634 New Yobk at the World's Columbian Exposition. 



languages, customs and manners, and the spectacular effect of the bits 

 of Europe, Asia and Africa, -transplanted to a western soil, formed a 

 picture which delighted thousands. The principal features of the 

 Plaisance were the German Yillage, Old Vienna, Cairo Street, Javanese 

 Village, South Sea Islanders, Dahomey Village, Irish Village, Japanese 

 and Algerian Bazaars. The Ferris "Wheel was an engineering work of 

 such magnitude as to warrant notice. The wheel was 250 feet in 

 diameter, and revolved on an axle which was forty-live feet long, thirty- 

 two inches in diameter and weighed seventy tons. The feature of the 

 wheel was the tension spokes, which were under strain only when in 

 use. This occurred when the spokes were below the level of the axle, 

 as they then held up the lower semi-circle of the wheel, whicli, in turn, 

 supported the upper arc, thus forming a perpetual arched bridge. The 

 number of ears was thirty-six, each capable of holding twenty-four 

 persons. The wheel cost $380,000, and paid for itself by September 

 Urst. 



A large portion of the revenue of the exposition company came 

 from the anlount paid for "concessions" by the companies and 

 exhibits along the Plaisance. 



Awards. 



The number of awards granted by the exposition was 23,757, which 

 represented thirty-six per cent of the exhibitors entered for awards. 

 This number is far below any other international exposition, Paris 

 (1889) having granted 33,889 awards, or lifty-five per cent of the num- 

 ber exhibiting. 



The system of awards, as devised by a joint commission of the 

 World's Columbian Commission and World's Columbian Exposition, 

 and approved by Congress, was a development of the " American sys- 

 tem," first introduced at Philadelphia (1876), and excludes the " com- 

 petitive idea." A standard of excellence is fixed in each group and 

 class. All exhibits reaching this standard receive a bronze medal and 

 also a diploma which states the specilic points of excellence for which 

 the award is granted. The diploma is signed by the individual judge 

 making the examination and countersigned by the president of the 

 deparljnental committee, or jury, which pass upon the findings reported 

 by the individual judges. For full explanation of the system, see 

 page 524. 



Close op the Exposition. 



The exposition company had agreed to restore Jackson Park to its 

 former condition within a stated time, or to a condition acceptable to 

 the park commissioners. The Art Palace in the northern part of the 

 grounds was better built than most of the structures, and will be allowed 

 to remain as a permanent exhibition building. 



The waterways, lagoons, islands and other features of the landscape 

 gardening will, also remain to attest the wondrous creation of which it 

 was the groundwork. It was earnestly hoped that some arrangement 

 could be found whereby the Court of Honor might be undisturbed for 

 several years at least. The " staff " which formed the facades of the 



