Final Report of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission Part 43

ARIZONA.

Arizona commission.--A.J. Doran, chairman; B.F. Packard, treasurer; H.B. St. Claire, secretary; Mrs. J.A. Black, commissioner; R.N.

Leatherwood, superintendent of exhibits.

The Arizona Building stood near the southeast entrance of the grounds.

Its architecture was Spanish, belonging to the sixteenth century. It contained seven rooms, elegantly furnished and decorated. The cost of the building was approximately $5,000. During the exposition period a large amount of literature descriptive of the Territory and its various resources was distributed.

The exhibits in the Arizona State Building other than those placed therein by the board of managers were a prehistoric collection loaned by Mrs. M. Aguria, of Tucson, Ariz., valued at $5,000; an oil painting of a mountain scene in southern Arizona, loaned by Mr. A.J. Scofield and valued at $4,000; a collection of Indian baskets, rugs, and blankets (Navaho), valued at $600; an exhibit of cactus picture frames, loaned by F.E. White, of Florence, Ariz., valued at $250.

The Territory made exhibits in the departments of Mines and Metallurgy, Education, Agriculture and Horticulture. The exhibit in the Palace of Mines and Metallurgy occupied a s.p.a.ce of 80 feet frontage by 20 feet in depth. In all, nearly 300 mines were represented by characteristic ores showing actual values rather than specimens, including in nearly every exhibit the inclosing and country rocks in which the vein matter occurred. These exhibits were arranged in two tiers, running the full length of the s.p.a.ce, each mine having its distinctive ore placed on wooden mounts, appropriately labeled, giving the county, district, owner, name and character of ore, and its value per ton in gold, silver, copper, or lead. The exhibit also showed free gold, native silver, native copper, copper bars, lead-silver bars, copper ingots, onyx (rough and polished), marble (rough and polished) building stone of various kinds, lithographic stone, petrified wood in rough and polish, meteoric iron, etc.; also photographic views of many of the mines, mills, reduction works, and localities from which the exhibits were taken. The value of the exhibit was approximately $20,000 and the cost of installation $1,900.

The educational exhibit in the Education and Social Economy Building represented the school work of the Territory from the kindergarten to the academic grade, showing the educational system and the progress made in Arizona. The value of the exhibit was approximately $2,500 and the cost of installation $750.

The agricultural exhibit in the Agricultural Building showed the various products of the soil of the Territory. Wheat, oats, barley, corn, Kaffir corn, sorghum, millet, alfalfa seed, alfalfa, hay, vegetables, olives, olive oil, preserved fruits, dates, etc., were displayed The exhibit cost approximately $875. The cost of installation was $1,500.

In the Horticultural Building there were maintained throughout the fair from 130 to 160 plates on the table, which held the following: Valencia late oranges, Was.h.i.+ngton navel oranges, Mediterranean sweets, lemons, limes, grape fruit, citronella, tangarines, grapes, plums, quinces, apricots, plum grabites, pears, cantaloupes, melons, olives, olive oil, pickled olives, etc. The value of the exhibit was approximately $2,500 and the cost of installation $950.

The amount appropriated by the legislative act for the partic.i.p.ation of Arizona was $30,000 in bonds, which were sold for 7 per cent. premium, thus making available from that source $32,000. No other funds from any source came into the hands of the board of managers.

ARKANSAS.

_Members of Arkansas commission_.--George R. Belding, president; J.C.

Rembert, secretary; Thomas W. Milan, manager; George T. Lake; John P.

Logan, superintendent horticultural department; A.H. Purdue, superintendent mines; H.T. Bradford, agriculture department; Miss Lizzie Cage, a.s.sistant lady manager.

In May, 1901, the legislature of the State of Arkansas enacted a bill appropriating the sum of $30,000 for the erection and maintenance of a State building at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, and for the installation and maintenance of the exhibits of the State. Subsequently, in 1903, the State legislature appropriated a further sum of $50,000 for the purpose of the State exhibit. There were no private subscriptions, the entire cost of the State building and maintenance thereof being borne by the State appropriation.

