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History of the World's Fair

Chapter 121

CHAPTER VI.

AMONG THE TREES OF THE WORLD.

Big Trees and Little Trees from All Over the World — The Forestry Building One of the Most Unique £nd
Interesting of All — Nature Versus Staff — Magnificent Specimens of Characteristic Timber Growths
— Paraguay Alone Sends 321 Varieties — California Sends Redwoods and Sequoias — Medicinal
Trees, Lichens and Mosses— Methods of Seed Testing, Transplanting and Measuring— The Protec-
tion of Young Trees Against Insects— Logging and Lumbering — A Saw Mill in Operation — A
Most Entertaining and Instructive Exhibit Throughout.

LTHOUGH Forestry and Live Stock are separate depart-
ments from Agriculture, Chief Buchanan has been practi-
cally in charge of these from the first. The forestry
building is sui generis. After seeing the magnificence of
staff construction in the more pretentious buildings it is with
relief that many visitors turn to the rustic simplicity of the
forestry building. The quality of ornamentation also differs
here. Instead of the intricate work of designers, molders
or artists, the highest effects in the forestry building come from group-
ings of natural woods. No other building on the grounds shows so
clearly at first impression the uses for which it is designed. The scope
of the world's fair forestry exhibit is of peculiar interest to Americans.
When a separate department of forestry was created it was pointed out
that the opportunity had arrived to make constructive forestry as important a
science in this country as in Europe. On this idea the fair managers have worked
with a will. Although constructive forestry and the restoration and preservation
of forests are yet in their infancy in America, it is believed that the turning point
has arrived and that the World's Fair exhibit will have a most potent influence in pre-
venting the further wholesale destruction and waste of native forests.

One of the remarkable features in arranging for the forestry exhibit was the
absence of any reliable data in this country as to the extent, variety or value of
native forests. In appealing for exhibits from the various states and territories the
Fair officials have laid great stress on the importance of securing this data for pur-
poses of exact comparison and history. The prodigal waste of timber in America
has no parallel in the uses of any other natural product. Even at the present day-
white oak trees, one-fourth matured, are cut down to make railroad ties. Millions
of acres of valuable timber in some of the Pacific states are burned for the sake of
clearing the land. Only in some portions of the United States has the growing
scarcity of timber called a halt to the destruction processes. Forestry, as a scieace..

HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S FAIR.

is only beginning to be taught here as it is in Germany, where there are schools of
forestry and thousands of graduates engaged in the actual business of forest pres-
ervation.

Besides the destructive waste in the timber states, there are millions of acres
in the United States where not a single natural tree is found by the first settlers-
The remarkable growth of timber in the west, following the institutions and observ-
ance of Arbor Day, is one of the most interesting features of the exhibit.

This is of peculiar value to all countries or states interested in emigration
to the west. When it become's known that the so-called prairie states may have as
many artificial forests or timber growths as the owners of lands may choose, there
'is an end to many of the objections against taking up homes in the west. The
World's Fair exhibit is also designed to show the effects upon climate and soil of tree
planting, and also the economical value of the timber thus olanted, the expense of
its culture and all other features of like interest.

The forestry building itself is 200 by 500 feet in area. On all four sides is a
veranda, with supports forming an imposing colonnade. This colonnade is one of
the most unique affairs ever designed and is peculiarly appropriate to a cosmopol-
itan fair. It is built
from woods con-
tributed by for-
eign countries and
about thirty states
and territories. It
consists of a series
of columns, each
composed of three
tree trunks twenty-
five feet long. One
of the trunks in
each column is
from sixteen and
the other two are
from nine to twelve
inches. All the
trunks have the
natural bark of the
tree. Each of the
states, territories
and foreign coun-
tries, furnishes specimens of the most characteristic timber growths within their
borders. The sides of the foresty building are built of slabs with the bark removed.
The rest of the building, including the 'window frames, has the same rustic treat-
ment. The roof is thatched with tan and other barks.

FORESTRY BUILDING.

HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S FAIR. 283

The main entrances are finished in different kinds of wood and are very elab-
orate. The one on the east side, facing the lake, deserves special mention. It is
put in place and finished by the Southern Lumber Manufacturers' Association. The
vestibule is of yellow pine and cypress. It is built in such a way as to show the sus-
ceptibility to polish of the southern woods and their usefulness for panels and in-
terior decorations. The cost of this main vestibule alone was between $5,000 and
$10,000. Some of the states, Alabama, for instance, have sent tree trunks for the
forestry colonnade, although prohibited from making an interior exhibit by lack
of appropriations. The tree trunks in the columns taper toward the top and are
joined by rustic work in longitudinal sections. Some of the latter are also furnished
by the states contributing the columns. On each column there is a tablet, giving
the common and scientific names of the trees and the state or country contributing
them, besides other valuable information concerning the resources of the locality.
Above the cornice of the veranda, on all four sides of the building, are flagstaffs,
which bear the colors or coats of arms of the nations or states represented in the
interior exhibits.

The interior exhibits are in several main groups. Natural woods are shown
exclusively by states, territories and foreign countries. The product of the various
woods, finished, or partially finished, are shown by individual exhibitors or firms.
The methods and processes of manipulating timber at every stage, from the tree
trunk to the finished product, are shown by firms or corporation. The completely
finished product is not shown in this building, as it belongs to the department of
manufactures; neither is there any machinery in motion in the forestry building.
It is a still exhibit, but the various ways of denuding forests for economic and
commercial purposes are shown by medals, maps, drawings and other methods.

The foreign countries which have obtained space inside the forestry building
are Japan, Honduras, Peru, Hayti, Spain, Germany, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil,
Mexico, New South Wales, Canada, Russia, Italy, France, Siam and India. Each
of these countries has a separate space, and makes a showing of its most character-
istic woods. Miniature structures are built, with arches and railings of natural
wood and in rustic designs. Canada has the largest space of any foreign govern-
ment, and the various provinces of the dominion make an interesting showing of
their timber resources.

The states and territories which have interior exhibits are Pennsylvania,
Louisiana, Virginia, Arizona, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, Montana, Wyoming,
New Mexico, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Ohio, Washington, Michigan, West Vir-
ginia, Missouri, North Carolina, Indiana, Maine, New York, California, Utah and
Idaho. Of these West Virginia and Michigan have the largest space, and the ex-
hibits from these states are on an elaborate scale. Other states show peculiarly
unique specimens, and the grouping of woods in the various spaces forms a most
artistic whole. Sections of tree trunks are built one on the top of the other, and
each portion of the exhibit is accompanied by detailed information as to the
locality producing the exhibit, the area still under growth and where located, and
all other pertinent information.

284

HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S FAIR.

It is one of the rules of the forestry department that there shall be no finished
wood products in the building, and where it is necessary to show the special uses of
certain kinds of woods it is shown byoieces of disjointed furniture or other partially
finished product.

The foreign exhibits include all the remarkable woods and wood products
that are familiar in name only to Americans. The India exhibit includes sandal
woods and a precious government collection of unique and valuable woods. Brazil
shows the various grades of mahogany, California the red wood, Sequoia, and 65
others, Canada the various pines, birch and maole and a host of other trees of
commercial value.

Some of the state exhibits are peculiarly interesting. Nebraska shows the
results of tree planting and the special results of the observance of Arbor Day in
that state. This exhibit contains specimens of actual woods, with tabulated in-
formation showing the age of each specimen, how and when planted. North
Dakota makes a similar exhibit. Some of the exhibits are genuine surprises. For
instance, Kentucky, which is not popularly considered a forest state, shows as
elaborate an exhibit as most of its neighbors From Kentucky there are specimens

of white oak, four
or five feet in diam-
eter, built in the
form of a pyramid.
Kentucky also
shows a very fine
relief map, point-
ing out the prin-
cipal forests in the
state, with full sta-
tistical information
regarding them.
Ohio, Wisconsin
and North Caro-
lina make exhibits
of medicinal plants
and herbs gathered
in those states.
Ohio alone shows
varieties of medici-
LOGGING CAMP— WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION. nal herbs amount-

ing to 400 or 500.

