral Railway and the Miniature
Railway do not reach this district, SO that
the water transportation will offer route
that is entirely new to the visitor. The boats
will be protected by heavy awnings that
tip to allow passengers to enter and leave
the craft The electric launches will be
operated by Edison improved storage bat
teries, which will serve to light them at
night.
Special boats decorated and equipped with
music and singing gondoiiers will be pro-
ytded for private boating parties and the
Exposition will attempt to make a society
feature of this plan Boat races between
sailors and oarsmen OF foreign nations,
swimming contents and a Mississippi River
which will be reproductions on small
scale OF the river steamers are other feat
ures of the water service.
The company having the concession has
ing over $500. The officers of the COM
pany are w. Il. Woodward. president:
Julius ]. Schotten, treasurer; Frank l.. Tai
bot. general manager. and Mark L Stone,