The Jewel City Part 16

The Idaho Building, Wayland and Fennell, of Boise, architects, was the first state structure completed at the Exposition. It is built in the manner of the Italian Renaissance and looks out over the bay. Like most buildings of the Western states, it is equipped with a moving-picture theatre, as well as rooms for visitors. Idaho's exhibits are chiefly in the Exposition palaces.

The Nevada Building, designed by F. J. De Longchamps, of Carson, is another structure in the style of the French Renaissance. It is the headquarters of the Nevada Society of California and of visitors from the Sagebrush State. Nevada has important exhibits in several palaces.

The Utah Building, Cannon and Fetzer, of Salt Lake, architects, is a cla.s.sic structure with deep porticoed front. All its furniture is an exhibit, made by the pupils of the manual training department of the Utah schools. The building contains interesting models of copper and gold mines, and an exhibit of the processes of salt-making, displays of building-stone, grains and gra.s.ses, and collections from the cliff dwellings. Other exhibits are in the Palaces of Mines, Education and Horticulture.

The Hawaiian Building, C. W. d.i.c.key, of Oakland, architect, excellently represents the Pacific isles. In style it is French Renaissance, built with a half rotunda at the rear to accommodate a semi-circular aquarium.

In the center of the main hall is a clump of palms and tree ferns, and native singers give the island touch. The aquarium contains a wonderful collection of the many-hued fish of the South Seas. Interesting displays of native cabinet woods are made in the finish of the offices. Though small, the Hawaiian building has proved one of the most popular.

The Philippines Pavilion, designed by the Bureau of Architecture, is one of the Exposition places which no one should miss. It marks the creation of an original style of exposition building. It is Filipino in all its motives. Its groups of four columns suggest the four essential posts of native hut construction; the broad roofs are tiled; the windows are not gla.s.s, but of thin sh.e.l.l, the common material used in the islands; the walls are finished in split bamboo matting. The same style of construction is used also in all the Philippine booths in the palaces.

The materials are used with restrained taste, and this, with the magnificent cabinet woods employed throughout the construction, has resulted in a beautiful building. It is a little hard to realize the richness of the woods used here. The very floors in the pavilion and the booths are good enough to make piano cases of. The central portion, upstairs and down, is floored, wainscoted and ceiled with the costliest of timber. The two offices to right and left of the main entrance are finished in a beautiful, hard, heavy rosewood, called narra, the one to the right in yellow narra, that on the left in red narra. The stairway is of a magnificent, richly figured, claret-red hardwood called tindalo, the favorite material for such construction in the islands. The panels of its wainscoting and the bal.u.s.ters are of a dark velvety epil, so dark and so glossy in some places that it looks almost like agate. All the columns are natural trunks of the palma brava.

XVIII.

The Live-Stock Exhibit

The first Exposition to offer a live-stock exhibit covering its entire period--Prizes total $440,000--Cla.s.sification of compet.i.tions--New methods of displaying herds and flocks--Contests in dairy and beef cattle--Other exhibits range from high-bred horses, hens and sheep down to pet rabbits, rats and mice.

For the first time in the history of similar celebrations, this Exposition offers a continuous live-stock show. Other expositions have confined their live-stock exhibit to a few weeks during the time of award-making. Here, however, the show extends from the opening of the Exposition until its closing. The compet.i.tive period extends from September 23 to December 3. Naturally this will mark the high tide of the display. During this time the International Jury on Awards will distribute in cash prizes a total of $440,557. Of this amount, $190,000 has been given by the Exposition management, $100,327 by the breed record a.s.sociations of the country, and $150,230 by various states to be used in prizes and the transportation of stock.

These attractive prizes will be distributed, among the well-established and well-known breeds of draft and light horses, ponies, beef and dairy cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, pigeons, and pet animals. All animals will be judged according to the rules of recognized breed a.s.sociations.

Foreign or other animals not recorded in the books of the a.s.sociations named in the premium list will be judged by the standards of the a.s.sociations to which their exhibitors belong.

The educational value of the live-stock show for the general public, as well as the stock breeder, has been emphasized in every department. The increased cost of living being a dominating topic for both producer and consumer, much attention has been centered on meat-producing animals.

