New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-07
RAPID WORK IN CHICAGO.
MR.. DEPEw TALKS ON THE WORLDS FAIR.
GREAT BUILDISGs-BUsINESs ACT1v-
fTY IN THE WEST.


The New-York Central and Hudson River Rail
road Company officials returned yesterday morning
from the annual inspection tour over the Wander
bilt system OF roads Chauncey VI. Depew was one
OF the party Mr.. Depew yesterday talked with a
Tribune reporter regarding the trip, which extended
westward as far Chicago The subject OF the
Worlds Fair naturally introduced, and Dir.
Depew, well his associates express surprise
at the almost incredible progress which las been
made in the work Of erecting the buildings, and
generally in preparing for the great exhibition This
Is what Mr.. Depew said
Mr.. Cornelius Vanderbilt, accompanied by the
officers Of the Vanderbilt lines between New York
and Chicago. left here Tuesday morning OF last
week at O'Clock, a tour Of inspection OF the
properties. This tour is always made in the fall
OF the year, but this year 1t became later because
Of Mr.. Vanderbilts absence in Europe, he having
only returned the last week in November. The
physical condition of the lines found to be bet
ter than ever before. The only trouble they have
is their inability TO take care OF the freight which
is offered and this Notwithstanding the fact that the
number of cars and the number OF locomotives have
been largely increased during the past year. How
ever, these conditions are common TO all the roads
both East and West. What might be called mp
ward and expansive movement by them in every
branch of trade which has been accelerated by the
phenomenal movement of food products from the
West 10 the seaboard is visible in the West than
1t is in the East The business activity which
always follows harvest and which is
being and has been protaby marketed is seen every
where In the Western States 1t is especially ap-
parent among car manufacturers and locomotive
builders and steel and iron industries
EXAMINING TUE EXPEDITION GROUNDS.
"Whle In Chicago we spent several hours making
personal and careful examination OF The present cond
ton of the Worlds Fair buildings and the prospects.
To say that we were all astonshed is to use very
mild word The country has no idea of the character
and extent OF the work already completed aud pro
jected believe that the space be covered Is three
times large that contained In the Paris Exposition
The work upon the lake front has already progressed
far enough to see what IL is 10 be. 1t Is dlhcpt 10
imagine anything effective than the entrance from
Lake Michigan On either side of the grand canal the
beach has been paved down 10 the waters edge and
on the surface above broad asphalt pavement viii
accommodate on the side innumerable booths and
cafes and summer gardens. while on the other side OF
the broad promenade will be the AXE
Instead of having competitive trials among differ
ent architects for plans of the various buildings the
most famous architects in the country have had build
ing assigned 10 each. The result Is that, upon the
broadest opportunity and upon the largest possible
scae each architect is working out the best ideas Of
s1s own particular school. The first sight that will
greet the visitor coming in from the lake through this
grand CANAL will be the Administration Building which
has been designed by Richard u. Hunt OF this city.
The central tower will be $50 feet high and the wings
will be structures in classic style The ma
chnery hail. the building FIR electrical appliances, the
building to illustrate the advance In and present con
dltion OF methods OF transportation, and the womens
building, already nearing completion The size of
structures great that nothing suggested Itself
that knew of with which 10 compare them. They
each Of them over quarter of a mile In length,
with proportfonate vdthrand height. .
avery fine architectural effects are produced by
the use OF a material called STAFF This is com
pound OF plaster Of Paris and cement, with strong
fibre running through it, which is poured into moulds
and hardened 1t is white and takes high polish and
finish. The weather produces no effect upon It, and
il Is claimed for il that It is durable than wood
The perfection Of the flower. or figure,
or architectural design, statue, which
it is intended to represent is wholly de-
pendent upon the perfection OF the m0ulds. This
material will all the buildings that the visitor
will see before him enormous structures with Doric,
Corinthtan and Ionic columns, presenting the best
results Of classic art as adapted to modern uses In
buildings, each one Of which is a large as almost
any half dozen OF the most famous ones OF antiquity
The impression will be that they constructed OF
Pentelican marble as this is the finish which this ma
terial best takes very good example Of what be
done is already visible in the Womens Building. This
is sort OF Greek temple, with fiat roof and statues
all around the cOrnicc Of the roof. The rieLe all
around is very deliberately carved, and the whole eX
terror exceedingly rich In the sculptured designs.
The plan is from the pencil of young lady in
Boston, whose design accepted from among sew
eral competitors. The idea in that building Is that
women's work in every deparm ent shall be housed
in the best possible structure gned also by women
This building has received the most ardent praise
and the most enthusiastic admiration among the achi
tecs who have been weeks in Chicago superntend
ing their own work.
A GREAT NATIONAL EXPOSITION.
at is impossible to spend q few hours on the
grounds without approaching the fact that the Fair
is a great National exhibition, and its projectors are
buiding IL upon National lines. No city and no state
could afford the expenditure venture upon WORKS OF
such magnitude. One million Of dollars month Is
being paid out right along in this work. The 80
900 subscribed by the state and by the citizens OF
Chicago is about exhausted. 1t Will require 5000
600 more to complete the buildings and grounds, ana
possibly s. 100000. After studying the matter very
carefully | came to the conclusion that the whole
country had a. much ut stake In the success oil thc IN
position as Chicago; that Chicago had done everything
which could be asked OF tile locality where the Fair
was put and that the Government should appropriate
an amount sufficient 10 complete the designs ana siau
in with the city and the citizens in any risks there
might he from commercial side in the investment
This Fair when the country thoroughly understands
the magnitude and estimates the splendm oil the pro
portons which been provided for it, Is going to
he t most phenomenal exhibition the world has seen
up TO this time
-Of course the moving sidewalk IS already erected
Yon step on aud carries You along at from three
IN six miles an hour and If you choose to walk with
il you make just that much more time, and you step
off Just when you please. All the other novelties Oh
I'm, same kind are in process Of erection
NETWORK II BEHIND OTHER STATES.
Each of the States of the Union has appropriated
from 100000 to 5000 600 fer the erection OF state
buildings none of which is yet begun, except New
York New-York has no appropriation and has
az vet made no demand for the large space
which has been assigned TO her. Other States
which expect to do still more than they have
already appropriated camorng for this New
York site which is one of the best on the grounds
Iut our state will be permitted TO hold her unique dis
til, ~ not beInr lin II until il has had oppor-