June 1, 1903.J THE TEOPIOAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
831 
ST. LOUIS EXHIBITION. 
MR. W. H. FIGG'S RErORT ON HIS VISIT TO 
St. Louis. 
In pursuance of a request from Mr. KingsforU, 
Chairman of the Planters' Association, I consented 
to visit St. Louis and investigate conditions, and 
if satisfied wit'li them to make preliminary 
arrangements for the Colony's representation. 
Introductions.— After accepting the mission I 
cabled to Ceylon asking for Letters of Introduction 
from the Ceylon Covernment to assist me with the 
authorities in America. I have to tiiank His 
Excellency the Governor for his great kindness 
in sending me personally written letters to H M 
Ambassaaor at Washington, (Sir Michael Herbert) 
and to the Commissioners of the St Louis Ex- 
hibition. After presenting my lette'r at the 
Embassy at Washington, I proceeded at once to St 
Louis and lost no time in meeting she heads of 
the various departments. 
Instructions. — From the perusal of my instruc- 
tions received through Mr Kingsford it will be 
seen the following were the points dealt with : 
(A) The question of the erection of a building to 
contain all Ceylon's exhibits, or whether Ceylon's 
products should be displayed in their various de- 
partments in the main buildings. 
(B) In the event of a separate building being 
necessary: (1) the site, (2) the style of architec- 
ture, (3) the probable cost. 
(C) The conditions under which Ceyloa Tea could 
be soW rn the cilp and in packets. 
(D) . The appointment of a representative in St. 
Louis, to act pending the arrival of the Commis- 
sioner, 
Exhibits.— Immediately after meeting the 
Secretary, Mr Stevens, I was introduced to Mr F 
J V Skiff, the Chairman of the Committee of Exhi- 
bits, who invited me to meet his Committee, who 
were then sitting. This Committee, CDnsisting, as 
it does, of the Directors of the various Departments, 
into which the Exhibition is divided, is virtually 
the Executive. It was, therefore, of great assistance 
to me to meet at the outset of my investigations 
these gentlemen. At the invitation of the 
Cliairman, I brielly addressed the meeting, setting 
forth the object of my visit. After some general 
discussion I found there was a very strong 
feeling against Ceylon's exhibits competing, unless 
the products were displayed in their various 
classes in the main buildings. It was cle?,r to 
me that although this condition was not made 
absolutely a sine qua non, it was to the interests 
of the Colony to fall in with the views of the 
Committee, particularly as three-fourths of the 
Ceylon Exhibits would come under the head of 
Agriculture. The balance would be divided between 
Forestry and Mines and Metallurgy. Taking 
the above into consideration I came to the con- 
clusion that Ceylon ought to show in the main 
buililiugs and have a Court and garden of its own 
ir a good position. 
Agriculture. — This important buiMing is an 
enormous structure covering 1,600 by 500 feet and 
is Biiid to be the largest in ihe world. I have pro- 
visionally secured a space of '2,400 square feet 
marked on the accompanying blue print and append 
copy of letter from Mi- F W Taylor, toe chief of 
bliis Department, which gives all necessary parti- 
culars. We are particularly indebted to Mr Taylor 
for the friendly consideration and assistance he 
tendered us aad I gladly accepted his very courte- 
ous offer, I commend to the attention of tlie 
Committee his suggestion in regard to the forward- 
ing of suitable plants for decoration of the 
house and grounds, and hope that the Director 
of the Botanical Gardens will see his way 
to exhibit, on behalf of the Colony, aud also to 
assist with a collection of suitable plants. 
Forestry. — Next in importance to Ceylon, 
after Agriculture, is the Department of Forestry. 
I have provisionally secured space, 50 x 60 feet, 
in a suitable position to be fixed hereafter ou 
completion of plans now being prepared by the 
Director of Works. Dr. Tarleton H Bean, the 
Acting Chief of the Department of Forestry, is 
most anxiou.s for Ceylou to make an exhibit 
fcimilar to the one made at Paris. His letter 
covers all the ground necessary and is appended 
together with a circular referred to therein. 
MiNJS AND Metallurgy.— In this Depart- 
ment I felt a Tittle doubtful in arranging for space, 
but Mr, Holmes, the Chief of the Department, is 
very desirous that we should send exhibits. 
I enclose a letter received from him, and as 
plumbago is such an important article of export to 
the United States, his suggestions are worthy of 
careful consideration. Should it be decided to 
make a display in this department, I recommena 
that early steps be taken and sucli space as will 
be necessary applied for without delay. 
Site for Building.— After going over tha 
ground carefully I decided that the space marked 
on the accompanying plan was the best for our 
purpose: (1st) Because it appears to. be in the 
opinion of those best able to judge— a point where 
most of the visitors to the Exhibition are likely 
to pas.s, (2n) Because the gardens laid out by 
the Director of Horticulture will abut on our 
allotment and greatly enhance its attractiveness. 
Here I may mention that Mr Taylor, the Director 
of Agriculture, has kindly consented to under- 
take the laying out of our grounds, continuously 
with those of the Horticultural Department, using 
palms and other tropical plants. (3) The position 
is conveniently close to the Agricultural and 
Forestry Main Buildings, thus facilitating super- 
vision by our Commissioner. 
Space for Building.— The space at our dis- 
posal is 125* X 250 feet, closely approximating 
the original application from Ceylon for 4,0i/0 
square feet. I enclose letter from Mr Isaac 
Taylor, Director of Works, with site marked 
on the plan. I inforaied Mr Taylor that the 
building would probably foUow a Kandyau 
style of architecture and that plans and specifica- 
tions would be submitted to him for ap- 
proval. It is important that there should be no 
delay in moving in this matter and plans shoull 
be sent to our agent. I would recommend a lif^Jit, 
airy building, as tiie climate of St. Louis during 
summer is very hot. 
Cost of Bi ilding.— I had an interview with 
the (^hief Architect of the Exhibition wJio very 
kindly went into the matter with me, and so 
far as he could make a rough estimate on the 
data I could give, thought that we mighc 
figure ou 7^ to 8 cents American per cubic 
foot. As I consider it certain that the general 
products will be exhibited in the main build- 
ings, the size aud design of the Ceylou 
* Supposed to be a mistake for 150 ft.- Ed. T,A- 
