EXPOSITION, NATIONAL EXPORT. 



267 



was held under the auspices of this museum in 

 1897, which resulted in the placing of orders for 

 American manufactures amounting to several 

 million dollars, and since that time the holding 

 of an exposition has been the ambition of the 

 museum authorities. The preliminary steps that 

 were taken for that purpose in October, 1897, 

 were abandoned temporarily, owing to the war 

 with Spain in 1898, and it was therefore not until 

 December, 1898, that a bill giving the exposition 

 the sanction and support of the National Gov- 

 ernment was passed by the House of Representa- 

 tives, although before that time a bill had been 

 put through the Senate. The National Govern- 

 ment gave $300,000 to the exposition, contingent 

 upon an equal amount being raised from other 

 sources. Accordingly, $200,000 was appropriated 

 by the Philadelphia City Council, $50,000 by 

 the State Legislature, and $50,000 was raised 

 through private subscription. Later an addi- 

 tional $50,000 was appropriated by Congress for 

 the purchase of samples of foreign goods to en- 

 able domestic manufacturers to acquire a knowl- 

 edge of the style of goods wanted by foreigners, 

 so as to compete successfully in their produc- 

 tion. 



Officers. The officers of the Philadelphia Ex- 

 position Association conducting the National 

 Export Exposition were: P. A. B. Widener, presi- 

 dent; W. W. Foulkrod, John Birkinbine, and 

 Sydney L. Wright, vice-presidents; B. W. Hanna, 

 secretary; Sydney L. Wright, treasurer. The 

 following were the officers of administration: 

 William P. Wilson, director general; Edmund A. 

 Felder, assistant director general; J. F. Weis- 

 singer, chief clerk; W. A. Raborg, chief clerk, 

 department of exhibits; W. A. Sullivan, superin- 

 tendent of terminal service; Frank W. Harold, 

 chief of the department of publicity and pro- 

 motion; William Buergermeister, German editor; 

 William E. Cash, chief of the departments of 

 admissions and concessions; William Harper, 

 chief of the department of foreign samples; C. 

 A. Green, superintendent of the department of 

 foreign samples; John Birkinbine, engineer in 

 chief; A. M. Greene, Jr., mechanical engineer; C. 

 C. Billberg, electrical engineer; J. H. Stewart, as- 

 sistant engineer; Edwin Elliot, assistant to 

 engineer in chief; and Charles P. Hunt, captain 

 of the guard. 



Grounds and Buildings. The grounds were 

 on the west bank of Schuylkill river, and in- 

 eluded a tract of 56 acres deeded to the Phila- 

 delphia museums by the city of Philadelphia, 

 together with a tract of 6 acres secured for tem- 

 porary use. The main entrance was at the north 

 end of the grounds, on South Street. The ex- 

 position was easily accessible from all parts of 

 the city by street-car and steam railways going 

 directly to the entrance. 



The main building was 1,000 feet long and 400 

 feet wide. It included three pavilions, two stories 

 high, and an auditorium with a seating capacity 

 of 5,000. The building covered 9 acres, and the 

 area of floor space aggregated 12J acres. The 

 main entrance was in the north pavilion, which 

 opened into a lobby 60 by 90 feet, beyond which 

 and between the north and central pavilion was 

 the auditorium, 200 feet long and 140 feet wide. 

 On either side of the auditorium were arcades 

 for exhibits, 78 feet wide by 300 feet long. In 

 the auditorium the sessions of the International 

 Commercial Congress were held and concerts 

 were given. The pavilions were of brick and 

 structural steel, and were each 90 by 380 feet. 

 Each was two stories high. The second floor of 

 the northern pavilion was devoted to the offices 



of the exposition; the second floors of the other 

 pavilions were given up to exhibits. These con- 

 stitute the permanent part of the structure, and 

 are destined to become the home of the Com- 

 mercial Museum. Each entrance to the main 

 building was flanked with pedestals, on which 

 were groups of statuary, representing various 

 industries, and the pediments over the entrances 

 of all of the buildings contained heroic figures, 

 symbolizing various aspects of manufacture and 

 commerce. The walls of the main building were 

 covered with a coating of white staff', and the 

 cornices were of the same material. Around the 

 roof ran an iron balustrade of rich design, and 

 from the numerous staves floated the flags of 

 the nations represented in the International Com- 

 mercial Congress. The design of the building 

 was by Wilson, Brothers & Co., assisted by G. W. 

 and W. D. Hewitt. 



The Implements, Vehicles, and Furniture Build- 

 ing was of the Flemish style of architecture, and 

 had 72,000 square feet of floor space. The out- 

 side dimensions were 450 by 160 feet. Inside the 

 finish was similar to that of the main exhibition 

 hall olive-green pillars and roof trusses, the 

 ceiling finished in the natural color of the wood, 

 and the walls painted in light tints. Four aisles 

 ran lengthwise and six across the building, giv- 

 ing visitors an opportunity to see everything 

 without hindrance. Broad walks and driveways 

 surrounded it, and on the west was an automo- 

 bile speedway. It was designed by Wilson, 

 Brothers & Co. 



The Transportation Building was 450 feet long 

 and 75 feet wide. It was carefully designed by 

 Wilson, Brothers & Co., and was adapted for 

 the exhibits of locomotives and railroad roll- 

 ing stock, electric cars, and equipment for elec- 

 tric railways. Its trackage, available for ex- 

 hibits of rolling stock, was connected with the 

 Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Rail- 

 road, of the Pennsylvania Railroad system. 



Amusement Features. These were grouped 

 on the north end of the grounds, close to the 

 entrance, on an avenue 800 feet long, called the 

 Esplanade. The special attractions were a Chi- 

 nese village; an Oriental theater, coffee house, 

 and smoking room; an old plantation, Hagen- 

 back's trained animals, a glass works in full 

 operation; Chiquita, the Cuban midget; Jim Key, 

 the educated horse; the flag house of Betsy Ross 

 Memorial Association, Edison's electric fairy- 

 land, and a cinematograph. Also throughout the 

 life of the exposition two concerts were given 

 daily in the auditorium by eight of the best- 

 known bands and orchestras in the country, in- 

 cluding the United States Marine Band and 

 Damrosch's orchestra. Two concerts were given 

 by the combined banjo, mandolin, and guitar 

 clubs of Philadelphia, and on German day the 

 combined singing societies of Philadelphia were 

 heard in concert. 



Opening Exercises. At Mayor Ashbridge's 

 office in City Hall were gathered, on the morn- 

 ing of Oct. 14, Admiral Sampson and the officers 

 of his fleet, Gov. Stone and his staff, and the 

 officials of the National Export Association, the 

 Commercial Museum, and the Franklin Institute. 

 These, with other distinguished guests, were es- 

 corted to the grounds by the marines of the 

 North Atlantic squadron and the United States 

 Marine Band. After the assembling in the audi- 

 torium, the first vice-president, Mr. W. W. Foulk- 

 rod, delivered an address, turning the exposi- 

 tion over to the Governor of Pennsylvania. He 

 was followed by Director-General Wilson, on the 

 plan and scope of the exposition, who said: 



