The people of Atlanta are pushing their proposed exposition with the same vigor with which they undertook the preliminary organization. The enthusiasm which has marked every step of progress shows how thoroughly in earnest Atlanta is, and gives promise of what may be expected from the exposition. Director-General Palmer is getting his working force into good shape, and reports that from all sections of the country the most hearty and enthusiastic commendations are being received. If carried out on the scope upon which it has been planned, this exposition will be for the South what the World’s Fair was for Chicago and the country at large. It will centre in the South an amount of interest scarcely appreciated now, but which will mean the investment of many millions and in time of many hundreds of millions of dollars. It will also mean a stimulation of the Southward trend of population, and thousands who are thinking of moving South will be determined by the work of the exposition. Everything indicates that the exposition will be on a scale far surpassing anything that has ever before been seen in the South. Improving the Dismal Swamp Canal. Preparations are being made by Messrs. Ross & Sanford, of Baltimore, to begin the work of deepening and otherwise enlarging what is known as the Dismal Swamp Canal. The canal, which is twenty-two miles long, will be dredged to an average depth of ten feet and widened to sixty feet. This will require the removal of 3,000,000 cubic yards of material. As the capacity of the average dredge is 3000 yards per day, the magnitude of the work can be appreciated. Another important work will be the construction of two main and two secondary locks, the main locks to be 250×40 feet each in the clear. By the lock system the water in the canal level can be raised to a height of thirteen feet. When the work is finished vessels with nine feet draught can pass through the waterway without difficulty. Some of the lumber needed to build the dredges to be employed has already arrived at the scene of operations. The amount of money to be expended in this work will be fully $1,000,000. This passageway is to be used extensively by lumber barges, fruit and truck steamers and other craft plying between Hampton Roads and North Carolina waters. The improvements will tend to greatly increase the trade between Norfolk, Portsmouth and the tidewater country south of those cities. Shipping Alabama Coal to Mexico.