The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1891-09-05
BUILDING THE FAIR.


1t takes fence six miles long to enclose
the Worlds Columbian Fair building. All
these structures are to be OF extraordinary
dimensions, but the largest of them, on
which the foundation work has Just been
commenced, will be something stupendous
1t is a hall of manufactures and liberal
arts. The site for this grand building is a
broad, highly situated plateau overlooking
the lake. A railroad track runs through
its center, and on each side rise tremendous
piles of lumber, iron and all sorts of con-
struction material.
A similar scene is witnessed at The other
great buildings, on which further progress
has been made. Within the enclosure the
exposition site resembles one vast work
ground, surrounded by freight cars and
lumber yards Looking out towards the
lake, the breakwater, the long pier and
foundation for the naval exhibit present
the appearance of mamoth dockyard.
Changed, indeed, is Jackson Park, and
those who visited it three months ago
would not know it now. A worlds work
shop, employing an army of builders, en-
vii oned on three sides by the foliage and
flowers of the south parks, and ON the
fourth by the infinite expanse of the
lake.
The exposition site has undergone won
derful change since last spriLg. Then 1t
was q soft msrshy ground shelving in ir'
regular stretches to the water line. Now 1t
is firm level, smooth sandy surface upon
a clay subsoil. A perfect and admirably
improved building site. The hundreds OF
visitors who view the grounds cannot I'M
mediatelY appreciate the immense Difficult
ties that have been overcome and the great
labor involved In the earthwork accom-
plished on this lake shore site. It is now
level surface to the line Of the lake, sur
face mile and half In length and, ct Its
southern extremity, nearly mile 10 width:
This has been created, graded and leveled
by constantly employing small army OF
men and now, within the six miles OF ience
that surrounds 1t, the work OF constructing
the great buildings lie being pushed with
ceaseless activity.
as administration hill," which the ad
ministration building is destined TO
effectively crown, the obefver can ever
thus early gain realistic sense OF the dis:
tinctive features and general magnitude OF
this stupendous undertaking. At this
point be 10 practically in the center OF the
sites allotted to the principal buildings and
the system of terrace work which will sur
round them. He IL also In the center OF =
complex network of railway track, 6O,OOo
feet Of 1t extending In every direction and
connected with the trunk lines by nifty
switches, all of them In constant use. This
system of railway 10 laid upon what, iour
months ago, was wild park land untouched
by the first Improvement The tracks are
covered with cars, loaded with lumber, iron
and every description ofbuilding materials.
These roll into the grounds INCREASINGLY
and are switched up TO the building TO
which the materials belong. Gangs OF men
take hold with . win and as II by magic
towering piles Of material fise in every sec.
ton Of the grounds, M0unted tnperinten.
dents ride ffom point TO point urging things
partment and branch 81 construction, 4