One of the most important features of the exhibit was the display of photographs showing over 500 views of schoolrooms, school buildings, groups of teachers and children, institutions of secondary education, institutions of special education, and the university.
In these photographs the department showed the best schools, such as
"Luz y Caballero," of Habana, and the "Eseulen Modelo," of Santiago de
Cuba, and the least advanced rural schools located in thatched-roof huts
20 or more miles from the nearest town.
The exhibit showed not only the great increase in the last few years in the number of schools and in the school expenditures, both of which have increased about tenfold, but the great change undergone in the methods of teaching, which at present accord with the most modern standards, the old methods having been entirely abolished from the public schools.
The superior board of health of Cuba was represented at the exposition by Dr. Federico Torralbas, as medical inspector of the sanitary department of Habana; Dr. Emilo Martines, as assistant professor of pathology of the National University, and member of the commission for infectious diseases of the sanitary department of Habana; Dr. Juan H. Davalos, as chief of the section of bacteriology of the laboratory of the island of Cuba, who is considered the leading authority on bacteriological subjects in Cuba; Dr. Enriqui B. Barnet, as the executive officer of the sanitary department of Habana and acting secretary of the superior board of health of Cuba; Mr. John R. Taylor, as preparator of the laboratory of Las Animas Hospital, of Habana, having a thorough knowledge of the transmission of diseases by the medium of the mosquito. He was one of those who voluntarily allowed himself to be bitten with infected mosquitoes known to be capable of transmitting yellow fever, recovering after a severe attack of the disease.
In the Department of Mines and Metallurgy, Cuba's exhibition consisted of Portland cement and its products, asphaltum (crude and refined), iron, manganese, copper, zinc, tin, gold, and silver ores, and a collection of marbles of the Isle of Pines.
In Liberal Arts Cuba's exhibition consisted of photographs, engravings, periodicals, perfumes, soaps, and other manufactured articles.
In the Department of Art Cuba had a room where about one hundred and fifty pictures were hung, consisting of oil paintings and water colors.
In the Department of Agriculture Cuba's exhibit consisted of manufactured cigars, chocolate, jellies, beer, preserved fruits of all descriptions, cotton, hemp, coffee, sugar, and various other agricultural products of Cuba.
In the Department of Forestry, Fish, and Game Cuba's exhibition consisted of samples of woods used in construction and for furniture, house decorations, etc. The collection of woods at the Forestry Building was given to the Yale University Forestry Schools at the close of the fair. The mineral collection at the Mines Building was subsequently donated to the United States National Museum, at Washington, D.C.