Final Report of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission Part 57

The finish of the second floor was from excellent models of the Ionic order found in old colonial mansions in Newport and Bristol. On either side of the hall were the executive and commissioners' rooms. Prominent among the features of the building was the stained-gla.s.s window at the second-story landing of the stairway. The design for this window was the result of a compet.i.tion by the students of the Rhode Island School of Design. On either side, suitably reproduced as to design and coloring, were the seals of the State of Rhode Island and the city of Providence.

By an ingenious arrangement of the gable construction a roof garden was provided, a broad stairway leading thereto from the second floor. A part of the roof garden was set aside for a suite for servants' quarters, breakfast room, kitchen, pantry, and storage. Apart from the sleeping quarters the entire building was devoted to public use. The furnis.h.i.+ngs, decoration, and equipment of the Rhode Island Building represented many public-spirited contributions. The building cost $26,000, and the furnis.h.i.+ng and equipment, which were contributed, were estimated to have cost $6,000. On July 4, 1904, the Rhode Island Building was purchased by Mr. John Ringen, of St. Louis. It was the first building on the grounds to be disposed of. Mr. Ringen transferred the building intact to his country estate for a residence.

In April, 1903, the legislature of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations enacted a measure providing for a State exhibit, and appropriated $35,000 for the purpose of the same. It was subsequently found that the sum appropriated would not be sufficient for the purpose, and in April, 1904, the legislature pa.s.sed another bill appropriating the sum of $30,000.

Besides the State appropriation of $65,000, the school committee of the city of Providence subscribed $2,000 for an educational exhibit, making the total amount available $67,000. There was absolutely no private subscription or contribution.

The cost of installation, including cost of transportation, was as follows:

Rhode Island State Building ......................... $26,000 Furnis.h.i.+ng and equipment, contributed (valued at).... 6,000 Exhibit of inland fisheries ......................... 2,500 Exhibit Department of Education ..................... 3,000 Exhibit Department of Social Economy ................ 3,000 Exhibit Department of Forestry, Fish, and Game ...... 1,000 Exhibit Department of Agriculture and Horticulture .. 2,500

The State of Rhode Island was represented by exhibits in five of the exhibition palaces as follows:

United States Fisheries Building: By the commission of inland fisheries.

Palace of Education: State board of education, Rhode Island State Normal School, Providence High School, and demonstration by exhibit of various schools of all grades in public school system of the city of Providence, Rhode Island School of Design, public schools of the town of Warwick, public schools of the town of Cranston, public schools of the town of Bristol, Miss Mary C. Wheeler's Private School for Young Ladies, Providence, R.I. Social Economy: Board of State charities and corrections, Sockanosset School for Boys, Oaklawn School for Girls, department of factory inspection, bureau of industrial statistics, State Sanatorium for Consumptives, State board of health, State board of soldiers' relief. Forestry, Fish, and Game: James W. Stainton, of Providence, R.I., exhibit of game birds and fish of Rhode Island. Palace of Agriculture: State board of agriculture, Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.

SOUTH DAKOTA.

Under an act of the legislature approved March 11, 1903, South Dakota appropriated the sum of $35,000 for the purpose of exhibiting the resources, the products, and the industrial, commercial, and social progress and general development of the State of South Dakota at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. A commission was also const.i.tuted, which consisted of three persons appointed by the governor, selected entirely with regard to their familiarity with the resources, arts, and products of the State, their business experience and executive skill, and all of whom were residents of the State.

Shortly after the 1st day of July, 1903, when the law creating the commission became operative, Gov. Charles N. Herreid, then acting governor, appointed as commissioners, S.W. Russell, of Deadwood; L.T.

Boucher, of Eureka, and W.B. Saunders, of Milbank, who const.i.tuted the commission throughout the entire period. S.W. Russell was elected president; L.T. Boucher, vice-president; W.B. Saunders, treasurer, and George R. Farmer, secretary.

