Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 69, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 May 1901 — OUR NEW POSSESSIONS. [ARTICLE]

OUR NEW POSSESSIONS.

Splendid Exhibit of Island Resources at Buffalo. The diversified and valuable resources of Cuba are exhibited at the Pan-Ameri-can Exposition. A Cuban building has been erected in the Court of State and Foreign Buildings and it is one of the most picturesque of this fine group. Its architecture and materials are peculiar to the island. The building is surmounted by the traditional “Tower of Havana,” and attracts the attention of all visitors. It has a splendid view of the Park lakes, the Approach, the Fore Court, the Triumphal Bridge and other parts of the exposition. The exhibits are the best ever collected in the island and are entirely representative of its industries. Porto Rico has a building desirably lo- - cated in the Court of State and Foreign Buildings. The building was constructed entirely of native woods of all varieties and was built in Porto Rico and “knocked down,” ready to be set up on its arrival at the exposition grounds. The island also has 1,200 square fe£t of space in the Agriculture Building and the same space in the Horticulture Building for exhibits. Most of the space allotted to the island in the Agriculture Building is occupied by a comprehensive exhibit of sugar, coffee and tobacco in various stages of growth and manufacture. Besides everything produced and manufactured on the island, instructive tables of information have been prepared which will be invaluable to agriculturists and others intending to invest in Porto Rico. The space occupied by the Philippine

exhibit covers four acres. It is laid out as a Filipino village with a broad street down the center from the front entrance. The buildings lining both sides of thi# street are of native construction of bamboo and nipa. A very complete collection has been made of the woods, flora, insect, reptile, animal and bird life of the islands. The trade, vocations and professions of the natives are shown by natives at work, material in quantities for this purpose being a big part of the collection. This exhibit is one of the most important at the exposition.