B U R E A U   O F

MACHINERY AND AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.



D. H. Elliott, Superintendent.

The building for housing these exhibits was situated on what was designated the
North Tract, the northern part of the grounds, and with the Dairy and Bee
Buildings and live stock pens and shed constituted the exhibit section of that
portion of the ground.

Mr. Elliot's report on work of this Bureau was as follows:

Mr. E. E. Bruce,

Manager Exhibits Dept of the

T. M. & I. E., Omaha, Nebr.

Dear Sir:

On October 2nd, 1897, I was commissioned as "Special Commissioner
Transportation Exhibits" by the Trans-Mississippi & International Exposition. 
I immediately opened negotiations by correspondence and personal interviews
with all the leading Transportation Companies in the United States and Canada,
soliciting exhibits; as also, later the manufacturers of agricultural
implements, in fact everything on wheels or as appertaining to this department. 
Also visited the Exposition at Nashville, Tenn. and interviewed all the
exhibitors in the Transportation building. 

Had promises from the "Field Museum on World's Fair Grounds" Chicago, and
others for the use of many articles and models illustrating the progress and
development of transportation facilities in the United States, as also from
railway companies, articles illustrating ancient methods.

The delay in decision as to size and character of the building to be
constructed for transportation and agricultural implements, defeated the idea
of making this historical exhibit.

Hence, all the space was utilized for display of modern and practical
implements and conveyances.  The delay in the plans of the building mitigated
somewhat against an early application for space, but as finally decided upon,
offered one of the best designs and buildings for the purpose yet constructed. 
432 feet long, 300 feet wide, floored, roofed and exceedingly well lighted
having no dark spaces within it, enabling the exhibitors to install one of the
best displays of agricultural implements ever made.  Four railway tracks within
the building enabled a delivery of the implements and machinery by cars within
this building, and the 1728 feet of track was later filled with a variety of
locomotives, rolling stock and railway appliances.  Among them the Pullman
Palace Car Co.'s "Vestibule Train", through which, it may be interesting to
know, there passed during the Exposition 520,000 people.

The hours for opening the Transportation & Agricultural Implement Building was
8 A.M., closing at 6:30 P.M.  Visitors expressed the belief that the
Transportation & Agricultural Implement Building and contents was second only
to the Government Building in interest and popularity with the public.

At the beginning of the Exposition the location of the building was considered
to be too far away from the other main buildings, but later on, as the Indian
Congress progressed and installation of Dairy, Apiary and Live-stock exhibits
were made in that section of the grounds, the exhibitors had no cause of
complaint for want of attendance.  Within this building 59,158 square feet of
space was sold to and occupied by 151 exhibitors.  The Exhibit was installed,
maintained and removed, without loss, or accident to visitors, exhibitors or
exhibits.

Respectfully,

(Signed)  D. H. Elliott,