Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-24
The coLuMeIAN EXPOSITION.
Order at Length Out OF Cnaos-some idea
of the Thing.
lBy telegraph to tho Dlspatch. ]


CHICAGO, February 23.--Order is rapidly
being developed out of the chaos IN the
Worlds Fair matters. and what has hereto
fore appeared confusion now assumes den-
mite form and purpose. The managers OF
the affair have observed such discreet Sc
crecy that the abandonment of the lake;
front site came in the nature OF a total
surprise TO people generally, yet at no time
for many months, IL would appear, has tne
placing of any Of the buildings on IN. Ihe
Lake-Front Park been contemplated. Inc
instructions given to the Board of Archi-
tects at the time Of its formation did notpro,,
vide tor any of the buildings being placed
there. but contemplated the grouping
of all the named buildings at the south OF
the midway plaisance in Jackson PARK
the land north Of the plaisance being re-
served for miscellaneous structures, such
as State buildings The art building has
not yet been provided for and It Is rot ue-
fnitely determined whether it shall be q
temporary structure or Of a permanent
character suitable for memorial building.
If the building is 10 bea permanent stTucI-
ure it will undoubtedly be located on
the lake-front so that it may eventually
be utilized as a permanent museum Oh
art.
The Board of Architects met at 10 O'Clock
to-day to revise into harmonious Whoie
the preliminary drawings for the nam
group of buildings prepared by the dlHeT-
ent members Of the board. Mr.. Olmstea9,
of Boston, Mass, had already outlined ms
scheme for the landscape. The available
land will be interspersed with artlhclai
lakes. woodlands, meadows and graceful
ly winding canals, the latter not only
planned for picturesque effect, but also as
means Of communication between the
different buildings anda source OF materlai
for filling the lOw-grOunds, greatly ecQno.
mlzing the expenditure required tor thst
purpose. One portion of the landscape
will be designed 10 illustrate with geometIl-
cal figures the classical and another the
romantic The buildings will be IN keep
ing with the surrounding landscape, VIII
be light and graceful in form, and as gay
in appearance as color and bunting can
make them, iron, glass, and stucco DelnB
used largely in their construction. Inc
buildings will be designed TO use regular
sizes of structural material IN order that
the construction may be fastened and the
material may be sold 10 advantage when
the buildings are torn down.
The general plan contemplates a noor-
space one third greater than that OF the
Paris Exposition, but the increased space
will not be equally distributed. 1t lsthe IN
tentiOn, for instance, 70 givet twice the space
to Machinery Hall and a much greater
space 70 buildings for electical devices ana
agriculture; but Horticultural Hall will be
restricted to the same space as allotted at
the Paris Exposition. The stOck-yards men
and the women's board have succeeded IN
securing space for their structures III the
territory allotted to the main group. The
other minor buildings viii not be permit
ted 10 intrude on this reserve.
The plans of the board have progressed
so far toward definite form and the mem
bers OF the board are in such perfect accord
that il is now confidently expected the
work of construction Will be pushed for
ward very rapidly. The only cloud on the
horizon of the management Is the feeling
in certain quarters that Director-General
Davis should be given a broader sphere OF
action. The local board still retains largely
the power of control and appointment,
but it is confidently believed that all fric-
ton that may have arisen from this source
will be dispelled as the work progresses.
It is even limited in authoritative circles
that the action of Congressman Chandler, 8
committee is thoroughly in accord with
the wishes Of the local board as they re-
gard the functions of the national board as
being merely supervisory.