This is a new feature in America exhibits. One of the remarkable foreign exhib-
its is from Paraguay, which shows 321 varieties of woods, each one meter high
and from twelve inches to four feet in diameter. In this exhibit are beautiful
specimens of barks, dye woods and other commercial products of that portion of
South America. The Argentine Republic has an exhibit of remarkable woods.

HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S FAIR. 285

France and Germany make the best scientific exhibits, giving illustrations of con-
structive forestry from the results of wide experience. Japan makes a most cred-
itable showing, and the various wood specimens from the flowery kingdom are
the first ever shown outside of that country.

Among the spectacular exhibits is an immense trophy in the center of the
building. This consists of a collection of large natural timbers from various states.
North Carolina sends a large walnut log, Kentucky a mammoth white oak, Kan-
sas a walnut log seven feet in diameter and weighing 30,000 pounds. There are
immense tree trunks from the State of Washington. Another spectacular exhibit
is a long spar of ship timber from Washington.

The individual commercial exhibits include specimens of wood pulp, cork,
parts of furniture and woodenware. The pulp industry, which is rapidly growing
in importance, is represented by several exhibitors from foreign countries. The
exhibit contains the most complete display of the utilization of wood products that
has ever been brought together.

Among the prominent individual exhibitors is the Western Indurated Fiber
Company, which shows a multitude of articles made from wood fiber, including
household utensils. The R. W. Macready Cork Company make an elaborate ex-
hibit of all the varieties of cork.

Probably the greatest scientific collection in the forestry exhibit is the one
sent by Morris K. Jessup, of New York. The Jessup exhibit is an exact counter-
part of the famous collection of woods in the New York Museum of Natural His-
tory, which Mr. Jessup contributed to that institution at a personal expense of
$100,000. There are 428 specimens of wood in the original collection, and these
are practically duplicated in the World's Fair exhibit.

Another valuable scientific exhibit is that placed in the Foresty Building by
George W. Vanderbilt, the young New York millionaire. This is the principal
American exhibit on the science of forestry. On Mr. Vanderbilt's -country estate,
at Asheville, N. C., the science of forest preservation and cultivation has been in-
troduced by skilled foresters from Europe. Young Mr. Vanderbilt has collected a
Jot of valuable material pertaining to the care and culture of trees, including maps,
models and working utensils. These are shown under the direction of the chief
forester of the Vanderbilt estate.

Among other individual exhibits are all kinds of wood used in construction
or manufactures, such as square timber, joists and scantling, ship timber, masts
and spars, piles, fencing timber and mining timber. There are worked timber or
lumber, including shingles, flooring, casings, moldings and stair rails, and there are
decorating woods, such as mahogany, rosewood, satinwood, ebony, birdseye maple
and black walnut. In the treatment of timber to resist decay there are shown
specimens of creosoted woods. The dyeing and tanning woods include logwood,
Brazil wood, fustic and sumac, besides the various barks and mosses used in dyeing
and coloring.

One of the interesting class exhibits are lichens, mosses, ferns and other
vegetable substances used for bedding and upholstering. Another class of exhibits

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include gums, resins, seeds, fruits, roots, berries and other forest products used in
the arts and sciences, or for medicinal and household use.

In the department of timber culture and cultivation there are shown trans-
plants of various sizes, seed collections, and methods of seed testing. Implements
and machines for preparing the soil and planting trees are also shown. Seed nur-
series are illustrated, also the methods of protecting young trees against insects,
animals and climate- The section relating to forest management contains in-
struments for measuring standing timber and illustrations of the methods used in
calculating ages and the effect of certain soils on tree growth. In this section there
are interesting exhibits showing the relation of forests to climate and the relative
climatic changes produced by destructive and constructive forestry.

Outside the Forestry Building, but connected with the department, is shown
a typical logging camp. This is contributed by Michigan, and is located at the
south end of the park.

