The U.S. Government Building

It had been the custom of the Unites States Government to participate generously in all important Expositions. The Government building at the World's Fair of 1904 was the largest exhibit structure ever erected by Federal authority and every department of the government was represented with elaborate displays. The building was situated upon a broad terrace considerably above the general level of the exhibit palaces in the extreme eastern part of the grounds. It was nearly 800 feet long and 250 feet wide. One of the stricking exhibit features, as the visitor entered the central portal, was the half of a battleship with full armament and equipment. The Post Office Department occupied the extreme north-eastern corner and the Smithsonian Institue the northwestern corner. The War Department had a large display of modern arms. A separate building, constructed in the form of a Pompeiian house, was occupied by the Fish Commission, which had 35 large tanks stocked with living specimens. near the Government building are sea-cost defense guns which were operated during certain hours each day. A large building in the western part of the grounds was devoted to an exhibit of the Indian schools, showing the progress which the Indian had made in the arts of civilization. The Bureau of Plant Industry had a six-acre map and school gardens also in the western part of the grounds.




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