The Washington times., 1906-08-10
FINE STRUCTURES
MADE Of STAFF
Yet Permanent Buildings Are
Expected at James
town Show.
SITES DONATED TO STATES
Not Much staff to Be Used There e.
cePt in the Decorations and
Statuary.

NORFOLK, Va. Aug I6-Leo Bonet.
Of New York. vino first introduced stan
as q construction material for exposition
buildings and statuary In the United
states, has arrived In Norfolk on busi-
ness connected with the jamestown Ex-
position OF 1861. Mr BOuet through his
suggestion that stan be used IN the
construction OF the Columbian Exposl-
ton at Chicago. may be credited with
having saved about 100000 20 the
builders Of the several expositions that
have been held in this country since
1895.
First Proposition.
Born in France, AR. BOnet came TO the
United States twenty years ago. In 1884,
when the first great American exposition
since the Philadelphia Centennial was in
embryo, Mr. Bonet went TO Chicago. The
problem OF creating al architectural dis
play with the maximum OF ma guihceuce
az the minimum Of expense was under
discussion. wood. glass. and tin had
been chiefly employed al Philadelphia.
resulting in structures more useful than
beautiful
Mr.. Bonet proposed 10 the Chicago
exposition builders that staff be employ
ed as constructive material.
At first his suggestion was not ser
iously considered The Frenchman was
told that stan was not sufficiently dur
able. To disprOye this notion Mr. BOnet
made some stan figures and set them
on TOD OF the EOOEeFy building IA Chi
cage, exposed % q winter OF rough
weather. The next spring IL was dis
covered the stan had stood Z Wen. After
due consideration stan was adopted, and
the Columbian Exposition thereby saved
CT the most beautiful exposition ever
held up TO that year. For temporary
buildings stan is lOW universally used
The uFsL sran building in Amerl "A was
the Womau's building al the Chicago
fair. which was the work Of Mr. BOneL-
The Fine Arts building at thai fair
which was The work OF MI BoneL sun
stands, protected by paint. Ihe beauty
of eXp0sitiCns. in tinU and hue IS due
70 a combination ot plaster OF paris,
hemp and d-Xtrine.
Another Departure.
At The approaching jamestown TX
position. which win open April IS, 1907.
on SeWeITs point. six niles from Nor
folk, another radical departure IN the
construction Of exposition buildings Is
10 be taken. Heretofore every great eX-
position in this country has been built
only FOR temporary use. Most Il tie
buildings NJ SewelIs peinJ ar2 70 b.
permanent. Accordingly. the quantity
OF star used VII be comparatively
small
The exposition site is on the shore OF
Hampton Roads that famous seaway
and summer resort region II is be-
lieved that after the exposition there
wifi be q demand for the various build
ings, % ID used as hotels. clubl0us6s
and summer residences. With this idea
there IS extra induCemenL for partici-
patton OF the various States The site
OF each State building is decided 20 the
State occupying Il. Thus each State
viii be able 10 recover the cost OF its
building. and in some instances prob
ably make a profit on the investment.
Heretofore exposition buildings have
been sold 10 WTecEing companies a q
mere pitJanCe.
Much star, however. VIII be used IN
the exposition features. such as statu-
ary arches. bridges. exhibit booths, and
decorations. The grand group of Gov
eminent buildings viii be constructed OF
STAFF.