Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-21
LIVE EXPOSITION NEWS.

Power Hall VIII Be Finished ip Time
What is Going on in Main Hnil-A
Splendid Art Gallery.
A stroll to the vicinity of the Exposition
buildings discloses scene of great activity.
A small army of workmen is working Wig
orously, and with bright prospects of get
ting things into shape by this day two
weeks. Power Hall, seen from a distance,
is very delusiye to the eyesight. 1t looks
small as seen from the Sixth street bridge,
owing to its skeleton frame. As q matter
of fact, it is 800 feet long and 112 feet wide.
The roof is nearly completed, and the task
of covering the frame is being rushed. The
tremendously heavy oak flooring is nearly
all dcwl, and the turrets at each corner are
being marked in rapidly. The foundations
for the two engines have been finished, also
the foundation for a water tank 2lx42 feet.
The restaurant, 114x72 feet in size, is
nearly completed. 1t is built on piles and
projects over the river. A promenade 1O
feet wide runs the entire length Of the
building overhanging the river. Tickets to
meals will include the view from the river.
1t may not be as grand as the view from the
Eiffel Tower Restaurant, put it will be pretty
well for Pittsburg. The building will be
completed this week. Murphy s. Hamilton
have 10S men working II hours a day, and
say that they have things in forward con-
dition. The floor space will be ready for
the exhibitors next week. The "tin-plate"
annex at the west end of the main building
will be finished this week. Some enterpris-
ing chap has received permission to erect
large fving horse on theopen space between
the end of the building and the Union
bridge.
Main building is now in the hands of the
exhibitors. The huge edifce has been
painted a warm red throughout. The pill
lars have been picked out in red and light
brown, and look quite artistic. The gal
Ieries are handsomely painted. Measure
ments were taken yesterday for the decora-
ton of the roof timbers. Their ungainly
outlines will be concealed by red, white and
blue bunting. Nearly all the platforms are
constructed by the exhibitors, and from the
outside all the approaches and sidewalks are
being placed in order. The new and i'm
proved turnstiles, eight in all, four for each
entrance, have arrived and are ready to be
set up. They are mostly of iron, and are
considerable of an improvement upon the
old Centennial turnstiles. About the only
piece of carpentry work now in the building
erected by exhibitors is the handsome pagoda
of S. S. Marvin & Co. This stands on the
gallery fronting the main entrance. 1t will
be colored black, white and gilt. The band
stand and the sounding board at the back
are completed. The band stand is directly
over the main entrance.
The art gallery is one of the finest ever
erected in America. There are six large
chambers with Iabyrinthian entrances so
contrived that no light enters except from
the apertures at the top, which are covered
with white muslin, the walls being built so
as to contract nearly half at the top. The
prevailing color is dark red, and the effect
is to secure a "dim religious light" Just
the thing for the proper display of pictures,
These latter were moved in yesterday, and
the job of hanging will be Immediately
commenced by Artist Clarence Johns. The
art gallery certainly gives evidence of care
in its preparation. The system of foot
lights for each row of pictures will be very
comprehensive.
The Westinghouse people have finished
the job of changing all the incandescent
lights from 16 to 25 candle power. There
are now 864 incandescen; and % arc lights
in the building A number of other special
display lights are to be put in.
Union men are watching the interior of
main. building very closely. Two car
penters at work yesterday ON q stand for
music firm were notified to quit, and lost no
time In gettlng OUT. NO non-unl0n man
will be allowed to strike lick in the build
ing, for Murphy & Hamilton's force stands
ready TO quit at moments notice.
Heinz, the pickle man. will have
unique display. He has the entire east wall
of the building, and erected a scaffold yes
terday. To-day a huge canvas will be
stretched, covering nearly the entire space.
Painters will cover the canvas with an i'm
mense view of Mr.. Heinz pickle garden.
At the bottom of this view will be space
20 feet high and the width of the dead wall,
with figures worked out in pickle bottles.
1t will be the greatest pickle exhibit ever
made in this country.
1t is a singular thing, but the first exhibit
put in permanent position in the main
building is the old ''Vigilant" fire engine,
with its old leather hose and queer brass in
scription marked Instituted in 1911"
The Exposition Society managers held
their regular meeting yesterday afternoon.
The business transacted was principally of
routine character. The contracts for
lighting the building during the Exposi-
tion were approved. The cost will be about
$12, 900. ..-.
Although the work at the Exposition
grounds looks discoursging to outsiders,
the managers still have no fear of it not be.
ing ready for the opening. Manager
Johnston said yesterday it would not be
any fault of his if the work is not done. He
has been insisting on the work being pushed
night and day.