The cost of the installation and transportation of the different exhibits made by the commission was $18,102, besides the cost of returning the exhibits.

The Arkansas Pavilion at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition was a fine specimen of Georgian architecture, of the type so much used throughout the South in antebellum times. The adaptation of the colonial features to the purpose for which the building was used was most admirable. The location, with its foreground of gra.s.s and forest trees, produced an effect suggesting age and permanency that few buildings on the ground possessed. In fact, on coming upon the building unexpectedly, one would presume that it had occupied its site for two generations at least. The building was arranged for the entertainment of the Arkansans visiting the fair, and served the purpose of a clubhouse and general headquarters for thousands of people.

The princ.i.p.al feature of the plan of the building was the large reception hall in the center, connecting through wide openings two reception rooms, one on either side, and an exhibit room in the rear. On this floor there were also four smaller rooms used as commissioners'

headquarters, manager's office, post-office, and lady manager's headquarters; also wide hallways at right angles to the princ.i.p.al axis of the building.

The second story of the building contained the library, auditorium, headquarters of the State Bankers' a.s.sociation, and ladies' parlor, four sleeping rooms, together with the general toilet rooms.

The three exterior porticos were connected with wide terraces, affording over 3,000 square feet of floor s.p.a.ce. The building was constructed entirely of Arkansas timber, and was designed by Frank W. Gibb, A.I.A.

A., architect, Little Rock, Ark., and constructed at a cost of $19,944.05.

At the conclusion of the fair the building was sold to a citizen of Arkansas, where it is to be reerected as a residence.

In the building were exhibited many handsome pieces of art and fancywork, burnt-wood plaques and panels, china work, a large silk map of the United States, showing States, rivers, railroads, princ.i.p.al towns, etc.; oil paintings, pictures, and portraits, and miscellaneous exhibits.

In the main exhibit hall of the building was a composite exhibit made by the land department of the Iron Mountain Railroad, consisting of a collection of minerals found in the State, samples of the various woods of the State, a wooden library of seventy-five volumes, each book being made of a different kind of Arkansas wood, paintings and pictures of Arkansas scenes, and a historic clock made in Germany in 1763 for the Duke of Saxony, and samples of mineral waters of Montgomery County.

The Arkansas State commission maintained five exhibits in the exhibition palaces, viz, Agriculture, approximate value, $7,500; Horticulture, approximate value, $9,300; Forestry, approximate value, $3,500; Mines and Metallurgy, approximate value, $6,500; Education, approximate value, $3,600. In addition to these State exhibits, the city of Hot Springs maintained in the Government Building a unique exhibit in the nature of a cave or grotto made of quartz, crystals.

CALIFORNIA.

_Members of California commission_.--Frank Wiggins; J. A Filcher; George A. Dennison, secretary; Lewis E. Auburg, chief department of mining; George C. Roeding, chief department of horticulture; W.H. Mills, chief department of forestry; Robert Furlong, chief department of education.

On March 25, 1903, the legislature of the State of California pa.s.sed a bill appropriating the sum of $130,000 for the purpose of adequately exploiting California's resources and progress at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, and providing for two commissioners--one to have had one year's residence in the southern half of the State; both to have had experience in installing and managing exhibits at former, expositions.

In addition to this appropriation, there was about $120,000 raised by the various counties of the State for exclusive county displays to be installed in the Agricultural Building. These displays were intended to set forth the possibilities of California in an agricultural and horticultural way. The cost of installation of said features was about $40,000. The transportation of all the exhibits, including those of the counties, which were paid by the State, amounted to, approximately, $15,000.

The California State Building was located on "The Trail" in the vicinity of the buildings erected by Georgia and other Southern States, and was always an object of interest to sightseers at the fair. The pavilion was built after the Mission style of architecture, modeled after the houses in which the old Spanish settlers in California used to live. The front of the building was an exact copy in reduced proportions of the Mission at Santa Barbara, which was erected by the Franciscan monks in 1786. The pavilion contained no special exhibits, but its furnis.h.i.+ngs and decorations were entirely of Californian material, manufactured by Californian labor. The cost of the building complete was about $17,000, the balance of the appropriation by the State being consumed in the collection of the exhibit, its maintenance, and in general demonstration.