The commission at its first session determined that the State should be represented not only by a building or home for its citizens, but likewise in the Departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, Dairy, Mining, and Education. To that end application was at once made to the chiefs of the various departments of the exposition for s.p.a.ce in the respective exhibit buildings. Tentative locations were at once a.s.signed to our State commission in all these departments, with the exception of that in the Palace of Education.

Although one of the last of the States to procure ground for the erection of our State building, the South Dakota Building was one of the three State buildings ready to open its doors on the opening day of the exposition.

The State building was located at the top of Art Hill, a little to the east of the colonnade of States and about 500 feet east of the Art Palace.

The South Dakota Building in its exterior and style of architecture was unpretentious. The building was two stories in height, having two commodious porches on the north and west sides; the outside walls were covered with cement, finished in natural color. The building being situated at the top of a small hill and entirely surrounded by large oak trees presented a most inviting spot to the overheated, weary sightseer.

It was to the interior construction of the building that time, care, and expense were chiefly devoted. Upon entering the front door the visitor stood in a hall 12 feet wide by 21 feet in length; to the right was the writing room and general business office, to the left the parlor, and at the rear of the building were the ladies' retiring room, reading room, lavatories, and storage room. The walls and ceilings of all the rooms described were covered with metallic sheeting with embossed designs, beautifully tinted in colorings, each room different from the others.

The furnis.h.i.+ngs of these rooms were simple, yet serviceable and neat, and in harmony with the colorings of the walls.

It was "The Great Corn Room" that impressed the visitor with wonder at its beautiful and fascinating designs, the interior walls being covered with native gra.s.ses, straw, and grains, wrought in a hundred beautiful and artistic designs. The word "Welcome," directly over the rostrum in the center of the south wall, attracted the attention of the visitor upon his first entrance to the building on account of the peculiar shading, the letters, running from a pure white at the top to a dark blue at the bottom, the shading being so gradual that it seemed incredible that it was actual corn in its native coloring.

The arch in the ceiling presented a beautiful appearance, with large stars in crosscuts of red, white, yellow, and blue corn, a fantastic background with festoons of grains in the natural colors, wheat, oats, rye, barley, and flax straw being mostly used. There were two panels, lettered with oat straw, that glistened like burnished gold under the electric lights of the arch, describing the various products of the State, viz, cattle, swine, horses, wheat, oats, barley, corn, flax, gold, and silver. On the east wall wrought in corn upon a green background was the State's motto, "Under G.o.d the People Rule." This motto contained every conceivable color that corn is known to take on.

The walls of the other rooms were adorned by a number of paintings in oil and water colors. A number of enlarged colored photographs of artesian wells, public buildings, and other scenes, were also displayed, as well as pictures of prominent men of the State.

During the exposition forty-three South Dakota people received attention and care on account of illness or indisposition or accidents, and thousands came there to rest, meet friends, and attend to business matters. A post-office was maintained in the building, where thousands of letters were received and delivered.

The agricultural booth was similar in its construction to the "Corn Hall" of the State building, although different in design. The place a.s.signed this exhibit in the Palace of Agriculture covered a s.p.a.ce 35 by 45 feet 6 inches, with aisles on three sides. The facade fronted on the three aisles and in its architectural lines presented a solidity characteristic of the State's exhibits. Cane stalk and corn in red colors were used to form the base of the facade, being put on in transverse sections, which gave at a distance as well as by close inspection a very pleasing effect. It was, however, to the interior decoration and exhibit that great labor and skill were devoted in making it especially attractive. Grains in the native straw, gra.s.ses, and clover were worked out in many fantastic shapes and beautiful designs.

In the center of the booth, rising to a height of 15 feet, was a large octagonal pyramid, used almost exclusively for the display of grain in the straw; the bright yellow being in strong contrast with a red burlap background, made it naturally attractive. On the south wall or side a like exhibit of grains and gra.s.ses was shown; four large display tables, also in pyramid shape, occupied the s.p.a.ce surrounding the centerpiece above described. On this table were several hundred gla.s.s jars, globes, and bottles for the display of grains and seeds of every description grown in South Dakota. It was, however, to the corn exhibits that special care and attention were given. Twelve large show cases were used for the display of this exhibit, besides a large quant.i.ty displayed in bulk, both in the ear and sh.e.l.led. Over 100 bushels of corn was used in this exhibit alone.

