Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-05
EXPOSITION CHAT.
A SHORT TALK WITH DIRECroR-azH-
ERAL HENRY c. JONES'
The County Exhibits to Exceed Expecta-
tion and the General Outlook
Promising.

When Dispatch reporter called at Expo
sition headquarters yesterday soon after
noon, II, like all other buslness-places this
4th Of July, looked somewhat deserted. The
rooms were open, but neither President
Starke nor Secretary Venable was present.
Director General Jones was not to be seen
either, but one OF his assistants was found
busy milling letters that bad been dictated
by the Director.General earlier In the morn
ing, many OF them IN answer to inquiries
from persons desiring 10 make exhibits. The
other officers had also been to the Office IN
the morning, but had left for the day.
TUE OUTLOOK PROMISING.
Captain Jones was subsequently seen at
| bis Office, 9l5t east Main street, aud in
answer to questions he said that the general
outlook Is most promising. The Exposition
has been well advertised throughout the
country, and the mails are Isdened daily
with letters from persons who contemplate
| putting their goods op exhibition. "Why,"
said Captain Jones, dome OF our men who
| has been travelling III The New England
| states and the East has just returned 10 the
/ city, and his rerort Is exceedingly en-
/ eoHraging. He has secured large number
| u exnibltors-many more, In fact. than We
! ever expected from that section and about as
many as we will really have need for. These
exhibitors win be OF especial value to our
Exposition, for nearly all OF them are deal
ers In or manufacturers Of machinery; so
we will have this important department
| about as complete as possible"
COUNTY EXHIBITS.
ain the matter Of county exhibits" con-
| tinued the DiTectOr.Gcneral, sour expecta-
tions will be greatly exceeded. We don't
count on an exhibit from county until we
receive official notice OF the appointment OF
| county commissioner. In the last two
days we have received such notice from
Chesterfield and Powbatan, making ten
counties in all that have reported. In addl-
ton TO these we have learned through the
press OF number Of counties which will
make exhibits, and from which we have re-
ccived no notice as yet. / feel safe in saying
that We will have at least twenty-five or
thirty 1rst-class county exhibits. and think
II very likely that we will baye even MORE"
THE BUILDING.
Just here the Captain picked up from
table In his Office and showed the reporter a
picture showing the building just as II now
appears with the scafolding around il. He
has had pictures OF It taken az every stage OF
progress. lie also exhibited picture show
| ing one OF the wings which revealed the fact
that the arrangements will be very complete.
Mr.. Sitterding, the contractor, las been at
work on the building only twentr-fiyc days,
and half OF his work Is already dune. He is
under contract to complete 1t by the lSt OF
September, and for each day intervening be-
tween the date OF completion aud that time
he is to receive $50. The probabilities are
that he will get pretty good bonus. The
hall will not only be an attractive one in APP
pearance and OF excellent arrangement, but
the structure will he OF the most substantial
character. The builder had occasion few
days ago to pile his kegs OF nails in cir
cumscTibed space on the first floor, and
| $4,000 pounds were placed on the area OF
twenty-five square feet.
LAND SOLD.
The Executive Committee OF the Virginia
Agricultural and Mechanical Society have
sold to the Richmond Basket Works, Of
which General Joseph x. Anderson is presi-
/ dent, four acres OF land belonging to the
/ society. This land is on the opposite side
OF the railroad from the Fair-Grounds, and
was never enclosed. This property was
bought many years ago for the use OF the
water from the Hermitage Springs situated
on II, and which was once beautiful ioun-
tain, with a bold flow OF excellent water.
2 he land sold for about $1,000 per acre, and
= meeting OF the stockholders has been
called for the Sd OF August at II o'cOck NJ.
TO ratify the sale.