Sacramento daily record-union., 1883-10-24
THE EXPOSITION PAVILION.

| Ing completion, the painters ana GLACIERS now
being engaged in putting on the finishing
touches 1t was built on plan drawn by
Alfred W. Burrell, of Oakland, and occupies
the plat of ground bounded on the east by
Fifteenth street, on the south by N street,
on the west by Fourteenth street tif extended
through the Park, and on the north by NJ
street avenue, which, after it enters the Park,
constitutes its chief driveway. The plan was
selected from among large number, and the
building is perfect model of strength and
architectural beauty. The building consists
of two main halls, size 100x400 feet, crossing
each other at the center, with the corners cut
so as to form an octsgonal center, the whole
forming a Greek cross. Circular conserva-
tories are placed liz each outer corner between
the wings, and which are divided from the
main hall by ratings only. These couserVa-
tories can be occupied by ministure lawns,
flower rockeries, fountains, walks, ETC., and
can be utilized as refreshment booths, and
will constitute pleasant feature. The view
into the cOnservatories is unobstructed from
the main hall, and also from the promenade
galleries.
The art gallery consists of hall 100 by 104
by partition and is designed to be used also
for social and literary exercises. The horti-
cultural aud machinery halls are each 100
by l20 feet, with separate exhibitors' entrance
to each. The promenade galleries are 16 feet
wide, and at each end Of the main hall ex-
tend back to raised galleries, and at the side
wings into the art gallery and industrial hall.
The ticket CficeF, Supsrintendents room,
ladies' reception and cloak.rooms, toilets,
ETC., are on the FIRST floor, adjoining the front
main entrance, on Fifteenth street, and tine
offices for Secretary, Board of Directors, etc.,
are Located Immediately above them.
Eight fight of stairs, eight feet wide each,
lead to the second floor, and in case Of
an emergency eight exits can be
used. The building is lighted by two
rows of windows in the sides and
a row of skyiights on each side of all the
roofs with a central dome, Of glass. so feet
in diameter and 10 feet hign. Ample venti-
latiOn on the most approved plan is provided.
The building is inclcsed with wood and glass,
and the roof supported by iron trusses which
span the full 100 feet leaving no intermediate
supporting posts. The apex of the roof in
the wings is over so feet from the floor. The
galleries are supported entirely by trusses,
which leaves the entire floor space clear. The
style of architecture is what is called modern
Gothic, and while the building is not elabo.
rately ornamental, it presents 9n imposing
effect and gives generally the appearance Of
a monster conservatory. The elevations of
the four fronts are uniform, and finished so
that the building presents an equally pleasing
appearances from every view.
Robert McKillican, OF Oakland, took the
contract to erect the building for the sum of
S73 S63, which wss $50 less than the bid of
Garlic q Croly, of this city, and S127 less than
that Of NJ. j. Kelly. of San Francisco
1t Is the largest building of the kind on the
coast. Some idea Of its immense size can be |
conceived when it Is known that !, 900, 600
feet of lumber, !, 1000, 600 shingles and 60 tons
Of iron were used in its construction. 1t was
the original plan to place the building on
large concrete piers, but after an examina-
ton of the ground by means Of boring it was
decided by ths Building Committee and the |
Capitol Commissioners to drive piles, st an
additional expense of $780, This was done,
the piling reaching to a depth Of 40 feet
They were cut off eight feet below the |
ground and concrete piers, four feet square,
bnilt to the surface and extended TO the hight
Of three feet by the use of brick. These
piers we're placed % feet apart from center
to center. The intervening space was filed
with a brick wall two feet six inches at the
base, ard gradually drawn in until it is re-
duced to eight inches on the top. Underlying
Illb al ID ClStb ALCu6S VI GOuGLEbCs L u6
main weight of the building rests on the
piers, the remainder Of the foundation only
supporting a light weight from the inter
mediate studding and the ends of the floor,
the central portion of the A)or being sup
ported by concrete piers at regular intervals
throughout the building.
The cornerstone was laid on the afternoon
of the 9TH of June, under the auspices of the
Masonic Grand Lodge of the State of Cali
fOrDia. A. L. Hart was orator of the day.
The building was to have been completed
in time for the holding of the last State Fair,
and would have been were it not for two very
serious accidents, that put the work back for
several weeks. The staging for the dome |
was blown down one evening" after
it had been erecsed to a height |
Of lis feet. After that accident !
the builders concluded to erect ore OF the |
wings first. The framework of the north |
wing was accordingly put up, and was sup
posed TO be securely held with guy-ropes. On
the afternoon Of the % IN of June one of the
ropes became loosened by some means, and
the hinge structure fell. Andrew Mcmillan,
q workman, who was sloft, fell distance Of
eighty feet, and was instantly killed. Two
ether workmen were seriously injured. A.
A. Cook, an architect, was employed by the
Agricultural Society to see that the work was
done according to the contract. He has been
on the ground all the time, and has carefully
watched the construction of the building
throughout.