Morning journal and courier., 1892-10-07
THE WORLDS FAIR.
A Prominent New Havener's Visit 10
tho Grounds and Buildings at

A Prominent New Havener's Visit 10
the Grounds and Buildings at
Chicago.
To the Editor Of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
A sojourn of few days in the Colum-
bian exposition city has given me the OPP
portunity of visiting the grounds and
buildings, now nearly ready for dedication
on the 21st of this month. The utmost
activity prevails, and the close of every
day shows a marked advance in putting
the finishing touches not only upon the
buildings but upon the grounds.
1t would be useless to attempt a descrip
ton, and it must suffice to write that the
record of expeditions for beauty of build
ings and grand architectural effects Is
broken. Nothing yet seen in Paris, Lon
don, Vienna or Philadelphia has equalled
the grouping and magnifcence of the
industrial palaces which have arisen in the
lakeside swamps of South Chicago. No
single Aladdin could have evoked 80 much
beauty from the sands and lsgoons. There
is bewildering vista of domes, minarets,
spires, arches, bridges and canals reaching
ouo w oA0 Nooe OAtoAoo VI eA0 Woo0Ao "a
Michigan. 1t is q great artistic creation,
admirably planned and executed.
Broad driveways are already occupied by
a constant stream of carriages filled with
visitors from far and near, and we may
conclude that vehicles are to be permitted
in the exposition. Before you reach the
entrance gates rival Jehus solicit your pat
ronage with the assurance that 1t is Ga four
mile drive" that you cannot possibly walk
| it and that they will point out and de-
scribe all the buildings.
There will be another innovation upon
| the record of expeditions; the buildings
| will be lighted and open during the even
ings. The electrical light has made this
possible.
| The transportation building seems es-
pecially favored with sculptured decors-
lions. On one side of the central entrance
a large bas-relief panel represents some OF
| the more primitive ways of carrying pas
sengers, among them being the bull-cart,
| the gin-rickshaw and the ass, while on the
other side the interior of modern palace
car is shown with full-si figures, and
the inevitable porters serving coffee. Al
the end of the building in line of life
size statues of distinguished railway en-
gineers the figure of William Vanderbilt
seems out of place.
1t is a new departure to have q specia
building for transportation. 1t was decid
ed upon about this time two years ago
when the classification was formed. T,
make a separate department of trsnsports
ton seemed to require a special building
and the matter was laid before Mr.. Jeffre,
of the directory. who promptly appreciated
and advised it. and this fine building is tn
result.
The mining building is a very fine struct
ure, with ample space and good light
Chief Skiff has already moved into hi
cure full representation of the minera
products of the globe. heard that littl
or nothing could be expected from Con
| necticut in this line of mining and miner
ais They tell me that Connecticut ha
"fallen down. in other words, will mot
in it." How is this, Mr.. COURIER? Hav
we not brass enough, at least in the Naugs
tuck valley, to make a good showing
Where is Mr. Pickering and the fossils q
the Portland quarries? According to ger
eral newspaper report large tracks ougt
to be interesting in Chicago.
The style aud decoration of the mimi
building is classic and Roman. I capne
admire the low relief figures of miners
they are without strength and spirit, an
do not compare well with the groups abor
the buildings for transportation and hort
= culture. There is All absence also of tt
: symbols of miners, the crossed picks an
hammers, known the world over, whic
!. should be prominent upon the facade, b,
I instead we see the caduceus of Merour
l.. upon the keystone of the grand arch.
In the midst of my unstinted praise
8 the buildings, generally, another criticisl
a may be permitted, and it is this: that IL
:, portals are too small. Although the arch
;: tects have given effective arches of graz
): proportions. the spaces are filed in, ar
:: ordinary plebeian shop doors swing 9
): hinges to check ingress and egress. Whe
g the surging millions sweep in and out
the buildings, they will wish the entranc
i had been made larger.
}. The women's building appears near
9 ready, but seeing the sign before me "On
+ ladies admitted" I did not go in. Th
J. seems rather exclusive, and the buildir
somewhat too large for it's purpose. as tn,
j. stated, but in time it will probably be op,
: to both women and men, as the Chicai
= university is, where, by the way, Pres
v dent Harper delivered his first lecture
q the university course on Sunday stternot
J. to large audience. Subject: "The Boz
Il of job" WILLIAM P. BLAKE.