Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-29
which stand. in front of the EDUCATIONAL
Progress the Dominant idea.

which stands In front of the educational
building.
Progress the Dominant Idea
The motive of the exposition. the idea
which almost every exhibitor has endeav-
ored to express under the skfllful and en-
thusiastic direction of Mr.. Skiff, is progress
II the progress of ten years. You see It
everywhere. 1t appeals to the visitor In
every building, and next to the architec-
tural triumphs 1t Is the greatest success of
the greatest undertaking of the kind that
has been carried out. No one can realize
the progress we and other nations have
made during the last ten years until he
comes here and measures 1t in art, science,
Industry, transportation, education and in
every other field of human culture and ac-
tiyity. Mr.. Skin has demonstrated that
during the ten short years between the close
or the Chicago exposition and the opening
of that ut st. Louis the worlds advance
ment has been greater than for whole CEN
turtles in the past.
Anyone familiar with the Chicago expo
sition can identify the improvements that
have been made here. The St. Louis peo-
pie have shown great wisdom first in avoid
Ing the mistakes and b1unders that were
made there, and, second in selecting some
OF the most successful men In the Chicago
organization to carry out their ideas here.
They have not been hampered by clumsy
and quarrelsome national commission. The
national commission at st. Louis has been
purpose, and has helped instead Of hindered
tie success of the enterprise.
I The Chicago exposition, and that at Buff
falo In a less degree. were training schools
In which men of genius were developed and
fitted for greater achievements. The MAX
ing of expositions has become a profession,
and on other business requires greater skill,
ability, taste and Judgment. The lessons
that were learned at Chicago have been
used to great advantage here, and the sue
cess Of this enterprise has been largely due
T. the ability and the energy Of men who
were educated there.
Getting About the Grounds.
One Of the most noticeable improvements
is In the facilities for getting about the
grounds, and that Is very important be-
cause OF the enormous area over which the
exhibits have been scattered. The intra-
mural railway. a trolley line belonging to
the exposition company, for a 1O-cent fare
VIII take a visitor within easy walking
distance OF every one of the sixteen hun
dred buildings. and the trains run at in
tervals OF three minutes
For closer but slower travelling we have
large number of electric omnibuses, car
rying eighteen and twenty-four persons.
and making a complete circuit of all the
principal highways, a distance of three
miles, for 20 cents. The drivers are accom-
modating. and will drop passenger wher-
ever he wants to go. This little journey,
on one of these big motors, is the best way
to see the buildings and the grounds and
every visitor ought to take 1t Immediately
upon ARRIVAL, before he tries to do or see
anything else. With map in his hands
and the explanations given by the drivers.
ne Will be able to locate the principal fea-
lures as Well as enjoy panorama Of the
architectural glories of the exposition.
For still closer work in the buildings tired
ana lazy people can have the same rolling
chairs that were used at Chicago, and an
other generation of college students to push
them about at the rate of 40 cents an hour.
Japanese jfnrikishaS were brought over and
ought to have been great success because
they are especially adapted for such serv-
ice, but for some reason or another thew
nave been failure, and most of them are
lying idle In a storehouse. Nearly all of
the original rikisha men brought over by
the company that had this concession have
returned to Japan, or have found other en-
pioyment. Only few are still hauling
their little vehicles, and they are dressed
IN American garments. Twenty or thirty
lrishmen have been employed to take the
places OF the japanese deserters but they
are not success.
Arrangement Of Exhibits.
Another great improvement over the Chi
cago exposition is recognized in the ar
and installation of the exhibits |
While, as told you in a recent letter, the |
number of exhibits here Is only little
larger than those at Chicago, they ale
spread out over a much larger area, which |
gives more room for display and wider and
more numerous aisles. There are no long, |
rows of booths One can walk
around almost every exhibit. There are no
long, straight aisles. There is no crowding
There is plenty of room to move about and |
to see.
The style and method of installation is |
far superior to that at Chicago. The man
agement has required exhibitors to submit |
drawings of their booths, and has insisted |
upOn better architectural effects and ma
terials. The cost of installation here has |
been more than twice as great as at Chi |
cago, and the consequences are gratifying |
to every visitor. The exhibits are a good
deal mixed. Ole often wonders why some |
things are placed with the machinery and |
others with the liberal arts. But there is |
always good reason for it. The rigid |
rules of classification at Chicago have not |
been enforced here, but have been made |
elastic in order to economic space and |
crafty the exhibitors.