The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-08-31

busy Scenes mt jackson Pnrk, tue site OF
tho Columbian Exposition.
From Chicago DiIpOirh.
1t takes fence six miles long to en-
close the Worlds Fair buildings. All
these structures are to be Of extraor-
binary Dimensions, but the largest Of
them, on which the foundation work
has just been commenced, will DO some
thing stupendous. 1t is the Hall Of
Manufactures and Liberal Arts. The
site OF this vast building is 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-
A similar scene is witnessed at the
othergreat buildings, on which further
progress has been made. Within the
enclosure the exposition site resembles
one vast workground, surrounded by
freight cars and lumber yards. Looking
out towards the lake, the breakwater.
the long pier and foundation Tor naval
exhibit present the appearance OF
mammoth dockyard.
Changed indeed, is Jackson Park,
and those who visited it three months
ago would not know it now. A worlds
workshop, employing an army of build
ers, environed on three sides by the
foliage and flowers OF the south parks,
and on the fourth by the infinite ex-
panse of the lake.
The exposition site has undergone
wonderful change since last spring.
Then it was soft, marshy ground
shelving in irregular stretches 10 the
water line. Now it is firm level,
smooth sandy surface upon clay sub
soil. A perfect and admirably i'm
proved building site. The hundreds OF
visitors who view the grounds cannot
Immediately appreciate the immense
difficulties that have been overcome and
the great labor involved in the earth
work accomplished on this lake shore
site. 1t is now level surface to the
line Of the lake, surface Of mile and
half in length and, at its southern ex-
trdinity, nearly mile in width. This
has been created, graded and leveled by
constantly employing small army OF
men and now, within tho six miles OF
fence thatsurrounds it, the work OF con-
structing the great buildings is being
pushed with ceaseless activity.
From the slight olninence already
known rs administration hill" which
the lofty administration building is
destined to effectively crown, the OBJ
server can even thus early gaina renlis-
tic sense Of the distinctive features and
general magnitude Of this stupendous
undertaking. At this point he is prac-
tically in the center OF the sites allotted
to the principal buildings and the sys-
ten OF terrace work which will sur
round them. He ls also in the center
of complex network OF railway track,
$4,000 feet OF it extending in every di-
rection and connected with the trunk
lines BY fifty switches, all Of them in
constant use. This system OF railway
is hid upon what, four months ngo,
was wild park land untouched by the
first improvement. The tracks are COW
cred with cars, loaded with lumber, iron
and every description of building ma
tcrials. These roll into the grounds I'M
ceasingly and are switched up to the
buildings to which the materials be.
long. Gangs OF men take hold with
will and as il by magic towering piles OF
material rise in every section of the
grounds. Mounted superintendent
ride from point to point urging things
forward. The word is rush" IN every
department and,branch OF construction.
Tie big buildings are beginning 10
rise. Already some OF tho principal
structures are not only in evidence, but
progress IL marked on them from day
10 dag. Looking northwest from the
administration building the visitor sees
the Womans' building, already so fur
advanced that 1t looms up imposingly
against its back ground of park trees,
Rising in the vista are the Electricity
and Mines and Mining buildings, on
which the foundations are already COM
pleted. Upon the sites OF the Horti-
cultural and transportation buildings
all preliminary work is completed, aud
hundreds Of tons OF material are alrea ly
to be placed In position.
Hundreds Of men are engaged on
every possible sort Of construction
work. Laying water mains, electric
light plant, modelling for the exterior
decorative work and developing land
scape effects around the ornamental
waters.
\ busy place. indeed, IS the EXPOSE
ton ground, and soon it will be rs busy
at night as by day, Tor the electric light