B U R E A U   O F

MANUFACTURES AND INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITS.
______________________

Mr. H. B. Hardt, Superintendent.

The exhibits in Manufactures Building, were not only the best of their kinds
but they were grouped and placed to present a most harmonious whole and the
benefit to an exposition of a superintendent who possessed not only the general
and technical knowledge of the exhibits belonging in his department but also an
experience in Exposition work, qualifying him for the greater work from a show
point of view of so planning the placing, grouping and ensemble of the
completed exhibits as to present the strongest attractions to the visitors and
arresting and holding their attention, gaining later the careful and
painstaking inquiry and research which alone gives value to an exhibitor.  Such
a man was the superintendent of this Bureau, and whose report on this branch of
the exhibits is as follows:

Mr. E. E. Bruce,

Manager.

Dear Sir.

MANUFACTURES BUILDING.  This building was the central feature of the lagoon
tract, or Court of Honor, taken from the standpoint of exhibits.  The exhibit
booths were by far more elaborate and costly than those in any of the other
buildings.  In this building the wisdom of making a charge for space was made
patent to every one.  The exhibits were more compact and the display showed
greater variety, in a small area than has been the case at previous
expositions.

Every bit of available space was taken up to save the extreme niches at the
east and west ends of the building, which were in fact not taken into account
as exhibit space.

The packing house industries were fully and elaborately represented, all the
products of the packing house being shown to far greater advantage than had
ever been done previously.  The system of refrigeration of meats was shown a
novel and attractive manner.  An octagonal refrigerator, twenty feet in its
smallest diameter with an extreme height of thirty feet, with immense doubled
plate glass sides was mounted on a circular track at its inner circumference,
and was made to revolved slowly around its axis by a system of powerful cogs
impelled by electricity.  The interior was most tastefully arranged with
tempting meats, lards, hams, bacons, etc. etc. and the general effect was of a
most artistic and attractive nature.

Every conceivable product of the packing house was shown in lavish abundance,
and while there were not two firms adopted the same style of exhibit, all were
in the most excellent taste.  One of the noteworthy booths was constructed
entirely from canned meats and the effect was not only novel and pleasing but
artistic in conception and design.  The entire meat and packing house exhibit
proved to be a surprise and source of wonder to the visitor, while the
instructive feature of the exhibit from an educational point of view was
successful beyond all expectation.  It taught him the extent of the industry
and brought him to the realization of the full extent to which he is dependent
upon the packer for many of the necessaries of life.  That this industry was
also of necessity to the artisan, physician and manufacturer as well.

A very substantial pavilion was erected in the center of the building at which
one of the principal manufacturers of chocolate and cocoa gave free samples of
his product.  From the upper floor of this booth, which represented a sumptuous
roof garden, many of the concerts were given by such organization as furnished
the music for the exposition.

This building contained a varied and interesting class of exhibits, many of
which were in full operation.  A fully equipped factory for the making of
furnishing goods, turned out an immense amount of work daily.  The cutting of
the garments was done by the agency of a new device, known as an electric
cutter.

Practical cookery was shown to better instruct the visitor the true value of
baking powders, yeasts, gelatins, etc. etc., stoves, ranges, furnaces and ovens
were fully represented.  One enterprising firm, whose stove pipe has attained a
world-wide reputation, erected a very handsome booth out of the product of
their planished iron.  Illuminating, lubricating and painter's oils were
abundantly in evidence.  Choice cut glass, silver ware, garnet jewelry,
magnificent exhibits in ecclesiastical art goods:  linen from Belfast, silks
from the Orient, furs from the Russias, woolens from Australia and Thibet,
embroideries, art lingerie, sewing machines, furnishings for both sexes, young
and old, pure foods, leather goods, sadlery and harness in process of
manufacture, harness tools, oriental carvings and art work, footwear of all
descriptions, ancient and modern, from all parts of the world, toilet and
laundry soaps, perfumes, confections, cutlery, etc. etc. made together a
display that will never be forgotten.

With all the different interests here represented, and the multiplicity of
ideas and tastes in decorative effect, the combination was exceedingly
harmonious.  There were no obtrusive colors or outer designs that deteriorated
in any degree, from the general beauty.

The total available space in this building for exhibition purposes was 49,669
feet, gallery 19,884 feet.  All of which was occupied.

I N T E R N A T I O N A L   H A L L.

This building, made a necessity from the great number of applications for
space, was devoted to the foreign exhibits and to the concessionaires in
foreign goods and souvenirs.  Two international government exhibits, Canada and
Mexico, were installed in International Hall in their entirety.  The French
exhibitors, through a commissioner, also made a very fine display.  Not a
single foot of space was left vacant, and in some places encroachments were
made on the aisles.

Early in the Exposition, this building became the Mecca for visitors, for in it
were all the beautiful articles of vertu and home and personal adornment of the
exposition, as well as all the foreign bonded exhibits.

Mexico's silk, linen and lace, minerals, onyx, turquoise, gems, etc. quaint
statuary and figure work, tobacco, cigars, cigarros, cigarettes, etc. etc. 
Canada's mineral, forestry agricultural and horticultural display.  France's
exquisite furniture, bisque, bronze, and French clay statues, Sevres vases,
carvings in bone and ivory, lorgnettes and opera glasses, perfumes, Limoges
ware, French bric-a-brac, exquisite laces, tapestries, draperies, etc. etc. 
Sweden, with its quaintly designed rugs and tapestries, its punch, etc.  Italy
with her beautiful cameos, marble statuary, mosaics, marjolica, bas-reliefs,
tortoise shell creations.  The silver filigree and daintily carved vinaigrettes
and chatelaines of the far East, the quaint jewelry and ornaments from the
Nile, novelties from Austria, Russia, Germany, Switzerland, China, Japan and
nearly every quarter of the Globe, were in bewildering abundance.  It was a
busy mart at all times and many of the visitors carried away valuable souvenirs
of the great Trans-Mississippi from the International Hall.

The available space in this building was 18,583 feet.

H. B. Hardt.

Superintendent.