340 



THE WORLD'S ADVANCE 



beneath the model and directly under- 

 neath the route to be taken by the work- 

 ing model above. At the locks the steam- 

 ers drop their hawsers, tow lines are 

 magically attached to them and miniature 

 electric locomotives tow them through 

 the locks. 



In thirty-three minutes we have com- 

 pleted the trip about the 1,440 foot per- 

 imeter of the model and are invited to 

 inspect the room wherein is located the 

 mechanism for operating the attraction. 

 The platform or revolving auditorium 

 encircles the model and consists of 144 

 cars, each ten feet long, endlessly con-, 

 nected. It is obvious that the lecture 

 being delivered to a certain section of 

 the platform must be in conformity with 

 the position of that section in regard to 

 the model. Hence it is necessary to di- 

 vide the perimeter of the model into sec- 

 tions, each of which shall have a definite 

 lecture and be so arranged that this lec- 

 ture will be delivered to that section of 

 the platform which is passing above it. 

 To accomplish this requires a complex 

 system of electrical mechanism. The 144 

 cars are divided into forty-eight sections 

 of three cars each, and forty-eight phono- 

 graphs are employed to deliver the series 

 of fifteen lectures which are given on 

 each trip. Space does not permit a de- 

 tailed explanation of how this is done, 

 but it is sufficient to state that each per- 

 son listens to a description of that por- 

 tion of the model which is directly in 



front of him. 



The Bowls 

 of Joy next 

 attract our at- 

 tention. We 

 seat ourselves 

 in a little car, 

 are told to 

 "Hold on 

 tight !" then 

 are given a 

 shove which 

 sends our car 

 into the bot- 

 tom of bowl 

 number one. 

 A revolving 

 arm pushes 

 us along a 

 spiral track 



running around the interior of the 

 bowl; upon reaching the top we shoot 

 across a bridge to the top of bowl num- 

 ber two, where with increasing speed 

 our car rushes downward around the 

 spiral track and out at the bottom. We 

 alight and then grasp the nearest post 

 until we are able to maintain our equi- 

 librium. 



The Submarine is a $250,000.00 con- 

 cession of great merit. Here we enter 

 what purports to be a steel model of a 

 submarine. The interior is supposed to 

 represent that of a real underwater 

 craft; on our right is the torpedo tube 

 and also the depth indicator, while on 

 the left are a number of levers and elec- 

 tric switches. A glass window, located 

 in the side of the ship in front of each 

 person, enables us to view the wonders 

 of submarine life. At last a gong sounds, 

 the bilge-tanks are filled and our sub- 

 marine is apparently gradually sub- 

 merged. For fifteen minutes we cruise 

 about and gaze upon the peculiarities of 

 marine life. We pass the hulks of 

 wrecked ships, treasures scattered about 

 on the floor of the "ocean," coral forma- 

 tions and Davy Jones' Locker. The fact 

 is, we have not been submerged at all, 

 but view the various scenes through a 

 sheet of water, with an apparent sub- 

 mersion effect. The "submarine" cruise 

 over, we are taken in hand by a guide 

 and conducted through a series of caves, 

 grottos and labyrinths. We pass such 

 grotesque places as the Cave of Winds, 

 the Valley of Mists, and Neptune's 

 Abode. At the Love Stone our party 

 is halted for one minute in order that 

 any young couple present may "make 

 love." Finally, we play the part of Jonah 

 and enter the gaping jaws of a huge 

 "whale." However, our host does not 

 cough us up, as was the custom in the 

 olden days, and we are forced to find 

 our way out through a most intricate 

 series of winding passages. 



L. A. Thompson is represented by sev- 

 eral concessions. There are the Thomp- 

 son Safety ^ Racer and the Thompson 

 Scenic Railway, the former being 

 equipped with block signals which re- 

 move all danger of rear-end collisions. 



Toyland Grown-Up is another Thomp- 

 son concession and is one of the largest 



