The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-12-18
CORRESPONDENCE.
From the 4 AXE City.

To the Editor Of the Bdnner:-DEAR
SIR:-I have not been able to furnish you
and the readers of the BANNER any
news of the Worlds Fair and its pro-
gress, for some time, on account of my
health. OF late, l find as age creeps on,
become more feeble and tottering In
juries with which l became afflicted
while in the Rebellion, are not getting
any better after so long time after the
war, but are making me more olsen
abled. | feel that have not three-score
years longer TO stay here on earth.
find that the ''old soldiers" of the late
war are dropping by the way, one by
one, and in a few more years, the sons of
veterans will take the places of the scar
worn vets" When the hour shall come
that the last roll call on earth shall have
told that time with us on earth is no
more, we as veterans of the magnificent
Union army that put down gigantic re-
bellion, will have the consolation that
we fought and bled in a glorious cause.
That we defended the Stars and Stripes
frem ever trailed in the dust; and, also,
we saved one of the best governments on
earth from falling into the hands of
traitorous people. If there is any class
on earth that deserves honor, it is the in
dividual who left home, wife and chill
dren who were dear as life itself to him.
to defend the government from traitor
Gus hands. | shall never forget an an
swer | received from my father in Yer
mont, at the very commencement of the
war. | had begun to feel a little skitisb,
possibly that might be called upon to
go the way felt at that time, so / wrote
to him asking him if he had a hiding
place for me- Now, to think of the an
swer l received from my father was not
very consoling to me at that perilous
time. He said: 81 think if called upon,
shoulder your musket and do what is
YOUR duty to do when the proper time
comes" did. His father was in the
great revolution, when Gen. Washington
was commander of the little army of
brave boys which was the means of con-
quering the country that we are enjoy
ing to-day. He was a pensioner at the
little sum of eight dollars per month,
and he lived to the good old age of 9S. L
hope the meetings of the Grand Army
will be continued till there is not Cor
porars guard left to come together.
PROGRESS OF WORK AT THE PARK.
What has been constructed OF accom-
plished towards the Worlds Fair is more
than can tell in this short letter to the
BANNER at this time. Work on the
buildings at jackson Park has pro-
gressed steadily during the last few
weeks, as the weather has been most
wonderful for the time of year, clear
and very mild. We have had snow, but
the rays of the sun has melted it away,
and we are enjoying summer season of
weather. Work in the Landscape De-
partment is keeping 400 men busy. One
hundred men are working in front of the
Art Hall, making terraces and enlarging
the lake mot Lake Michigan), where the
water is turned in through the Golfer
dam. This lake will be twice the former
size it has been. As they have had
lake at this park, as in all other parks,
but are now improving the size. One
hundred men are planting trees and
bushes, and force in engaged down the
lake shore lines of the lagoons.
On the Agricultural and transporta
tion buildings there has been a mush-
roon-like growth. To detract from
greater progress, there has been a lack of
iron, Notwithstanding this, nearly all of
the slxty-four gallery trusses of the
transportation building have been put
up and the sheeting of the roof has been
carried along with the truss raising.
This work will be practically complete
in day or two. Three hundred and
thirty men are employed on the building.
The Agricultural building has now risen
high il the air. The work has largely
been the placing of the columns for the
walls and putting in the gallery girders.
The little Dairy building has begun to
assert itself, and will be finished long be-
fore the contracted time. The founda-
tions and joists are in and laying of the
floor is proceeding. The skylights in
the roof of the Woman's building VIII be
finished in day or two. The building
then will be inclosed. The work of put
ting on the exterior covering is in pro-
gress on all parts of the building. The
order has been issued to lath and plaster
this building at once, although it was
contemplated putting this work off till
spring.
The horticultural building is growing
rapidly after its long rest. The main
entrance is framed. The roof trusses are
going up between the dome ard the north
pavilion. The north pavilion is up
and the south pavilion is also up
to the second story. The iron work for
the dome is being put in place. A big
force of men are at work on the Mines
building, placing the exterior covering
on the south end and finishing the roof
on the same end. One hundred snd fifty
carpenters are finishing the corner domes
on the north end of the building.
The Government naval exhibits going
to be something wonderful and magnlh-
cent. The large area at jackson Park
has been reserved for the exhibit of the
United States Government. On this site
will be erected the Government bnild-
ing. With one exception every depart
ment will be represented in this build
ing, and the open space around it will be
utilized for military displays and other
purposes The exception referred to is
that of the Navy Department, which will
contain an altogether special and no yel
pavilion, in which exhibits connected
with this department will be collected.
This pavilion will take the form of a
line-of- battle-ship, and in fact will be
above the water-line full-siZed model
of the Indiana" Massachusetts," and
''Oregon," recently designed by the
Washington Navy Department. This
model will be built upon a submerged
platform on the lake, and will be 34S feet
long and 90 feet thee inces beam-in all
respects within and without, it will be
an exact reproduction, except as regards
materials, of the vessels now being built.
The site selected is little off shore, and
the vessel will be protected by "a break
water, 900 feet long, 80 feet wide and Il
feet above the water level. / will not
undertake in this short letter, as l have
already mentioned, to tell of small
amount of what is aud what has been ac-
complished in buildings, etc. At the