The west has always been considered an agricultural rather than a manufacturing section of the country. It was not anticipated that a large exhibit of manufacturing machinery would be made. More attention was given to the class of machinery which would be of use to the west, than to the intricate and delicate machinery that has become of necessity to the east. For this reason the exhibit was limited to engines and machines for the transmission of power, together with such tools and appliances as were required by the western artisan, mechanic and farmer. In quality and adaptability, these were unsurpassed. There was a practical illustration given of the penetrative power of the new jacketed and steel pointed riffle bullets. A complete representation of all modern destructive agencies of warfare was given. Also on display were many labor saving devices used in times of peace. These consisted of the tools used by the husband, artisan, farmer, and tradesman. The scale exhibit showed an advancement in the scientific realm. Some of the scales, not only indicated weight, but price per pound and amount of purchase. Among other exhibits, were gasoline engines, purifying pumps, leather belting, automatic boiler cleaners, filters, faucets, builder's hardware, and mills.
The invention of electricity is a great advancement, unfortunately, little space was available for any exhibit dealing with this topic. Although it was small, the Electricity Section was the best ever exhibited and was entirely credible. The outbreak of the Spanish American War had the effect of deterring many exhibits that had been arranged for the Electricity Section. The exhibits in this section were comprehensive and instructive. The new power was shown in all of its stages from the old glass disk for the generation of frictional electricity down to the huge dynamo of present day, through all of its various stages and developments; from the old Morse telegraph down to the multiplex in use today; electric light from the "Hudson Light" of 1845 down to the improved arc incandescent lights.
One exhibitor had a fully equipped experimental electric table, where an hourly current was demonstrated. It showed the formation and exemplified thunder and lightning, and its power of attraction and repulsion, its power as a substitute for explosives in projecting missles.
Among famous exhibits were the original Edison Electric light dynamo, the "X" Ray, a historical exhibit of the telephone, showing its development from the first device from the experimental stage down to present efficient appliances, a similar exhibit of telegraphy, a form of deep sea communication, the improved system of underground wiring, the application of electric heat and power, and devices for controlling and measuring electricity.
This exhibit gave visitors a thorough idea of the perfect control under which this great power was held by man kind.
Among the curious things in the Electric Building were two diminutive steam engines. One of these could be placed easily inside an ordinary small pistol catridge. It was a complete horizontal engine, in perfect running order. It gave hourly demonstrations. The other was a complete boiler and engine. This made its own steam and would run for nearly twenty minutes with twenty drops of water.
The available space in this building for machinery, 14,404 feet floor space, gallery 7,500. Electricity 13,620 feet floor space, gallery 7,500, at a total of 28,024 feet floor space and 15,000 feet in gallery. The superindent of both sections was Prof. H. B. Owens, Nebraska State University.
© 1998 Omaha Public Library
