The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-23
THE WORK FOR THE YEAR..
President Palmer Shows What Has
Been Done in the Matter of the
Worlds Fair.
Women Taking Advantage of the
Opportunity to Show What
They Gan Do.
The Great Building which Will BE De-
voted to Manufactures One of the
Wonders of tho World.

CHICAGO, Sept. a0.-The recent session o
the National commission of the World
Columbian exposition practically completed
it's first year of existence. Though the com
mission was first assembled in June, 1890, i
WA not until its September meeting that
was really organized for the great work as
aiened to it. President Palmer. in his re
port, reviewed in q general way the worl
accomplished during tho year, from whicl
1t appeared that it had been marked BY
wisdom and patriotism. Many grave diff
cultiss have been s~urmounted, and the best
interests of the exposition have been sub
served to an extent exceeding the most san
euine expectations. The work accom-
pliahed, both by the commission and tn.
directory and its several departments, was
shown in detail by reports by Director Con
sral Davis, Secretary Dickinson, tho audit
ing committee, President Baker. the
grounds and building committee. otc.
A marked difference was peroeptible be-
tween the first and second meetings of the
board Of lady managers of the Worlds Co
lumbian commission. At the first there
was much confusion and uncertainty, grow
ing out Of tho insxperience Of the members
and the extreme vaeueness as to the rights,
duties and privileges of the board. All
this, however, was altered when it convened
again ten months later, on the second OF
September. The members of the board
now knew what they might do, what they
wanted to do. and how to set about it.
Much had been accomplished during the
time which had elapsed between the first
and second sessions. From the first dis
tinct delineation of the boards plans, n
most remarkable stimulus has been nppar-
emit in woman's work, in what have hitherto
been considered unusual lines. The oppor-
tunity afforded by the determination of the
board to have the woman's building de-
signed by \ woman, gave the first Impetus.
The next incentive to artistic effort among
women was the request for designs for an
official seal for the board. The board, hav-
ing decided to have a badge also, a circular
requesting competitive designs will shortly
be issued.
Thu most important art exhibition yet
invited from women. is for the statuary
upon the exterior of the woman's building.
Circulars stating details have already been
sent out. There are to be eight figures
above the roof line, and a relief compost
tion in the main %psdimonts. The space to
be filled by the latter is forty-two feet long,
and seven feet high, affording ample scope
for a beautiful symbolic design. 1t may be
mentioned in this connection, that a young
southern girl, Miss Enid Yandall, of Louis
Vile, Kentucky. is now engaged in model
ing the caryaties supporting the cornice of
the roof garded of the women's building.
just what the building shall contain has
been the subject Of much interest and some
uncertainty, and was sufficiently defined
l~~s~~ fhia snou1~r r. on$<ln aauarnI norDp%
ant points. There will be nc separate OK
hibit. A satisfactory conclusion has been
reached as to the general nature and ar
rangement of the contents of the woman's
building. although it is still undecided
whether or not the exhibit shall be COM
be a bureau of information, under the pat
ronage of the board OF lady managers.
Here visitors to the expositlon-esrecially
ladies travelling alone-can secure reliable
answers to questions; and here girls and
women as interpreters and guides will be
supplied.
In the main gallery, which is 200 feet long
and thirty feet wide, will be a special ex-
hibit of the most brilliant things
women have done. Precisely what these
will be, it is of course impossible now to
~foresee, since not only America, but the
the supply. In the smaller rooms on this
floor will be model home rooms, and dis
plays of a p~hilanthropio character. Model
kindergartens will be a conspicuous
feature. Another room will show the liter
airy work of women, beginning with the
tinkling madrigal of the dainty danes of
the oldsn times, following the thin thread
of romance on down to the valuable
treatises upon the exact sciences. produced
by the brainy women of to-day. There will
be in another room a wonderful collection
of quaint fabrics and rare old laces, fur
nishing the artists OF the world an oppor-
tunity to study the marvelously graceful
scrolls of the fifteenth century designs. A
model kitchen will give valuable, practical
illustrations OF the most scientific culinary
msthods and the newest appliances. In the
second story will be the large assembly hall,
which will be the scene of many meetings
of great Importance to women. Here will
also be a club room for women journalists.
h committee ana administration rooms
will form the wings of the third floor, the
roof garden occupying the center.
A change in the plans for the manufac-
lures building will give the exposition the
largest building in the world. under one
roof, and will add one of the greatest en-
cheering feats ever accomplished. The
manufactures building is l $50 feet long
and 38S feet high. The original plan was
to build around two open courts. On fig
uling carefully, however, the director gen
etal discovered that the building would
have too little floor room for exhibits. At
ter considerable negotiation with the arcbi-
tects, it was decided to put a roof on the
entire structure. 1t is hard to realize the
magnitude of this undertaking. 1t means
forty acres of ground under one roof, with
immense arches 150 feet high, the bases be-
ing 1913 feet apart. A continuation of such
arches afford an unbroken span 1.450 feet
long and nearly 400 wide. This will be ono
of the sights of the exposition, and arrange
ments will be made for It's complete enjoy
ment from balconies at either end of the
giant structure. Engineera and architects
here say this building will attract as much
attention among scientific men as did the
Eiffel tower at Paris, and they declare it
will really be much better entitled TO q
place among the wonders of the world. The
plans for the changes in the building are
drawn, and a bargain made with
the contractor, who was pushing tho work
on the old plans, The contract price for
the building before the alterations was
1881 ,255. The changes will add about
$4,000 TO the cost of the structure.
The Atlantic cable brings encouraging
intelligence Of tho increase of foreign in
in the Worlds fair. france, in par
is fully awake to the opportunity.
government will Rsk in n few days for
an appropriation of 200. 600 francs for the
display, and the artists of Paris are
willing to pay 100000 francs for a building,
they can secure the desired space.
The largest porcelain manufacturer of
Denmark has informed the exposition that
articles especially for exhibit at the Worlds
fa1Y a ra rnw in prNsaUa ~ ~ n y ,,f O. tr,r n -,