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The Pan-American Exposition is rapidly nearing completion. There still remains considerable work for the gardeners, and a number of exhibits are yet to be installed. All of the principal buildings are entirely finished, and only a few minor structures are in a state of incompleteness. A notable exception, however, is the Art Building, which will not be opened for some weeks. We present a number of engravings prepared from photographs taken by the staff-photographer of the SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN. They embrace a number of new views and subjects which have not before been photographed. The current issue of our SUPPLEMENT is largely devoted to the Exposition and contains a large number of engravings of the various buildings and groups of statuary, and is accompanied by an extended article. The pictures which we publish this week are intended, as far as possible, to give an idea of the attention which has been given, not to the buildings proper, but to what might be considered special features of the Exposition, such as the effects produced by the aid of canals, bridges and landscape gardening. The mall which connects the two most important entrances, which are most used by visitors, is spanned and decorated with orna- mental trees and shrubbery. It is embellished by statues, and is lighted at night by posts, the top of each being a mass of small incandescent lights, for the arc light is banished from the grounds except for illuminating outskirts of the reservation, the result being there are no excessively bright points to strike and offend the eye. The Grand Canal, which is over a mile in length, extends around the central group of large buildings, and is shown in several of our engravings. The outer bank of the Canal and the banks of the lagoons are sodded and set with trees and flowers, producing vistas of great beauty. The canals are crossed by many bridges, and statues, groups of statuary and fountains are distributed with a lavish hand. The buildings with their polychromatic decoration compose admirably with the water, bridges, statuary, trees and flowers. Even the attractions of the Midway in many cases fit in admirably with the architecture of the buildings. This is especially the case with "Venice in America," which is composed of a number of replicas of Venetian palaces, shops, bridges and canals, and gondolas, with real gondoliers, can be engaged to make the circuit of the Canal. The "Topsy-Turvy House" is one of the oddest attractions on the grounds. It represents a house standing on its roof. The visitor enters through the roof and after going up or rather down several flights of stairs, he reaches the cellar, which is converted into a roof garden. Even the flower-pots on the balcony are upside-down. One of the most interesting exhibits is the 12-inch breech-loading rifle on a disappearing carriage, which is in the rear of the Government Building. The government exhibit, as a whole, is remarkable for its completeness, and the visitors are sure to appreciate this fine example of '-.."jsrican ordnance manufacture.
