PICTURESQUE WORLD’S FAIR. AN ELABORATE COLLECTION OF COLORED VIEWS
Page 55 – UNITED STATES MILITARY ENCAMPMENT, GOVERNMENT PLAZA
UNITED STATES MILITARY ENCAMPMENT, GOVERNMENT PLAZA.—North and east of the Manufactures Building was an extensive plaza devoted altogether to the uses of the United States Government. Here were the military encampment, the life-saving station, the signal service bureau, the naval station, the light-house exhibit and similar governmental features. The view shown is taken from the Government Building looking southeast, the northeast corner of the Manufactures Building filling most of the picture. Very neat and well kept was the military encampment at all times, the strictest discipline prevailing, and all the usual routine of the soldiers’ life at a post being observed. Uncle Sam has not so many soldiers that he ever makes a great martial display at any place, in peaceful times, but it was the comment of foreign military authorities visiting the Fair and who chanced to be present on occasions when the troops from Fort Sheridan took part in the parades that they were fully equal in point of apparent efficiency to the soldiers of the armed camp known as Europe. When the natty West Point cadets had a vacation made memorable by the privilege afforded them of visiting the Fair, this praise was further extended. It is doubtful if all Europe has a military school more efficient or one which has produced more great generals than the academy on the Hudson. The picturesqueness of the view here given is somewhat curtailed by the nearness of the great building overshadowing all, but this is a glimpse of the distant lake and a partial view of the outlines of one of the chocolate pavilions.