The exhibit attracted much attention from the corn growers of other States, and was conceded to be one of great merit considering the newness of the State, and, as one Illinois farmer said, "It is better corn by long odds than I raised when I first went to Illinois."

The display of horticultural products was in the Palace of Agriculture instead of the Palace of Horticulture. Twenty-five barrels of apples of some 15 different varieties were collected early in the fall of 1903 and placed in cold storage at St. Louis, thus supplying a continual display until the fruit season of 1904. The fact that 10 medals were awarded to the horticultural display demonstrates the merit of this exhibit.

The State's representation in the dairy department was both unique and so different from that of other States that it attracted much attention.

The s.p.a.ce a.s.signed for this exhibit in the refrigerator section of the Agricultural Building was 8 by 8 feet. The artistic feature, aside from the display of b.u.t.ter in bulk, was a profusion of flowers, buds, leaves in the form of bouquets, wreaths, garlands, and festoons made out of b.u.t.ter. They were artistically displayed on plates, baskets, and various sized vases, some of which were made of b.u.t.ter and others of painted chinaware. At the back of the exhibit the name of South Dakota appeared in leaf-work letters, as well as statistics of the annual production of b.u.t.ter, milk, and cream, all worked out in b.u.t.ter also.

About the 1st of June the educational exhibit was put in place. The walls were covered with art work, maps, and industrial work. The cabinets were filled with mounted specimens of written lessons, drawing, music, maps, and industrial work. The bases of the cabinets contained the remainder of the written work, neatly bound in volumes and labeled; specimens of basketry and woodwork, and a collection of zoological and botanical specimens. A number of the schools were represented by photographs alone, others by written work, photographs, and industrial work, and a few by written work alone. In subject-matter and original thought, South Dakota's work compared favorably with that of other schools of like age and conditions, especially in simplicity and originality.

The arrangement of the mineral exhibit in the Mines and Metallurgy Building was along practical commercial lines rather than on specimen, spectacular, or on purely scientific lines, though rich specimens and beautiful pictures were displayed, and the State School of Mines had a most excellent scientific collection of ores, rocks, and fossils that was awarded a gold medal.

The location obtained for the exhibit was most favorable, and by many was considered one of the choicest in the building, having three full fronts on main aisles, two 44 feet and one 52 feet long, and was surrounded by the most attractive State exhibits in the building.

The installation was with stone walls 2 feet high, built of rough ashlar and surmounted by a dressed coping. On the two 44-foot sides this was of the celebrated Sioux Falls red jasper. The 52-foot wall was of Hot Springs sandstone.

On the face of each lintel the name of the State had been cut and gilded. In the center of the exhibit on tables were two relief maps of the Black Hills, one of these showing the whole geological uplift 120 miles long north and south and 100 miles east and west, the other showing the mineralized portion of the hills as now known, 55 miles northwest and southeast and 25 miles wide. The larger was about 12 feet long and 6 feet wide.

Across the exhibit from east to west and above the heads were displayed a series of panoramic views and pictures, transparencies on gla.s.s, being reproductions in color of the finest photographs obtainable, showing the scenic beauty and material conditions of our Black Hills country. The varied ores were exhibited in large piles.

_Financial statement._--Following is a brief review of the expenditures made by this commission and a report of the disposition of its properties:

Salary State commissioners .................... $3,000.00 Total amount expended ......................... 31,725.06 Unexpended balance ............................ 274.94 ----------- Total ..................................... 35,000.00 =========== Received from sale of State properties: State building .............................. 365.00 Furniture ................................... 387.50 Booths and fixtures ......................... 225.50 ----------- Total ..................................... 978.00 Returned to the State treasurer unexpended balance, salvage ............................ 978.00

The following properties have been turned over to the State Historical Society, for the use of the same, or such purposes as the State may deem advisable:

Educational exhibit (cases and bases, gla.s.s and cards), value ............................... $400.00 Exhibit gla.s.s jars, globes, and bottles ....... 115.00 Exhibit ores and specimens .................... 200.00 ----------- Total ..................................... 715.00

TENNESSEE.