Logging methods are otherwise shown, including snowsleds loaded with'
logs, saws, axes, chains, skids, rollers and old implements used in the early days by
the lumbering industry. There is also a typical logging hut, showing how lumber-
men live in the backwoods. In another part of the grounds, near Machinery Hall,
is shown an actual sawmill in full operation. The process of converting logs into
various kinds of lumber is gone through on a realistic scale.

To practical builders from other countries the Forestry Building itself con-
veys many suggestions concerning American methods of house raising. There is not
a single nail used in the construction work. The method of construction followed by
Mr. Atwood,the designer, is intended to show peculiarly American methods of join-
ing timbers so as to economize materials. As has been stated, this is one of the
mo£t interesting and instructive exhibits at Jackson Park.

The live stock exhibit is also under Mr. Buchanan's control. The pavilion
seats 6,000 people. The Assembly Hall, where prominent agricultural lecturers hold
forth and where lectures were delivered at various times during the Fair, is cool and
capacious. The regular stock show did not commence until August 21, and then
sheep and swine were exhibited at one time and cattle and horses at another.
There were sheep from Australia and Angora goats from California. In the horse
show there were many animals entered from abroad, some of them from the famous
studs of Germany, France and Great Britain. There were also dog shows, carrier
pigeon flights and dairy contests at times during the progress of the Exposition.

The cows that participated in this latter contest were the very elite of the
world's barnyards. They belong to the herdsman's 400. Every one of them is
blue-blooded and has a pedigree in the herd books as long as a man's arm. Every
one of them, as her name indicates, is somebody's darling. Every one of them has
a body servant and is a farm pet. Every one of them is fed, curried, rubbed* and
waited on in the most obsequious manner. In the case of some of them their keep-
ers often lie down in the straw by their sides at night and sleep with them. Some
of them havj national or world-wide reputations.

STOCK EXHIBIT.

HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S FAIR. 289

jf

The idea of a model dairy and milking contest between the leading breeds of
cows was first earnestly proposed by the Columbia Dairymen's Association at a
meet.ng held in July, 1892, and at a later meeting held in November at the Sher-
man House. Its recommendations met with the approval of the Exposition direc-
tors. The object of this contest is a protracted and exhaustive test of the milk,
butter, and cheese productiveness of several rival breeds of cows, each of which
has its admirers and supporters who claim for it pre-eminence. Something of
the kind on a small scale, lasting for a single day, has often been seen at State
fairs. But never before have there been experiments for this purpose extending
through several months, with such large herds of cattle and with such unlimited
scientific appliances and supervisions. The ephemeral experiments at State fairs
have settled nothing, but it is confidently expected that the present contest will be
absolutely decisive as to the relative merits of the breeds that have been entered.

Among the Jerseys at different times at Jackson Park there were such world-
renowned cows as Messrs. Matthews and Moore's (Alabama) Signal's Lily Flagg,
with a butter test of 29 pounds 11 ounces in seven days, 1,047 pounds 5^ ounce in
365 days; D. F. Appleton's (New York) Eurotisama, 27 pounds i% ounces in seven
days, 946 pounds 9 ounces in 365 days; Judge Foster's (Minnesota) Islip Lenox
711'^ pounds in a year; C. I. Hood's (Massachusetts) Little Goldie, 34 pounds 8)4
ounces in seven days; C. Dickson's (Ohio) Pridalia, 26 pounds 4 ounces in seven
days; Ayer & McKinney's (Philadelphia) Daisy Hinman, 24 pounds 10 ounces in
seven days; W. E. Matthews' (Alabama) Alteration, 24 pounds # ounce in seven
days; H. C. Taylor's (Wisconsin) Brown Bessie 20 pounds 8 ounces. No less re-
markable are the milkers to be found among them, such as Messrs. George Fox's
(Philadelphia) Rita of Andalusia, 75 pounds of milk a day; Edgar Brewer's (Con-
necticut) Sayda 3d, 60 pounds of milk a day; John Boyd's (Chicago) Annice Magnet,
48 pounds a day; and others the pick of the crack herds in the states of Vermont
Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Alabama,
Missouri, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Iowa, Wis-
consin, and Minnesota. There was also a splendid showing of Holsteins and some
others.

HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S FAIR.

291