Liberal provision has been made in the prize list for fat cla.s.ses in beef-cattle, sheep and swine.

When the Exposition management designed the live-stock section and planned the buildings for the various features of this department, an effort was made to create a model arrangement for exhibit purposes. So successful was this effort that a number of states have requested the plans for a ground layout. This portion of the Exposition cost the management approximately $150,000, and covers sixty-five acres. The buildings represent, in their equipment, the very latest development in the housing and caring for stock. The visitor first approaches from the east a quadrangle of eight large stables, enclosing the forum where the live-stock shows are held. These stables have a total accommodation of 1124 horses. The forum has a seating capacity of 2680 persons.

To the north of the stable quadrangle is Congress Hall, for the accommodation of conventions and other meetings, and containing also the administration offices of the chief of the live-stock department. On this side also are the corrals, feed storage barns, a service yard, and an area for open-air exhibits. To the south is the large dairy building, a dairy manufactures building, and the poultry exhibit building. The dairy building houses more than 300 animals. West of the stable group is the mile racecourse with its polo and athletic field.

One of the novel features of this show is the manner in which the view herds and flocks are displayed. These are seen in stalls and pens built at an angle of about forty-five degrees to permit the visitor to get a side view of the stock. The view-herd idea in itself is something new.

These exhibits are purely educational in purpose, and non-compet.i.tive.

They have been on display since the opening, and will continue until the close of the Exposition, thus enabling the visitor to see a creditable live-stock show, no matter at what season he may come. The view herds are selected by competent authorities, and represent the best of their respective breeds. Among such herds on exhibit are Shorthorn cattle, Berkshire swine and Percheron horses. These exhibits are changed from time to time.

In addition to these general features, the special events include the milk show, harness races, universal polo, wool grading, sheepdog trials, poultry show, and an international egg-laying contest.

For eleven cla.s.ses of dairy cattle the Exposition offers awards, as follows: Jersey, Ayrshire, Guernsey, Holstein-Friesian, Dutch-Belted, Dairy Shorthorn, Brown Swiss, French-Canadian, Simmenthal, Kerry and Dexter, and Grade-Dairy Herd. This last is a recognition on the part of the Exposition of the great utility value of the grade-dairy cow, which forms the basis of the dairy industry, and yet could not exist without the pure-bred stock. In the beef-cattle group, the Exposition offers awards in the following cla.s.ses: Short-Horn, Hereford, Aberdeen-Angus, Galloway, Polled Durham, Red Polled, Devon, Fat Cattle (by ages) and Car-lots.

One of the especially attractive features pertaining to the dairy section is the exhibit of 150 high-grade Holsteins for utility purposes.

This herd is in full flow of milk and is maintained by a large milk condensing plant. This exhibit, in the daily care given these perfect specimens of dairy cattle, the yield of Milk, the quality of feed and the appliances used, forms one of the most attractive units in the department. An important event in this section was the pure milk and cream contest, June 14 to 19, in Congress Hall. City and state boards of health and the dairy divisions of agricultural colleges partic.i.p.ated in the contest. The purpose of the event was designed to create a greater interest in pure milk and cream. Four samples of milk and cream each were submitted. One of these was submitted to an official bacteriologist, a second given to the official chemist, a third displayed in Congress Hall, and the fourth tested for its b.u.t.ter-fat content. Awards of gold and silver medals and cash prizes were made in the following cla.s.ses: city boards of health, cream dealers, milk dealers, college experiment stations, pasteurized milk, pasteurized cream, market milk producers, certified and medical milk commissions.

In the horse exhibit the following cla.s.ses are provided: Percheron, Belgian, Clydesdale, Shire, Suffolk-Punch, Standard Trotter, Thoroughbred, Saddle Horses, Morgan, Hackney, Arabian, Shetland Pony, Welch Pony, Roadsters, Carriage Horses, Ponies in Harness, Draft Horses, Hunters, Jumpers, and Gaited Saddle Horses. Among special events in this section are the following: trot under saddle, one-mile track, one-mile military officer's race, one-mile mounted police race, gaited saddle race of one mile, steeple chase, hurdle race, polo pony dash, relay race of one mile, cowboy's relay race of same length, cowgirl's relay race, six furlongs, saddle tandem. Exposition jumping contest and five-mile Marathon four-in-hand. On the closing day of the Exposition there will be a grand parade of all first and second winners, not only in the horse display, but in all other displays in this department.

