Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-26

| too, when the stairs are completed. The
| day visited it the carpenters were at work
on the staircase, and the trifing omission of
landings between the flights made the ascent
| rather too much of an acrobatic feat to suit
an amateur. Still with friendly hoists and
hauls from the carpenters clambered up to
the top, and was rewarded with an excellent
view of the grounds as whole. 1t was
beautiful afternoon; the sky almost cloud
less; the lake purple and blue and green in
| streaks like mackerel's back, and blus-
tering wind from the land raising clouds of
sand, and ruffiing wave here and there
into white foam.
SURELY A SUPERB SITE.
Whatever the outcome of mans work,
nature has given the Exposition superb
site. The beauty of the water front can be
seen already; and in this feature, if In no
other, the Exposition will be unique. The
prominence of building nearly completed,
at the waters edge, tempted me to head for
the lake as soon as / had fallen, so to de-
scribe very rapid and not always voluntary
descent, from the tower Crossing q canal
by a, ,drawbridge, and following the winding
railroad tracks along the edge of what is to
be an ornamental basin of water, between
the building of agriculture and that of
manufactures and fine arts, reached the
three-story building which had observed
from the tower.
1t proved to be a temporary structure, de-
signed as hotel. for the men employed in
the creation of the Exposition. The men
who were roofing it with shingles were hav-
ing hard time of it, thanks to the head
strong humor of the wind. The wind blew
about every other shingle, as soon as it left
the workman's hands for second, into the
lake. AT times it looked as if the men
were likely to follow the shingles. But
probably they were Chicago men, and ac-
customed TO Glowing" Immediately
in front of the temporary hotel pier ex-
tends out from the promenade into the lake
over 1 900 feet, and then forms a T at the
furthest point from shore, with arms several
hundred feet each in length. As yet the
basis only for this pier. heavy rocks packed
in wooden cribs resting on piles, has been
laid, but you can readily see what an at
tractive part of the Exposition this will be
upon the completion of the Casino, which is
to be highly ornate building, or rather
series of buildings, connected with the
upper arm of the pier. The pier and Casino
was enjoying lunch on the shady side of
a pile Of lumber grew enthusiastic as he
described for me the plan of the pier and
the Casino. Said he: "The pier will be so
feet wide and as solid as the boulevard and
promenade that you see has been built |
along the water front already for over half |
mile. The Casino will consist of nine
buildings in the Venetian style, with a
central tower 1s0 feet high. The pavilions
will be connected with each other by
bridges arched after the pattern of the |
Bridge of Sighs, and these with the |
canals which will flow between the |
buildings, will doubtless give us something |
like Venice. The pavilions are to be col |
ored to match the style, that is, brightly, |
and electric lights will be used to make the |
place even more beautiful by night"
AN IMAGINATIVE PICTURE.
He was very bright American, car
penter, think, by trade, who told me this |
and good deal more about the work in |
hand. In the sun-lit water, ever changing
from blue to green, and from green to pur-
pie, l could see without much effort of |
Imagination the yellow and red, and gaudy |
rooted Venetian palace rise and stretch its
proud campanile toward the blazing sky.
Then the gondolas flew out from the shore
and the noise of music and laughter came
across the little harbor.
"Won't you take a drink?"-it was my
enchanter's hearty voice, as he handed me
dipper filled with unsophisticated water,
bucket of which was at his feet, and came
down to earth. But the place is there, and
the possibilities are in fair way to become
facts, so you may fairly count upon a sur
prise and a treat in the pier and Casino.
What view there will be from that central
tower, 1S0 feet high.
From the pier to the northern limits of
the Exposition grounds the shore is pro-
tected and beautified at once by a break
water and artificial beach about so feet in
width composed Of granite blocks, rising
from the waters edge in gentle curve, as
if it were sand scooped out by the action of
the waves. to walk II feet wide of con-
crete or artificial stone-as took it TO be,
on the land side of which is a driveway also,
30 feet wide. This breakwater and prom
enade will be extended the full length, IL
miles, of the water front.
On Monday will endeavor to give the
readers of THE DISPATCH some idea of the
financial status of the Exposition, together
with some additional facts as to the ply
'ical advancement of the work.
HEPBURN JOHNS