Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-24
TO BE MAGNIFICENT.
THE SPLENDID WORLDS FAIR BUILD
lNoS AT CHICAGO.
To visitor, the Columbia Expeditions su-
uerb Grounds and Great, Imposing
Structures VIII Present Spec
tacIc OF Surprising Beauty.

buildings ana SERIES VI Ou'o VA
showing the elevation Of the several struc-
tures and their ground-plans will soon be
issued. without waiting for these, how
ever, a general idea can be given.
CHICAGO SIGHT IN ITSELF.
The first sightseeing which visitors 70
Chicago in 1888 will do will be, OF course,
of the city itself-of its great vide, busy
thoroughfares and ITS magnihcent puiid,
ings, ten, fourteen, and even eighteen ahu
twenty stories high. To see TINS great
tLrobbinp commercial heart OF America.
this marvellous young giant among the
chief cities OF the world, even though
he does not spend the time necessary
to inspect it thoroughly, Will alone am
ply repay the visitor for gong. But q
second surprise will await him when ne
catches his first glimpse of Jackson and
Washington Parks and the magnificent ar
raw presented by the Exposition buildings.
BEAUTIFUL as was the site-the Champs de
Mars-and its approaches, and captivating
to the admiration as were the graceiul ana
imposing edifces at the Paris Exposltions
of 1878 and 1889, it is believed that they
will be surpassed by those OF the Colutn-
bian Exposition. The chicago slte y Iour
times as large and has frontage OF two
miles on Lake Michigan. the second largest
body of fresh water on the globe. Inc
buildings will cover twice the area and cost
twice as much as did those at Paris IN 1883.
Alone they will cost nearly so per cent.
more than the total expense attending the
Paris Fair. The best architects IN this
country have prepared the plans for the
several buildings, and the structures they
have designed will exhibit the highest
achievements OF American architecture.
MAGNIFICENT SITE.
More than $4,000 900, exclusive of the
cost of the land, has been spent on Jack
son and Washington Parks in laying them
out and identifying them. Another NIL
hon will be spent in improving the former.
which will be the chief location OF the Ex-
position. Additional lawns, terraces, flow;
er-beds, rustic-seats, walks. drives. and
fountains will be constructors; statuary
will be placed at conspicuous points; the
lagoon will be enlarged by, sinuous
branches; and the lake beach will be made
q charming resort for visitors.
BY THB WATER ROUTE.
The most delightful, probably, though
not the speediest, means by which the vlsl.
tor may reach the exposition grounds Will
be by steamboat on Lake Michigan. A ride
of six miles from the embarking point at
Il n
gilded domes of the fair buildings con-
stantly in sight. will take him there. When
abreast of the site grand spectacle of sur
passing magnitcence will be before him
the vast extent of the beautiful park the
windings of the lagoon; the superb array
of scores of great buildings, elegant and I'M
posing in their architecture and gay With
myriads of flags and streamers float
ing from their pinnacles and towers; and
towering above them all, the lofty Proctor
tower. In the northern portion of the
grounds he will see picturesque group of
buildings, perhaps forty or fifty of them,
constituting a veritable village of palaces.
Here, on hundred acres or more, beauti-
fully laid out, will stand the buildings of
foreign nations and of number Of the
States of the Union. surrounded by lawns,
walks, and beds of flowers and shrubbery.
How many of them there will be cannot be
stated vet. but il is certain that they will be
numerous and will vary greatly IN size and
style of architecture. They will be
ranged on wide, curv1ng avenues, will in
clude some of the most ornate, costly, and
palatial structures, and constitute perhaps
the most interesting portion of the entire
Exposition. In the western part ofyhe
group will stand the Illinois building,
400xl50 in slze, and costing S350.00 1t
in the centre and great porch facing
southwark. In this portion of the park, too,
will stand the Fine-Arts building, which
is TO be magnificent palace costing
half million. just south of the foreign
and State buildings NAV be observed a con-
siderable expanse of the lagoon, with inlet
TO the lake, and encompassing three islands.
On the largest one will stand the United
States fisheries building. 700 feet in length
and fanked at each end by curved arcade
connecting it with two round pavilions in
which will be aquaria and the tackle ex-
hibit. This building, designed by Henxy
Ives Cobb, of Chicago, will be in the Span
ish style and conspicuous because of
liberal use of color.
UNCLE SANS EXHIBIT.
A little further south. across an area of
the lagoon, Will be the United States Gov
eminent building, measuring 350x420 feet.
and having dome 100 feet in diameter and
$50 feet high. 1t will be constructed of
stone, iron, and glass. classic in style. cover
four acres. and cost S40O. 900. II will be
very complete exhibit from the several
Federal departments, etc.-war, treasury,
agriculture. interior, post-office, navy,
Smithsonian Institution and National
Museum. On the lake shore east of its
building. and in part in the intervening
space, the Government will have a gun
battery. q life-saving station complete with
apparatus, lighthouse. war balloons. and
a full-siZed model of a $1,000. 600 battleship
Of the first class. This will be constructed
on piling alongside pier, being thus sur
rounded by water and apparently moored
at wharf. The ship" will be built of
brick and coated with cement. It Will be
}43 feet long. 60 feet wide amidships,
and will have all the fittings and
apparatus that belong TO the most
approved war vessel. such as guns
Lurrets, torpedo tubes, torpedo nets
and booms, boats, anchors, military masts,
ETC., and tull complement Of seamen and
marines detailed from the Navy Depart
ment. The visitor arriving by steamboat
will pass very near and obtain an excellent
view of the shore portion of the Govern
nent exhibit. He will probably see also.
near by, Columbus fleet-s re-
as near as may be. of the one
With which the great discoverer sailed
rom Palos-and also Government reve-
lue cutter and one or two torpedo boats.
THE GREATEST OF ALL.
Steaming by the Government exhibits
he visitor will come abreast of the largest
of the Exposition-that of manu-
actures and liberal arts. 1t will measure
,700xS00 feet, with two interior courts and
It its centre a great dome $50 feet in diam
,ter. Surrounding it on all sides will be a
porch two stories in height. affording a de-
ightful promenade and view of the other
of the lagoon, alive with row.
boats, gondolas, and pleasure-craft pro-
'elled by electricity, and of the grounds
generally. This building, which Will be of
french renaissance. is designed by George
!, Post of New York
After passing this immense structure
which will be three times as large as the
argest building at the Paris Exposition.
,eing nearly 400 feet longer and twice as
vide, and covering more than thirtone'T
cres, the steamboat will drop alongside the
her. This, as designed by Augustus ST
iaudeus, of Paris, will be thing of beauty
nd asouree OF much enjoyment to visitors.
Two parallel piers will exend from the
hore about 400 feet where, taking ont
urves, they will partially enclose circnlar
larbor, from the centre of which Will rise |
n great pedestal, a commanding statue |
Il Columbus or of the republic. On the |
IN braclng portions of the piers will stand |
4 exquisite, isolated columns. renresent-
ng the A States. each one bearing over lie |
apltal the coat of arms of the State IL |
ymbolizes. Beyond the harbor, the north |
r main pier will extend out into the lake |
o total distance of 1900 feet. takino 1
here detection several hundred feet 10 /
be southwark. and haviugat its extremity. |
lslng IRON the water on a stone founda- !
ion, an immense Greek payilion ON faat /