The following dates have been set for the exhibition of stallions and mares in the breeding cla.s.ses in the Forum: Thursday, September 30,-- Percheron, standard trotter, Welch pony, and Morgan; Friday, October 1,-- Belgian, Thoroughbred, Hackney, and Shetland Pony; Sat.u.r.day, October 2,--Clydesdale, Saddler, Arabian, and Suffolk-Punch; Monday, October 4,-- Shire, Jacks and Jennets, and Mules.

The exhibition of horses for awards is from Thursday, September 30, to Wednesday, October 13. One of the important events of this period is the special horse show. Two other big special events are the races and international polo tournament. The polo tournament from March 7th to May 1st enlisted the following teams: Cooperstown, N. Y.; Philadelphia Country Club; Midwick Polo Club; Pasadena, Burlingame and San Mateo Clubs; Boise, Idaho, team; Portland, Oregon, team; First Cavalry, Monterey; Second Division Army, Texas City, Texas; and Southern Department Army, San Antonio, Texas.

The Exposition harness races cover two periods, one from June 5 to June 15, and the other from October 30 to November 13. In addition to these there will be matinee races from May 23 to September 30. A total of $227,000 has been set aside for purses in these races.

The poultry exhibit for award is scheduled from November 18 to 28. This is known as the Universal Poultry Show, and is planned to be one of the largest ever held. Between 10,000 and 12,000 chickens, entered from all parts of the Union, will be in compet.i.tion. In conjunction, the American Poultry a.s.sociation meets in Congress Hall in the live-stock section.

The International Egg-Laying Contest, extending over a period of one year from November 15, 1914, has attracted widespread attention. Pens of fowls have been entered in this contest from the United States and Canada, and even distant England. Daily records are kept of the production of each hen, and, once a month, the score is bulletined by the live-stock department for the information of owners.

Sheep and goats are to be judged for awards from Wednesday, November 3, to Monday, November 15. The breeds cla.s.sified are: Shropshire, Hampshire, Cotswold, Oxford, Dorset, Southdown, Lincoln, Cheviot, Leicester, Romney, Tunis, Rambouillet, Merino-Ameiran, Merino-Delaine, Corriedale, Exmoor, Persian Fat-Tailed, Karakule, and car-lots; goats, Toggenburg, Saanen, Guggisberger, and Anglo-Nubian breeds, with the grades of each breed, and native goats.

The exhibit of swine for awards runs between the same dates. The eligible breeds, besides swine in car-lots, are Poland-China, Berkshire, Duroc-Jersey, Chester White, Hampshire, Tamworth, Mule Foot, Large Yorkshire, Large English Black, Victoria, Ess.e.x, and Cheshire.

The scope of the live-stock department is not limited to the material things of rural life. A Universal kennel show is scheduled from November 29 to December 1. Two cla.s.ses of dogs are provided for in the awards, sporting and non-sporting. A cat show, of long and short-haired cats, is set for the same period as the kennel show. Other groups of exhibits in this line are pet stock, rabbits, hares, rats and mice, and children's pets.

XIX.

Sports and Games; Automobile Races; Aviation

Exposition contests include nearly every branch of sport--National Championships of the A. A. U.--Two great automobile races, the International Grand Prix and the Vanderbilt Cup, already run--Polo and Golf--Sensational flights of the aviators--The International Yachting Regatta and other aquatic events--All-star baseball expected in the fall.

An account of the Exposition, and indeed, American athletic history for the year 1915, would be incomplete without a description of the sports programme. This outline of games and exhibitions includes nearly every branch of sport familiar to the American public, and its wide appeal has attracted many thousands to the athletic fields and gymnasiums of the Exposition. Although ten months of sport was originally intended by the athletic committee, this period has been somewhat abbreviated by circ.u.mstances, though a practically continuous performance has held sway since February 22.

International compet.i.tion, at first intended in many branches of the programme, was generally abandoned on account of the European conflict; but the want of foreign representation has in no way lessened the quality of compet.i.tion, or dampened the attractiveness of the summer contests. Some of Europe's star track men are entered here, in spite of conditions on the continent.

