Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 February 1901 — ELECTRIC WONDERS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ELECTRIC WONDERS

Unparalleled Display a.t the Petn-Americaun Exposition. Progress in Electrical Science Will Be Illustrated in a. Most Comprehensive Manner at the Great Show Next Summer.

Electrical illuminations and electrical exhibits will form conspicuous features at the Pan-American exposition as is eminently fitting in view of the marvelous progress made in electrical science during the past decade and in view of the proximity to the exposition grounds of the great plants at Niagara Falls from which the electric power is generated. The electrical illuminations of the exposition will be achieved in connection with the Electric Tower, the fountains and other hydraulic displays and in the outlining of the different buildings by rows of Incandescent lamps. There will be combined water and electric effects and the central figure of the whole setting will, of course, be the Electric Tower, with its most wonderful and beautiful electrical display. The Electricity Building itself has most appropriately been located adjoining the Electric Tower. From its eastern end an excellent opportunity will be afforded for viewing 'the splendid illuminations of the tow•r during the night displays. The location of the building is also fortunate in view of the fact that just •cross the mall, the broad avenue upon the southern side of the Electricity Building, stands the Machinery and

with the means to this end. On this account it is hoped to illustrate them at- the Exposition in such a manner that the inter-relation of the various elements will be quite apparent The utilization of electricity in various forms of manufacturing industries will also be illustrated. This utilization of electricity is destined to be one of the greatest of its fields and the Niagara frontier is now an object lesson in this respect, for the development of Niagara power is almost every day drawing new industries to this region because the proximity and the availability of this power render the manufacturing opportunities so exceptional. Exposition Sculpture. No exposition of the past possessed such elaborate sculptural, adornment as will be a leading characteristic of the Pan-American Exposition. The buildings and grounds of the Exposition at Buffalo will be embellished profusely with most artistic creations from the hands of some thirty-five of the best known sculptors on the American continent. Cycling nt Exposition. The Pan-American Exposition will extend a welcoming hand to the mil-

Transportation building, so that visitors can easily pass from one to the Other and, make comparisons between the closely allied apparatus In the two buildings. In the northwest corner of the Electricity Building will probably be located the 5,000 H. P. transformer plant which will transform the Niagara power polyphase current from 11,000 volts to 1,800 volts for distribution about the grounds.. Smaller stepdown transformers will be used in several hundred transformer pits about the grounds and in the various buildings, where the current will be reduced from 1,800 volts to 104 volts. At this pressure lights and electric motors and other appliances will be operated. The progress in the development and application of the various branches of electrical science and Industry of recent years makes the exhibit at the Pan-American exposition of the utmost importance and interest. At the time of the World’s Fair at Chicago, electric transportation over street car lines of cities was in its infancy. In ten years the electric motor in its application to both transportation and industry has effected well nigh an industrial revolution. In the electric lighting industry, and in the telephone system there has been great progress duringthis decade. Wireless telegraphy has come to the front within a few years and is destined to effect still further radical changes in methods of electric communication. Automobiles electrically propelled have come into use. In all these fields the Pan-American Exposition will have electrical exhibits Illustrating this marvelous progress. There will be a collection of historical matter relating to the subject which will show the gradual development of the apparatus used. An especially interesting exhibit will 'be that illustrating tfie application of electricity to the propulsion of cars and vehicles like the automobiles. Most persons are more familiar with the successful operation of such vehicles by electricity than

lions of Cyclists and Automobilists of the Americas during the summer of 1901. The automobile exhibit, it is promised, will be the finest ever seen at any exposition. There will also be a large and complete display of bicycles, representing all stages of progress from the heavy and clumsy iron-tired velocipedes to the finest pneumatic-tired modern machines, including the “good old ordinary” or high wheel bicycle fitted with 'small solid rubber tires which was first exhibited in this country twenty-five years ago, at Philadelphia. A grand carnival of cycle races will be held in the magnificent Stadium which is now being erected on the PanAmerican grounds. This vast arena will be in many respects equal the famous old Colosseum at Rome. Horticulture at Exposition. Horticultural exhibits at the PanAmerican Exposition have a beautiful setting in and about an exceedingly handsome building 220 feet square. The height of the building is 236 feet to the top of the lantern, and the general proportions are of commanding grandeur. Fruits of all kinds will be placed on exhibition during the summer. Much of the fruit will be preserved in cold storage, though the exhibit will change as the season advances and the different varieties ripen. A number of states have made arrangements to provide collective exhibits that will properly represent the horticultural products of their particular section. California is arranging for a special exhibit of the wonderfully diversified fruit productions of that state. Other states are taking the matter up with the prospect of making the horticultural exhibit the most complete ever attempted. The same care that characterizes other sections of the Exposition will be given the Horticultural division with the view of making it repre-

sentative as to character rather taax exhaustive In detail. Business of the Bees. The busy bee will be in big business at the Pan-American Exposition the coming summer. It has been decided to construct a special building for the proper display of the working colonies of bees and the great variety of bee keepers’ supplies which will constitute this exhibit This will undoubtedly be the most extensive bee exhibit ever prepared in this or any other part of the world. Anyone who is not a student of bee culture little realizes the very great importance of this industry. It is estimated that there are 300,000 persons engaged in bee culture in the United States alone and that the present annual value of honey and wax is in excess of 120,000,000. There are 110 societies devoted to the study and promotion of bee keeping. Eight journals are sustained by this industry. Fifteen steam power factories are producing supplies of various kinds for the use of bee keepers. American honey finds a market in many distant countries, the United States producing more honey than any other nation. .The bee exhibits at the Pan-Ameri-can Exposition will be so arranged that the bees may enter their hives from the exterior of the building and carry on their work of honey collection undisturbed by visitors, yet in full view through the glass sides of their hives. The successful management of an apiary requires a knowledge of botany as well as the habits and requirements of the bees themselves. The little honey bee plays a very important part in the general economy. The failure of fruit crops may be due to the absence of bees whose special function is to fertilize the blossoms by pollen from stamens to pistil. EDWARD HALE BRUSH.