A PICTURESQUE FAIR.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1894, 31 October 1913, Page 7

A PICTURESQUE FAIR.

THE PANAMA EXPOSITION. . A number of America's most noted architects have been engaged on tho plans of the Panama Exhibition, regarding the international boycott of which so much has lately appeared m the cablegrams. The building will consist of three principal groups., The central groiip, occupying 100 acres, includes 14 great exhibit palaces, which face north upon San Francisco harbour, interspersed with open courtß. Backed as it iB by hills, tho exhibition needed massive architectural effects. From Golden Gate, three miles distant, passengerß on ships will bohold this exposition city, with walls as high as the average six-story city block and its golden domes and towers rising to heights of 270, 350, and 430 feet. "The three great inner courts of the centre group will contain sculpture and elaborate mural decorations. Hundreds of thousands of palms, trees, and shrubs are being gathered for them from all parts of the world. Tho largest of the courts, .to bo known as the Court of the Sun and Stars, will correspond in sizo to the square before St. Peter's at Rome. Each architect or group of architects having charge of a court is able to present a single _ architectural themo without clashing with the architectural design of the exhibition in its entirety. A colour plan has been, arranged by Mr. Jules Guorin, tho French-American artist. "Imagine," saya Mr. Guerin, "ft gigantic Porsian rug, of 60ft melting tonos with brilliant splashes here and there, spread for miles along tho harbour of San Francisco and you may get some idea of what tho Panama-Pacific International Exposition will be like when viewed from tho summits of near-by hills." To the east of the central group of buildings will bo set an amusement and concessions section occupying 65 acres. There tho Santa Fe Railway is expending 350,000 dollars on a reproduction of the Grand Canyon of Arizona. A model of tho Panama Canal will have a capacity to carry 2000 people through its locks every 25 minutes. This concession will entail an expenditure of 250,000 dollars. The installation of tho various amusement features will cost 11,000,000 dollars. Nearest the Golden Gate will bo tho 'group devoted to the pavilions of tho American States and the foreign nations. "From its inception this celebration has been conceived as a joyous international gathering. The Congress or the United States, has authorised the President to invite the Powers of tho world to send ono or more of their battleship? to_ San Francisco _ harbour upon tho opening of the exhibition. An eisteddfod in which at lenso 50,000 singers will participate has been arranged. International aviating and athletic meets, yacht and motor-boat races, contests in which tho crack cavalry and infantry of tho world will bo invited to participate aro included in tho programme. Tho exposition will afford a very definite opportunity for the manufacturers of Europe to meet tho commercial representatives of tho South and Central American countries bordering upon tho Pacific Ocean. For tho first time in their history tho countries of South America will take part in a celebration outside of their own boundaries in a way that will forecast tho future of that developing continent."