St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-10-31

Since the great exposition at the
Hyde Park in London in 1851 there
has been nothing in that country
Of the same scope and magnitude as
the Franco-British exposition, now
nearing completion at Shepherds
Bush, ready for opening in another
month. 1t was the dream of Queen
Victoria and the prince consort that
the exhibition of 1851 would promote
the brotherhood of man, and pave the
way for universal peace, and now 1t
has been left for King Edward, by his
tactful and statesmanlike policy, to
promote spirit of amity between
Great Britain and other European ma
tionalities, and in particular with her
nearest neighbors across the channel.
The outcome of the entente cordiale
is the Franco-British exhibition.
The idea OF a mutual exhibition be-
tween the two nations for the purpose
of increasing commercial intercourse
was proposed by the French chamber
Of commerce in London in 1905, and
was eagerly taken up on both sides Of
the channel A meeting was held at
the Mansion House July II, 1906, to
inaugurate the scheme, and the king
and his majesty's ministers gave their
cordial approval to the undertaking.
The duke of Argyll was made honor
ary president, the earl of derby pres
ldent and Mr. Imre Kiralfy, that prince
amongst exhibition organizers, was ap-
pointed commissioner general. The
first sod of the grounds Of the exhibit
ton was cut January 3. 1907. by Comte
de Manneville, on behalf of the French
ambassador, in the presence Of the
duke of Argyll, Sir William Bull, M.
p, the mayor of Hammersmith, and a
representative company Of distin-
guished people, and now, little more
than a year after the first sod was cut,
q marble city, with halls and palaces,
domes and minarets, has arisen in the
great wilderness Of land.
The exhibition site covers 140 acres,
and the exhibits will be housed in 20
palaces, and there will be a series OF
eight exhibition halls, the largest OF
which is the Machinery Hall, which
with its annexes, covers over 100000
square feet of floor space. The build
ings are divided between the French
and British exhibitors and devoted tt
the liberal arts, science, social econ
omy, hygiene, chemical industries and
Authorization sections. Other palaces
are devoted to education, fine arts
decorative arts, applied arts, music
and women's work, and there Is a fine
congress hall for meetings and con
ferences.
The Women's Palace is. chivalrousl,
described by Mr.. Kiralfy as ''the mos
beautiful palace in city of palaces.
Alphabetically, 1t is a perfect Httl'
gem, and is set like a holy of hole!
in the center of the exhibition in thu
court of honor, having the Palace o
Music on one side and the Royal Pa
vilion, which provides accommodation
for the king and queen and members
of the royal house, on the other side
Some idea of the practical interes
France has taken In the scheme is evi
denced when 1t is stated that out o
$4,000 applications for space SO far re
ceived, 10000 have come from acros
the channel. One-half Of the entir'
space available-30 acres, or ~
square miles of floor space-is to b.
devoted to French exhibits, which vii
be more comprehensive than those dis
played by France at any exhibition
outside of Paris.
The buildings are spacious and al
tistic structures, built for the mos
part of steel, iron, concrete and plas
ter. Wood is conspicuous by its al
sence, with the result that all tn
edifices will be f1reproof. The gian
of the palaces is the Machinery Hal
It is the largest building ever erecte
at any exhibition. 1t covers an area c
over six acres, and consists of a mai
building, running northeast and soutl
west, Joined together at the south en-
by a building Of similar construction
the whole resembling in design tn
letter "U." Each side building is sc
feet long by 100 feet wide, and tn
cross building 302 feet long by 80 fee
wide. There will be total foe
space in this one building of eigf
acres.
The next largest is the Indian Cour
where the products of the Indian en-
pire will be displayed to full adval
tage. This structure will be one {