Morning journal and courier., 1892-03-29
COM M u kGA'EEONS.

Some Notes of What is Going on at
Jackson Park
To the Editor OF the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
l was in Chicago last week, and it was
lively one at Jackson Park, where the
Columbian Exposition is to be held. Rapid
progress was made in the Department of
Construction, owing to the favorable
weather.
From the southeast extremity of the
park, where modelers and sculptors are at
work on the great pieces of statuary which
will adorn the administration building, to
the most westerly point in Midway plais-
ance, where the newly erected fence
is not point where labor can be employed
which is not the scene of the utmost activ-
ity.
The most striking feature in the way of
visible progression on the buildings is the
dome of the administration building.
Already there is enough of the framework
in position to make it a landmark for
miles around. The combination of mas
siveness with graceful proportions in
this building becomes more startling as
the visitor approaches the work in
progress. Its title of the "gem of the
exposition" is fully accredited by all who
view its colossal lines at closer range.
Although covering a smaller area than
any of the otner buildings, it has fire.
quently been observed that the admins
tration building elicits more expressions
of approval and admiration than any other
building within the entire system.
During the past week 4, 175 men have
been employed on the grounds, according
to the official report of the superintendent
of construction.
Among the many interesting features of
the fair will be the marine exhibits. Yacht
construction is to be made a prominent
feature of this section. Foreign and home
builders will compete actively by showing
models of their swiftest yachts. The
America, winner of the queens cup; May
flower and Puritan, cup defenders, the
Volunteer and many others will be showed
in miniature. Flying sloops like the
Beatrix and Gloriana, noted pleasure
yachts, are also to be shown. Herreshoffs
catamaran, that made the astonishing rec
ord OF 81 miles an hour, will be shown by
model. Steamers of every description,
operated by electric and steam power,
aluminium boats and other craft will also
be shown in miniature. English vessel
ana yacnG men are expected TO take
prominent part in this section.
The program of marine display will not
be limited to the reproduction of previous
exhibits of similar character. 1t will
represent new and broader phases of col
lection. The model and rig of the old
frigate Constitution will be feature.
Nelson's flag ship, the Victory, will revive
the glories of Trafalgar. A caravel from
Spain, the exact copy of the Santa Maria,
in which Columbus made his first voyage,
and two of the anchors lost by the great
navigator in wreck off the coast of
San Salvador, will be shown. Supple
nenting these will be the canoes OF the
native traders of the West Indies, hewn
from single tree and propelled by twen-
ty-6ve stalwart paddlers. The shallop
OF 1892 will suggest the sailing craft of
John Smith when he penetrated the bays
and rivers of the wilderness now known
as Maryland and Virginia. Then will ap-
| pear in the natural order ketches and
brigantines, sloops and barks of the At
lantic coast to 17l4. Rats, barks, barges,
keelboats and broadhorns will indicate the
| clumsy expedients of inland river nsviga-
| ton in the early colonial times. Robert
| Fulton's first successful attempt will head
| an illustrious procession of steamboats, of
| the Hudson river and Long Island sound.
| The canal boats-mule power-of Penn
| sylvania and New York will vindicate the
safety of slow travel and the discovery
and use of steam as motor.
| The rose show at the fair will be the
greatest display of the kind in the world,
many of the varieties coming from the
royal gardens of Europe. Chief Thorpe
| intends to devote one acre on the wooded
island to roses. He will plant so, 1000
bushels on that acre. He has already been
| promised all the plants he needs, 81, 900
having already arrived. He has been in
formed that Alexander Dixon & Co., who
maintain the royal nurseries for Ireland,
have forwarded 800 of their rarest rose
bushes.
| Space will not permit of more to be said
at this time of what was seen and learned.
Volumes could be written npon this great,
magnificent exposition as it appears even
now. How few of us realize the magni-
tude of it's cost and preparation! The per-
son who lives and does not go to the
Worlds Columbian Exposition will miss
the only opportunity he or she will ever
have of seeing the world at it's best H.