In the Forestry Pavilion California showed altogether 73 varieties of commercial and cabinet woods. A separate exhibit in the same place displayed an exhibit of the fish and game of the State. Just outside of the building there was an exhibit of forestry containing five logs, or timbers, which were too heavy to be placed on the Exhibition Building floor.

In the Agricultural Building the State made a distinctive feature of wine, dried fruits, canned fruit, processed vegetables, honey, hay, hops, canned fish, seeds and cereals, gra.s.ses and vegetable fibers, etc.

A facade was erected in this department and decorated most artistically.

The counties made separate displays. Altogether 23,300 feet of s.p.a.ce was occupied by the State in agriculture, exclusive of aisles.

In the Horticultural Building the State occupied 9,000 square feet of s.p.a.ce and made a strong showing of processed fruits, fresh fruits, nuts, and a panoramic scene ill.u.s.trating methods of orchard irrigation. There was also shown a cabinet containing the insects that prey on California orchards, and their parasites.

An operating mill and concentrators were displayed in the Mining Gulch, and in the Palace of Mines the State occupied 5,200 feet of floor s.p.a.ce with an exhibit showing all the commercial minerals of California.

Altogether there were forty-odd varieties.

In education a strong showing of the university work was made in one of the alcoves, 40 by 40 feet, and 2,000 feet of floor s.p.a.ce was occupied for the general artistic exhibit of school work from the kindergarten to the high school. This was inclosed within a characteristic facade of California redwood, finished in natural color.

A handsome display was a b.u.t.ter feature in the refrigeration department of agriculture with a beautiful modeled G.o.ddess of California, draped in fruits. Incubators were shown in the proper department, and on the grounds and in the conservatory were exhibited about 600 rare plants and shrubs and some tropical fruit trees.

COLORADO.

The Colorado legislature of 1901 appropriated $50,000 for the purpose of making a display of Colorado products and resources at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition and provided for the appointment by the governor of the State of a board of five commissioners, of which the governor should be a member and ex officio president. In 1903 an additional $100,000 was appropriated and the board was increased from five to seven members.

The following-named persons composed the Colorado commission:

Governor James H. Peabody, president; T.J. O'Donnell, vice-president; Paul Wilson, commissioner in chief; I.N. Stevens, secretary; Harry Ca.s.sady, treasurer; Mrs. Lionel Rose Anthony; William F. Sperry; John A.

Wayne, a.s.sistant to commissioner in chief; Maria W. Stewart, a.s.sistant treasurer.

The appropriation by the legislature of 1903 unfortunately was placed in the fifth-cla.s.s appropriation, and not all of the sum was available for the use of the board; but by arrangement of other departments of the State government and with the State inst.i.tutions of Colorado $80,000 of the $100,000 was made available for the State's partic.i.p.ation in the exposition.

The work of the board was divided into six departments, all under the direction of Commissioner in Chief Paul Wilson, as follows:

Mining Department, Mr. I.N. Stevens, chairman; Horticultural Department, Mr. Paul Wilson, chairman; Agricultural Department, Mr.

Harry Ca.s.sady, chairman; Educational Department, Mrs. I.R. Anthony, chairman; Forestry, Fish, and Game Department, Mr. T.J. O'Donnell, chairman; Fine Arts Department, Mr. W.F. Sperry chairman.

The exhibits of the resources of the State were collected from every portion of the State in these various departments.

The value of the mining exhibit placed by the State of Colorado on exhibition in St. Louis was $500,000; the value of the agricultural exhibit, $10,000; horticultural exhibit, $8,000; educational exhibit, $15,000; forestry, fish, and game exhibit, $7,500.

The approximate cost of installing and caring for these exhibits was as follows:

Mining Department ........................ $25,000 Horticultural Department ................. 10,000 Agricultural Department .................. 15,000 Educational Department ................... 12,000 Forestry, Fish, and Game Department ...... 10,000