The educational exhibit differed in some features from that of any other State. For the display of books and various lines of work not readily shown upon the walls or in the cabinets, drawers instead of shelves were placed under the cabinets. This enabled the work to be put in convenient form for inspection, and had the additional merit of keeping it clean. Another feature entirely new and used for the first time at this exposition was the index key. The exhibit was divided into sections lettered from A to M, inclusive, and these were subdivided into units numbered from 1 to 68, inclusive. Each unit consisted of a leaf cabinet with six drawers directly underneath. The units from 15 to 21, inclusive, served as an index to the entire New Jersey educational exhibit. Unit No. 15 directed to first year's work. Unit No. 16 directed to second and fourth year's work. Unit No. 17 directed to third and fourth year's work, and so on.
To find work from a particular school, the card containing work from the county or city in which said school is located was first taken. That card directed to the section in which all work of the school, except that placed upon the walls, could be found. Different lines of school work were bound in different colored volumes, as shown by index cards. Another unique feature of the exhibit was the manual-training work of each school shown in connection with its academic work.
A combined exhibit of music and art was exceptionally fine and attracted much attention. The work of a very large percentage of schools, both rural and urban, was represented, and the Garden State ably maintained the reputation won at former expositions.
In the section of social economy of the Educational Building the State was represented by comprehensive exhibits from the following: The State board of health, Trenton, N.J.; bureau of statistics of labor and industries, Trenton, N.J.; New Jersey School for Deaf Mutes; New Jersey State Institution for Feeble-Minded Women, Vineland, N.J.; New Jersey Training School for Feeble-Minded Boys and Girls, Vineland, N.J.; New Jersey Children's Home Society, Trenton, N.J.; Woodbine Settlement, Woodbine, N.J.; State Custodial Asylum for Feeble-Minded Women, Newark, N.J., and the School for Nervous and Backward Children.
The exhibit of the geological survey in the Mines and Metallurgy Building was in many respects unique among the various exhibits in the Mines Building. Geological surveys have been carried out under State auspices for more than half a century, and, as a result, New Jersey was in a position to illustrate to younger and less thoroughly studied States how science and industry go hand in hand.
New Jersey is the best-mapped portion in America. Therefore a salient feature of the exhibit was a large relief map of the State, models of typical sections of the State, and files of the position and elevation of every portion of the State. The building stones of the State formed a pyramid in the center of the exhibit, and alongside of it was a microscope, with 70 sections of New Jersey rocks, showing how they are studied to estimate their value for construction purposes.
The New Jersey geological survey had two superb terra-cotta columns made of New Jersey clay on enameled brick piers. Adjoining the entrance was the New Jersey clay exhibit proper. In it were shown samples of all the prominent clays, burned bricklets, which illustrated the way clay acts when burned at various cones (temperatures), the air and fire shrinkage, and various other properties and analyses of clays, all facts of importance to the clay worker, as well as large photographs of the chief clay banks and various steps in utilizing clay.
A collection of New Jersey bricks was tested to determine the breaking and crushing strength. The results of these tests were shown, together with samples of the bricks classified according to the method of manufacture and geological occurrences of the clay. A model of a New Jersey clay refinery was shown, illustrating the manner in which high-grade clays are prepared for potteries.
The natural advantages found on the coast and mountains of New Jersey have produced many fine and well-known resorts. In order to illustrate some of the attractions there found, the exhibit in the Forestry, Fish, and Game Building was prepared. It showed beautiful mounted specimens of practically all the birds that frequent the State. In addition to the mounted fresh and salt-water fishes there was displayed, in the largest pool that has ever been constructed at an exposition, a number of the live salt-water fish found along the coast. The oyster industry was represented by an exhibit from the State bureau of shell fisheries. A glass tank filled with salt water showed an oyster bed containing the following variety of oysters, all of which are products of New Jersey: Shrewsburys, Raritan, Barnegat, Maurice River coves, Absecon salts, and the Cape May salts. The tank also contained a profusion of marine vegetation, and a number of the varieties of clams and fish common to the waters of the State. An interesting demonstration was made of each stage of the progression from the spat to the prime oyster.
Another very instructive and important feature was the mosquito exhibit, which was intended to illustrate the work which has been done by authority of the State of New Jersey in studying the life, history, and methods of dealing with the mosquito pest. The work was in charge of Prof. John B. Smith, the State entomologist, and the exhibit was prepared under his direction. It consisted of a series of table cases in which were shown the common species of mosquitoes, with their larvae as well as their natural enemies. Enlarged drawings gave the character of each species so far as they were not obvious on ordinary examination.