The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-08-30
THE CHICAGO FAIR.
Commissioner Smith of New
Jersey Tells of the Work
at Jackson Park.
HUsTLING lA THE WINDY CITY
an Effort to Put This State Between
New York and Pennsylvania.
Special to the s.snda j Morning Near,

Special to the Srnda Morning Nescs.
CHICAGO, Aug. 20, 1851 Mr.. Thomas
Smith. one of New Jerseys Chicago Fair
Commissioners, now in this city, says of
the Ghicago enterprise
To-day the grounds lie in state Of
perfect preparation. ready for the build
ing Of the giant structures of the EXPOSE
tion, and furnishing the grsadest site for
such an enterprise that the world ever
saw. Behind it semi-circses the verdure
and bloom Of the South Park and before
it stretches the most beautiful of the
great lakes, An unpoetic but necessary
close board fence, twelve feet high and
six miles long. now encIoses the land
side OF the grounds, and Gordon OF police
has been detailed Co enforce order among
the army Of laborers and TO keep out idle
sightseers who are unprovided with
passes
Inside is scene Of industry worth
seeing. A complex network Of railway
track extends IN every direction. $1,000
feet OF trunk lines, with fifty switches all
IN constant use Two temporary lift
bridges for railroad use. and wagon
pIiage nave been built across the iaEoons
at convenient points, The cars are laden
with lumber ana with building material
OF every possible description, and huge
piles OF the same tower upon every side.
Loaded trains run INCREASINGLY into the
grounds, and mounted superintendent
ride from point to point. urging on the
army OF workers Of whom they are IN
command.
There is something in the scene to stir
the blood. It brings realizaf Of the
sIupendous character of this gralsss inter-
national enterprise. The highest Ioca-
ton Of the site is the spot upon which the
Administration building viii stand, aud
1t IS already known as Administration
Hill. From it IS obtainable the best view,
and the most comprehensive impression
OF the magnitude OF the entire plan Of the
Exposition Looking northward from
the hill the Woman's building can be
seen, already ia SO advanced a stage Of
construction that it towers against the
background Of park trees
Other great buildings also are rising.
the Electric and the Mines and Mining
being fully under way. Their foundations
are completed and the superstructure SO
well begun that the rapid progress from
day 10 day is marked Upon the sites of
the horticultural and TRANSPORTATION
buildings the preliminary work is COM
peted, and hundreds OF tons OF material
are ready 10 be placed In position. One
million five hundred Thousand feet OF
timber have been delivered for the Elec-
trical building Particular efforts are
being made TO rush this bnllding and to
get IN a sufficient electric plant in order
tnat the work may go on by night as we'll
as by day. This, however. is merely a
precautionary measure, as there is abnnd-
ance Of time for the coUpietioR OF the
buildings by ordinary methods. In adj
dltion to those already named contracts
have been let for the Agricultural. Manu-
features and Liberal Arts, Machinery
Hall Casino and Fina hrri fFsoa fra-
main to be contracted for.
The breakwater around the Govern
ment naval exhibit is nearly finished. and
two-thirds of the piles for the imitation
battle ship have been driven. The break
water for the main pier has been con-
structed, and 1873 cords of stone have been
placed in position. Landscape gardeners
have taken hold of the grounds foot by
foot as the disturbed soil was restored to
the desired condition, the wooded island
at the present writing furnishing the
most satisfactory results of their efforts
There Is a planting nursery and on Mid
way Piaisance greenhouses have been
provided for the propagation and protec-
ton OF such plants as need housing
"A fire engine house was begun last
week. as was also WORK upon the Admin
istration building. Temporary electrical
lighting of the ground has been arranged
for, aud will be at once begun Hun
AAOAc VI AAtOa DIT C1SAkcl III GfCIE C0Ll-
ceivable kind of construction work upon
the temporary electrical plant. laying
water mains; nearly a hundred carpen-
ters hammering and saving upon the
second story of the Woman's Building,
scores skilled in such artistic work model
ling decorations in s.sraff.1 much of it in
faith sul allegoricai designs for the ex-
terror of the grand buildings Others IRE
handling the giant stones of the pier.
The mounted inspectors perpetuaily gal-
lopto and fro. and the site Of the Worlds
Columbian Exposition is q spectacle to
I'LL one with wonder and awe.
II also had q long talk with Director
General Davis in reference TO changing
the location for the site intended for our
New Jersey building, although on visit
ing the grounds one can see that the
space allotted to us is fine in many par
ticulars. Mr- Meeker, ch2irman of the
New Jersey Commission. would like TO
have the site changed. so as to be between
New York and Pennsylvania. and l will
try to get IL go arranged"