Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-03-05
WORLDS FAIR MATTERS,
Everybody Is HustIing and Everything
Is Moving.
Especial Correspondence

Is Moving.
Especial Correspondence
CHICAGO, Feb. 10.-'Everybody must
hustle and everything must be hustling.n
So said Thomas w. Palmer when he was
here a few days ago. When the rotund
and good natured ex-governor of Michigan,
ex-minister to Spain and president of the
national commission of the Worlds fair
says thing ne means it, and so it is that
his presence and vigorous utterances have
tended toward the exercise of increased
vim and energy through all the depart
ments.
Down on the Lake Front, and almost
under the shadow of the big Auditorium,
the initial structure that is intended for
the headquarters of the bureau of con-
struction is nearly under roof, and will be
ready for occupancy in few weeks. The
department of promotion and publicity
has doubled its staff, and the board of lady
managers has issued its call for plans for
the women's building, to cost in the neigh
borhood of a couple of hundred thousand
dollars, with the proviso that none but
those prepared by women architects will
be considered. The board of control of the
government exhibit has selected its site,
and work on Uncle Sans distinct portion
blast. Fifty thousand copies of the CLASH
fication and rules for exhibitors have been
turned out of the government Office and
are now being scattered throughout the
country where they will do most good and
afford the most information Four times
rs many will be Forthcoming as fast as
they are needed. Chiefs have been ap-
pointed for several departments, including
that of fish and fisheries, and altogether
Gen. Palmer cannot ask for very much
more "hustling" than is being manifested
from the Office of the director general to
those of the minor officials at the present
time
Five months hence, or not later than
June Is, the grounds in Jackson park
must be ready for the building contract
ors. This is but short time in which to
do the tremendous amount of clearing, ex-
cavatlng and filling that is necessary, but
the contractors are under heavy bonds and
the ground will be surrendered on time,
even if it is necessary to keep both day and
night forces of men at work. The first
thing to be done-or rather the first thing
that is now being done-is the removal of
all trees, shrubs and other distractions to
excavation before any digging can be done,
and all this material must either be burned
or removed from the area. Then all the
surfaces to be covered by buildings are to
be graded to height of four and half
feet above city datum, while the surfaces
intended for open spaces must be one foot
higher. When the work of excavation is
entered upon fully one thousand men and
as many teams will find employment in
throwing up the earth and carting it away
to the low levels and bitches that are to be
filled up. With the ground thus in order
there is no reason why the erection of the
main buildings, the Illinois state building
and the Women'S structure should not
have been commenced by the next ami
versary of Americas independence.
1t will not be necessary for visitors to the
exposition to do very much walking out
side of the structures. Plans for an intra-
mural railroad have been made, and, to-
gether with the route, have been approved
by every one of the ten members of the
board of architects. The route will wind
in and out between the great buildings,
landing passengers at their very doors. 1t
is not unlikely, moreover, that the railway
will be connected w&h the elevated road
now in course OF construction on the South
Side of the city, and in this event visitors
may be able to leave the center of the city,
make a tour of the park, see the exteriors
of all structures and return without hav-
ing to leave the car. Each of the ten mem
bers of the board-five in Chicago and five
in the east-have received the ground plats
and adjustments of the buildings, and are
now assumed to be hard at work on their
respective designs. 1t has been left for
the five eastern architects to conformity de-
sign the main group of buildings at Jack
son park.
Architect r. NJ. Hunt has prepared the
ontline plan for each of the buildings
which constitute the group, and from his
general suggestions the other architects
will work out their plans. The music hall,
the mining, horticultural and agricultural
buildings and the live stock structure will
be designed by the Chicago architects.
The leather interests have been consider
ably worked up over a report that the
plans as outlined left them out in the
cold, and headquarters have been deluged
with inquiries growing out of the rumor.
1t is hardly necessary to say that it is er-
roneous. The leather men will have a
building. and a big one at that. 1t will be
located Immediately north ofthe main
building and will cost a round $1,000
Mrs. President Potter Palmer will very
shortly realize that her position is no sim
ecure. According to the decision of Secre-
tary Blaine she is authorized to personally
appoint all the women ENJOYS that are to
be sent to the Latin-American countries,
and it is probable that she will be also en-
powered to name all the women to be sent
to Europe, although decision on this lat
ter point has yet to be rendered. The very
announcement that she will have these
plums at her disposal will naturally bring
RI har. RI alI1cr of Af a
fairer sex, all anxious and willing to tenn
porarily leave their country for their coun-
try's good. Possibly she will find it neces-
sary out of the abundance of good ma
terial, to make her choice by lot Or ballot.
Mrs. Palmer and Secretary Couzins are in
daily conference designing schemes and
plans for interesting women all over the
country aud abroad in the work they have
before them. The next move on the car
pet is to organize each state by counties,
and then by townships. Indiana will prob
ably have the honor of inaugurating this
movement, as the idea originated in the
fertile brain Of Mrs. Virginia G. Meredith,
the lady manager for that state.
The committee on ceremonies has made
considerable progress, although the general
ideas that it has formulated will be kept
under lock and key for some time to come.
Its members have not been pushed to the
wall for want of advice and suggestions,
for letters by the bushel, containing all
sorts of ideas and schemes, have poured in
from every part Of the country, as well as
from Canada, and even from England,
France and Germany. Not few of the
writers, judging from the products of their
Imagination, are cranks of the first order.
The members of the committee, however,