_Members of commission._--Governor James B. Frazier, chairman; J.H.

Caldwell, Chas. A. Keffer, E. Watkins, John F. Mc.n.u.tt, J.M. Shoffner, E.C. Lewis, John W. Fry, Hu. C. Anderson, Thomas W. Neal, I.F. Peters, Mrs. J.P. Smartt, Mrs. Mary C. Dorris, Mrs. A.S. Buchanan; B.A. Enloe, secretary and director of exhibits; D.F. Wallace, jr., a.s.sistant secretary.

The State of Tennessee made nine different exhibits at the World's Fair, designated and located as follows:

(1) Tennessee State Building, a reproduction of "The Hermitage," the home of Andrew Jackson, the seventh President of the United States. (2) Collective agricultural exhibit, Palace of Agriculture. (3) Special tobacco exhibit, Palace of Agriculture. (4) Palace of Horticulture. (5) Palace of Forestry. (6) Palace of Education. (7) Palace of Mines and Metallurgy. (8) Mining Gulch on Intramural Railway. (9) Administration Building, section of anthropology.

The idea of raising a fund for the reproduction of "The Hermitage" as the Tennessee State building originated with the commission appointed by the governor of Tennessee to take charge of the partic.i.p.ation of that State. The secretary of the commission was directed by the commission to inaugurate the movement. He began the agitation through the newspaper press, and delivered addresses on the subject to the commercial bodies of Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, and Jackson and to the representatives of the commercial organizations of Nashville.

Intelligent zeal and persistent energy carried the enterprise to a successful conclusion. The entire expense of constructing the building and maintaining it was defrayed by voluntary contributions. It was Tennessee's greatest single advertis.e.m.e.nt at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. "The Hermitage" was appropriately furnished with furniture of the period in which Andrew Jackson lived, and a great many articles of the original furniture owned by Jackson were exhibited in the building.

In the Educational Building exhibit were displays from the city schools of Bristol, Knoxville, Memphis, Chattanooga, and Jackson, and the public schools of Knox, Hamilton, and Shelby counties were represented also.

The University of Tennessee, at Knoxville; Buford College, at Nashville; Burritt College, at Spencer; Columbia Inst.i.tute, at Columbia; Memphis, at Memphis; Mrs. Forest Nixon, Centreville; Roger Williams University, at Nashville; Southern School of Photography, at McMinnville, and Tennessee Industrial School, at Nashville, were all represented by highly creditable exhibits.

The entire forestry interests of the State were represented in the forestry exhibit, which was collected from every portion of the State.

There were 94 different producers represented in the horticultural exhibit. The display of horticultural products was collected from every part of the State, and Tennessee was surpa.s.sed by few in the character and quality of her products.

There were 266 contributors to the agricultural exhibit, representing every strictly agricultural product, except tobacco, which was represented in a special exhibit. There were 187 exhibitors represented in the special tobacco exhibit, and these exhibits covered the tobacco production and industry of every county in the State. The collective exhibit in agriculture and the special tobacco exhibit were located in and adjoining the central nave of the Palace of Agriculture.

In the mineral display in Mines and Metallurgy Building there were 168 different exhibits, representing every mineral in the State, and the specimens were from the different localities where developments have been made. This exhibit was one of the most beautiful in its installation and general effect of the many splendid exhibits in the Palace of Mines and Metallurgy. On account of the quant.i.ty of material collected and the inadequacy of s.p.a.ce inside the building it became necessary to make a separate exhibit in the Mining Gulch, which was confined to coal, iron, phosphate, copper, and marble.

There were 12 different exhibitors in the Live Stock and Poultry Department, who made their exhibits under the auspices of the commission.