The Tupelo journal., 1904-07-29
Worlds Fair Letter.
st. Louis, Mo-; July %, 100

Editor journal -AIGer giving d
partial description of the Fair
grounds and the relative positions
Of the chief buildings, what fol
lows shall be, in the main, a de.
scrlption of the most interesting
exhibits in the several buildings.
AS good a point to begin as any is
the Transportation Building, nea
est the Skinker Road entrance,
where the visitor was supposed to
have entered iu some Of the prevl-
GUS letters.
This building, as one would
Judge from the name contains ex-
hibits of all manner Of vehicles
and machines used in transporta-
ton. Instruments from the land,
sea and air are here; that are used
in transportation. All graduation
of progress, from the simplest
polanquin to the giant locomotives
are represented.
Without attempting to give the
location and description of each
exhibit task too difficult here
the attention of the visitor is direct
ed to some of the main places of
interest. Probably the first thing
to attract ones attentions IS the
putting of a large engine in the
building. This is where the Penn
syivania Railroad Co, is conduct
ing ii series Of tests of the differ,
emit types of engines with a view
of comparing their respective
strength and speed. Each eng ne
tested is placed on a track, with
its drivers in contact with other
wheels which register both tho
strength and the speed at the
cab. by clock work. An electric
crane operated above the engine
and this space furnishes the coal
consumed. In trout is a bulletin
board giving the observer some
information about the speed, the
number of revolutions of drivers
etc. A little further down the
building from the west entrance
one can see the largest locomotive
engine in the world. It is owned
by the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road Co., and will he run for the
first time after the Fair. 1t is so
heavy that in bringing it across
the river boats were used in
stead of Eads bridge, which was
not strong enough to bear the
enormous weight. Instead of one
cylinder on each side there are two
one in the usual place and one
about the c%enetr, thus rendering
it very powerful. While this is
the largest engine here and else
where there are several others not
dwarfs by any means, that are in
teresting to look at.
Near this place an electric turn
table with locomotive in position is
being operated throughout the
day. The engine is spun around
apparently automatically in short
order, with perfect ease.
The large variety of old types of
engines begin near center of build
ing and occupy much space. Each
engine is named and its history
given, making it easy for one to
understand. Here is seen the ev-
olution of the steam locomotive.
Side by side with these giant mod
ern machines are placed the mod
est primitive engines, and step by
step one can see the rapid improve
ment during the last fifty years, a
splendid exhibition of American
ingenuity and progressive spirit.
One engine among all these will
especially interest Mississippians.
1t is an old craft made in England
in 1884, named after Il state, and
ran between Natchez and Hamburg
Miss, during 1868. Its last
service was from 1878 to 1891 be
tween Meridian, Brookhaven and
Natchez. The l. G.. railroad shows
this with a number of others Of
similar type.
Most of the northeast end of the
building is devoted to American
Automobiles Of the almost number
less manufacturers. On the oppo-
site side of the building the French
machines are found, comparing ia
vorably with u makes. Some of
the machines are stripped of their
accessory parts, and the working
parts are shown to good advan-
tage. A large balloon only partial
1y inflated, is situated about the
center of the house. With it is a
card explaining its history and
mode Of construction.
Modes Of travel in some of the
far away countries are shown, part
ly in vehicles of full size, partly
in models, all of which will bear
close study and reveal much to a
close observer. In fact by exami-
nation of these foreign exhibits,
and by questioning an attendant,
if present, n gets an adequate
idea Of life in the countries they
represent. By thus doing it really
means a Worlds Fair to the visitor.
G. III. DABBS