372 



KNOWLEDGE ♦ 



[May 1, 1885. 



bition and its prospects, it must not be supposed that 

 already the various groups and classes are arranged, and 

 that all is in readiness and waiting for the ojiening cere- 

 mony. Nothing of the kind. It would, indeed, be an 

 unique Exhibition were such the case. Even now one may 

 walk through rows and channels of untouched packing- 

 cases, while here and there is a space to be seen which 

 evidently was intended for something or other, but which 

 has not yet put in an appearance. This always happens. 

 Why, in the name of reason, it should be so, no one can 

 imagine, unless it be that everybody is anxious to wait until 

 the last moment to ascertain what sort of a show every- 

 body else can bring together. Nevertheless great — indeed, 

 rapid and unmistakable progress is being made. One has 

 only to absent himself for a day to have impressed upon 

 him how much can be done in the space of a few hours. 

 Ab the coming Monday draws gradually near, so, no doubt, 

 will ever-increasing exertion be made by all concerned to 

 have everything, or as nearly so as possible, ready for the 

 inauguration. Those who do not take time by the forelock 

 will find next week that the influx of visitors will be too 

 great to permit of much being done then that ought to be 

 done this week. It is to be hoped that the sluggards will 

 be few, and that there will be no occasion for one to put off 

 his visit till a more fitting opportunity — that is, till matters 

 are in a more forward condition. Rather let it be that the 

 visitor of the opening week will be as much rewarded as 

 any other. 



For the convenience of those of our readers who purpose 

 visiting the Exhibition we give this week a plan of the 

 building, together with a general survey of the various 

 branches of industry and knowledge represented therein. 

 To those acquainted with the building and its neighbour- 

 hood little need be said. For the benefit, however, of those 

 not so acquainted, it may be mentioned that there are two 

 entrances, one in Exhibition-road, and the other in Queen's- 

 gate. There is a special significance in mentioning this 

 fact, seeing that last year the former entrance was 

 often beseiged, while the other had but few patrons. 

 The Exhibition-road entrance is close to the South 

 Kensington stition, on the Underground Railway, where 

 the officials were daily in a state of iutense worry and 

 anxiety consequent on the multitudes of passengers passin" 

 their barriers. A deal of the crushing and its concomitant 

 evils was avoidable, seeing that the Queen's-gate entrance 

 is close to the Gloucester-road station, on the same com- 

 panies' systems, and yet was relatively only very slightly 

 patronised. Increased facilities are, however, being pre- 

 pared at the South Kensington station, which should 

 materially reduce the pressure on the station staircases. A 

 subway is being constructed under the road from the 

 station to the entrance to the Exhibition. It is being lined 

 with white glazed bricks, and a number of openings in the 

 road will be provided, through which air and light will be 

 able to find access to the tunnel. In wet weather this 

 subway will prove an exceptional boon, although there is 

 little doubt but that the rush for the South Kensington 

 station will be greater than ever. 



So far as the grounds are concerned, the general arrance- 

 ment will be much the same as heretofore. The fountain, 

 which under the care of Colonel Sir Francis Bolton evoked 

 such universal admiration from the assembled throngs last 

 year, will, under the same careful guidance, again prove 

 very attractive. It is to be illuminated by Messrs. Siemens 

 Bros., and will be worked from the same basin as last year, 

 in a position whence it may be viewed by the greatest 

 number of spectators assembled on the extensive terraces 

 which almost surround it. The band-stands occupy their 

 old position, and will be largely used. 



Concerning the Exhibition itself, it must not be for- 

 gotten that music is to occupy a large share ; in fact, 

 the title of the Exhibition ought rather to be Inventions 

 and Music, instead of simply Inventions. The Exhibition 

 is divided into two divisions, of which the first is styled 

 Inventions and the second Music. The first division has 

 allotted to it the whole of the outer buildings and a por 

 tion of the inner ones, while the second division absorbs 

 the major portion of the central buildings. This will be 

 better seen as we proceed to discuss the general features 

 of the various sections. The Exhibition is to be again 

 illuminated by means of electricity, and the grounds, which 

 last year were decorated with Chinese lanterns and other- 

 similar devices, are this year to be made dependent upon 

 the same source of light as the buildings themselves. The 

 lighting, however, is so important a branch of the subject 

 that it will be necessary to deal with it separately. 

 Suffice it here to say that the collection of electric lighting 

 plant will be the largest and most comprehensive ever 

 brought together. The interior of the building is to be 

 lighted every evening by nearly 500 arc lamps, and over 

 5,500 incandescent lamps ; while the grounds, terraces, 

 and the outlines of the buildings will be illuminated by 

 about 20,000 incandescent lamps instantaneously lighted. 



It is noteworthy that the exhibitors' space has been very 

 materially increased since last year, and that without 

 encroaching upon the grounds to which general access was 

 obtainable. 



A brief summary of what is being or will be done in the 

 various parts of the exhibition may prove of service. The 

 visitor, on passing the turnstile at the Exhibition-road 

 entrance, approaches a series of courts known as the South 

 Galleries. These are devoted to the heavier departments of 

 mechanical industry and to munitions of war. In the 

 central court will be the exhibits of the Admiralty and War 

 Office, including a series of torpedoes and similar tackle, 

 and machine-guns by Nordenfelt, Hotchkiss, and Maxim. 

 The latter inventor will work one of his guns in the grounds 

 outside the galleries, near what is called the Queen's-gate 

 Annexe, and will doubtless interest large numbers of 

 visitors, more particularly at the present juncture, when 

 wars and rumours of wars fill the air around us. The War 

 Office will also exhibit one of the latest patterns of 13-ton 

 guns with a bore of 5 in. If this section proves an 

 advance upon the War Office exhibit at the Crystal Palace 

 during the Electric Exhibition of 1881-2, it will be sure t& 

 prove highly instructive, and will reflect credit upon those 

 who have assigned it so prominent a position. In the 

 same court will be seen a fine collection of railway 

 plant, including several specimens of locomotives, from 

 the London and North - Western Railway Company's 

 large Webb compound locomotive down to the smallest in 

 the kingdom. Railway signals, in the face of recent 

 accidents, will prove an interesting section of the exhibi- 

 tion, and a plentiful show of this class of apparatus is pro- 

 mised by the best makers. The Westinghouse brake will 

 come in for a share of attention, and couplings, brakes, and 

 many of the other important features of railway work will 

 be prominently displayed. Besides railway engines, this 

 section will embrace a number of other forms of prime 

 motors, including engines by Hornsby & Sons, J. and E. 

 Wood, Walker Bros., and other eminent firms. To 

 enhance the jiractical value of this section of the exhibition, 

 three short railways will be fitted up and worked. One 

 will be an overhead railway, worked upon Rammel's 

 patent compressed air system. The other two lines will be 

 constructed in the grounds outside, one being an electric 

 railway by Mr. Holroyd Smith, who is already well known 

 in this field of labour ; the other will be worked by the 