Perhaps the most popular attractions of the programme are the national championships, held every year under the auspices of the Amateur Athletic Union. At the convention of that body during November, 1913, prior to the death of its president, James E. Sullivan, it was voted unanimously to award all of the organization's events, with the exception of boxing, to the Panama-Pacific Exposition. These championships are the blue-ribbon events of the amateur world. They include track and field games, swimming, boxing, wrestling and indoor gymnastics. Three of these championships were staged in San Francis...o...b..fore the opening of June.

In basket ball, the first of the national compet.i.tions, premier honors went to a California organization, the San Francisco Olympic Club. Next in line came gymnastics, followed by wrestling. Although these sports are not immensely popular with the athletic enthusiasts, generous galleries turned out to see the American champions in action.

The more important part of the Amateur Athletic Union programme was scheduled for the summer months, when the track and field championships are held. Facilities for staging these games are ideal. The cinder path, situated at the far end of the Exposition grounds, with unexcelled scenic advantages, is reputed to be the equal of any athletic stadium in the country. The oval measures one-third of a mile to the lap, with a 220-yard straightaway flanking the grandstand. The earlier games convinced Eastern athletes that there could be no complaint against facilities.

The senior and junior track and field championships of the Amateur Athletic Union loom up as the banner track events of the programme.

National stars have signified their intention of partic.i.p.ating in these games, and it will be surprising if many national records are not broken. In addition to these games, the International Olympic Committee, which controls all the modern Olympic meets, conferred upon the Exposition the right to hold the Modern Pentathlon, this being the first time it has been contested outside of the Olympic Games. In addition, America is to have for the first time the Decathlon, and the famous Marathon race originated in Greece centuries ago, and impressively revived during recent years by the more important athletic bodies of the world.

Besides the Amateur Athletic Union track and field games, an abundance of compet.i.tions, ranging from grammar school contests to collegiate struggles, was arranged. Among the first of these, the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate Conference, was won by the University of California from a field of collegiate teams representing the entire Pacific Coast.

Several high and grammar school contests have attracted spectators to the stadium. One thousand grammar school athletes entered the lists upon the Exposition cinder path, and staged a carnival that stands as a record in California, and approaches any American event of its kind both in the number of entrants and the cla.s.s of compet.i.tion offered.

Automobile racing, of the kind that thrills, was furnished by the Exposition during its early weeks. Two events of international importance were run upon the Exposition grounds, and in each instance attracted one hundred thousand spectators to the course. The first of these was the International Grand Prix, run in the rain and under other conditions far from ideal, over a four-mile course for the distance of four hundred miles. Sensation followed sensation in this feature, a final winner being supplied in the swarthy Darius Resta, who drove a Peugeot car for an average speed of fifty-six miles, 7:07:57 being his actual time. Other drivers of international reputation appeared in this struggle, among them De Palma, Hughes and Wilc.o.x. Handsome prizes were distributed to the winners in these events.

The Vanderbilt Cup Race was staged over the same course on March 7, and brought out an equally attractive field. Running with the precision and dexterity that brought him home a winner in the Grand Prix, Resta repeated his victory in the Vanderbilt Race, coming home from his journey of three hundred miles ahead of such stars as Burman, Pullen, Wilc.o.x and De Palma. Resta earned the reputation of being one of the most skillful drivers holding the wheel in this or any other country.

For six weeks, from March to May, polo held popular sway at the Exposition. Ten teams competed in a tournament which offered many valuable trophies. The contests were held daily and attracted thousands to a specially prepared turf field near the athletic stadium. The sport furnished thrilling compet.i.tion throughout its period.

Perhaps the most famous team seen in compet.i.tion was the noted four from Cooperstown, New York, bearing an international reputation. The Easterners, although weakened by illness in the ranks of their players, proved practically invincible. Another notable organization was the four representing the Midwick Club of Pasadena, California. In addition to the civilian teams, the United States army was represented by some fast fours, who provided thrill after thrill with their reckless but winning form in the saddle. Perhaps the most notable of the military combinations was the Fort Sam Houston four, which went through the tournament with practically an undefeated record. The army teams were granted certain handicaps, however, which gave them a slight edge in some of the contests.