The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-09
THE WORLD TALKS
 ABOUT IRON MAN
Birmingham's Vulcan Attracts
 Attention in New York
TO BE FEATURE OF THE FAIR
Unique Exhibit Ia Subject for Interest. Ing Discussion In Papers of the Country and Is Already
 Widely Advertised.

| The New York World devotes a page in It's issue of last Sunday to a description of Brmingham's great iron Vulcan which it calls "the most striking single feature of the great St. Louis fair" The monster man~of iron Is pictured In all his vast bulk and looks sufficiently imposing to merit the fattering reference made 10 him as the attraction at the fair. Bir- mngham has already been greatly bene- ited by the interest which her unique exhibit has awakened in the country and the Iron Vulcan has been the subject for much discussion In newspapers every where.
 Speaking of Brminghams exhibit the World says In part:
 Moretti. the sculptor. of No. 152 West Thirty eighth street. has just completed at Passaic, N J., model in plaster for a statue of Vulcan fifty feet high. This statue Is to be cast in iron at Bir- mingham, Ala. and will form the centre of the Alabama exhibition at the St Louis exposition.
 It is intended to typify the colossal metallic resources of the state, and is meritorious work of art as well as the largest cast statue in the world.
 Fast Work.
 One of the most interesting things abouf the work is the brief time given the artist to complete it. He began on his life-slze model in clay late in November last, and did not get started on the colossus until the first week in December. He employed number of workmen to build an arma- ture, or sustaining framework of wood, according to measurements, for the en- iargement. The first section was from the soles of the feet to the waist line distance of twenty-nine feet. the width across the hips being ten feet six inches. The clay was then laid on this frame work and the work of modelling was be- gun. In the ordinary course of statute building the work on this section alonA would have required a year or more. MT Moretti completed it in a month and had the plaster cast made in the following manner:
 When he had completed the modelling, which he did entirely with his own hands, he had the figure covered with thick coating of plaster of paris, which was toughened and held tightly together with strips of burlap.
 Perfect MatrIx.
 This coating of plaster, when 1t was fully set. became perfect matrix ofsths figure. It was carefully removed in sec tions and laid aside, so that the wood work and clay could be taken away. The matrix was then set up and bound to- gether with iron bands to support the plaster, which was in turn. poured into the inside of the mould. producing the feet, legs and body to the waist. The head. arms and upper body are now undergoing a similar treatment in the new Church of St. stephen, Passaic, and the shipment of the model to Birmingham has been begun. It is expected that It will all reach its destination before Feb ruary 10
 The colossus Is to be cast in Alabama iron at one of the great foundies of Bir- mngham as soon as the model reaches there, and 1t will then be shipped to St. Louis, where it will occupy command ing position in the Mines Palace.
 After the exposition It will be taken back to Birmingham to become perma- ntul utCoIdtiDn Oi tHt piiuCipai paA n VI the city.
 Primitive Man.
 It represents the idea of primitive man at the time he discovered how to harden iron and give 1t keen edge, a conquest over nature which is practically at the bottom of all subsequent physical devel- opment and civilization.
 Tn addition to the colossus of iron. the state will make full exhibit of it's raw and manufactured products.
 Alabama's chief resources are its coal and iron and it will spend a great deal of money on It's exhibits advertising these industries. The colossus is only part of the material to be installed In the Mines building of the St. Louis fair. | The big statue will. however. be one of the most striking features of what is ex- | pected to be the most comprehensive ex- hibits of the worlds mineral resources | ever brought together