Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-02

Why, you couldn't give electric show in Omaha unless
someone gave you a hundred thousand dollars to pay its expenses
This was the remark of one Snowman and manufacturer when
we talked Omaha Electric show to him. But our best argument
was that Omaha was the only city In the country which ever gave a
great international exposition and paid the stock holders almost
dollar for dollar; that Omaha gave a horse show and broke even on
the finances while the pure food shows and every poultry show ever
given in Omaha had proven a success, to say nothing about the
great Ak-Sar-Ben festival.
IAN these little reminders helped, but it took the business men
here in Omaha to make the show possible. They signed guarantees
and while one or two said they would rather give a straight
amount than sign up a guarantee, they wished afterwards they had
become stockholders, as the show made money"
With last years success a s a thing to beat, the show will open
MAY 6 and run for ten DAYS this YEA on the eIebor.to nIon
ever devised for an electrical show. Besides being a plan which will
surprise friends of the enterprise, it is original. 1t has been the
motto of the promoters of this show a it is with other expositions
held in this city Omaha don't imitate-but Omaha beats her own
record each year"
Perhaps the most original and striking thing about the electrical
show will be the decorating scheme. All other shows in all other
cities have been schemes for using electricity in lighting and decorat-
ing, but none have ever attempted a moving lighting plan before.
Chicago had a big field of blue dotted with lamps, some of which
vent u and then burst forth in light again like twinkrng stars.
This was all the movement in the Chicago Illuminating scheme. It
was attractive, looking as it did like the armament on a cold clear
night of stars"
But far be it from omahans to initiate when it comes to produc-
ing electrical novelties-to which fact numerous street signs testify
nightly The workers went to work. They would have a real moving
illumination which would mystify as well IS attract the admiration
of visitors. e. c. Bennett and j. B. Garnsey we're the designers
of the big novelty.
This ingenious lighting scheme consists of sixteen "caronas" or
big domes studded with red and white lights. Inverted, they ire
suspended In M Auditorium where arc lights ordinarily hang,
Something of the light they will make may be imagined when it is
known they re eight feet in diameter.
Giving a beautiful effect when they re standing still, with the
lights going out and coming on symmetrically, always ascending
whent coming on, winding and twisting like corkscrews. But the
effect is intensified by the caronas revolving themselves. This was
a difficult task to keep these sixteen big domes of galvanized iron
whirling and make sure they would not stop and disappoint a crowd
of visitors. But no one can see what moves them. The plan is the
most ambitious eve attempted. Fans have been placed down inside
the caronas. The current necessary to run one light runs the fan,
and when the fan is in motion sucking the air back and forth the big
dome turns. That accomplishes the most elaborate aud original
electric decorating scheme ever attempted at any electric show on
earth.
Fifty-six booths have been arranged for the exhibits, while the
stage will be utilized by the Omaha Electric Light and Power COM
pany with a practical exhibit of industrial power" which for in
terest the management believes Will surpass the unique electrical
cottage which the company had last year.
Wide aisles will run between these booths which form the white
way" One hundred and nine white posts capped with electric lights
are necessary In partiuoning off the booths. The posts are con-
nected by white railing. Each n of the posts will have eight
electric lights on crossbars from the top. But all the light will be
thrown down and on the top of the post will be a ported plant-not