Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-02-05
CURRENT AFFAIRS
The worlds Fair of 1898.

ineht OF work Accomplished up to
January. '9l---The Dedication Cere-
monies.
All American citizens feel an interest in
the World's Columbian exposition, which
is to open in Chicago on May !, 1893. and
the following information in regard to the
vast project, giving an idea Of its scope
and magnitude its present status and its
prospects will therefore furnish entertain
ing reading. The figures are brought up
to January !, ls92.
The great exposition is under the aus
pieces Of the United States government.
bu, its character will be international. and
besides the United States government. the
A. states and five territories of the Union.
nearly every foreign government will par
tcpate. Thirty-nine nations and "A colo
MES have thus far signifed their determi-
nation to be represented. the total amount
of their known appropriations being over
S4,0O0,OO0. With other nations We, to hear
from it is safe to say that s., 900 900 will
be low estimate Of the total appropria-
tions Of foreign nations. Nearly all Of
them will erect buildings, many of the
sites having already been selected
The United States government has APP
propriated thus far $500. 600, Of which
100000 was set apart for its building, and
$4,000. approximately. has been drawn
for the cost OF sessions OF the national
commission. boards Of managers. salaries
OF officers and employees, and large part
Of the remainder has been spent in pre-
pairing the government exhibit The Con-
gress now in session is expected to appro-
pirate large sum for future expenses. be-
sides about 500, 900 for awards, etc, and
possibly a sum for District Of Columbia
and Alaska exhibit and 5000, 900 in gen
eral aid OF the exposition
Twenty-six states and two territories
have thus far made appropriations for
their representation, amounting in all to
-, 69j, 600. In several of these states the
appropriations made are only preliminary
and will be- largely increased. and in others
additional sums are being voted by coun-
ties or raised by various means. The leg
islatures Of several states which have made
no provision for representation are now in
session or soon will be. Nearly all of the
states and territories are sure to get into
line this winter. for popular sentiment
among their people demands it. The az
gregate expenditure by the states and ter
ritores is expected to reach 5000, 600,
Nearly all will erect buildings, the data for
those already projected showing for the
most part two-story buildings. averaging
about 30 by - feet in dimensions and
ranging from $4,000 to 100000 in cost.
OF the great exposition buildings there
will be II, exclusive of annexes, halls. etc,
with a total area of 1j3.S acres. total
floor space Of 1897 acres and an estimat-
ed cost Of Ss.OOO,OOO. Beside these are
two United States government buildings
and one erected by the state OF Illinois
which will be classed among them. The
amount expended for buildings represents
less than half of the estimated expendi-
lures, over 100000 being devoted to
grading, improving water ways, erecting
bridges railways, water supply, steam
plants, electricity, sewerage, fuel, etc, etc.
In connection with the above statement
it is interesting to know something of the
resources of the exposition. The net re-
sources, from stock subscriptions, bonds,
interest, gate receipts, etc, carefully esti-
mated, are set at S23, $50, 900, about
s., 900, 900 in excess of the estimated nee
essary expenditure; but as the resources of
the gate receipts concessions and privi-
leges and salvage, amounting to 3,OOO,-
tfl u
the exposition and part of it not until its
close the actual resources are brought
down to about S1O,OOO,OOO. Since nearly
S17.OOOOOO must be expended before the
opening of the gates, the United States
government may be asked to aid by taking
a financial interest in it to the extent of
S5,000,OO0,
The actual erection of the exposition
buildings began in June, 1891. Now all
of them are being pushed rapidly towards
completion. Already several are under
roof About 1000 workmen are en-
ployed. Work proceeds day and night,
The women's building is farthest advanced,
being rooted and nearly completed outside.
Insurance is placed and increased on the
buildings as their construction proceeds.
During the exposition, it is estimated, not
less than S150,0OO,OO0 or S2O0,0 900 of
insurance will be carried on the buildings
and exhibits. In the erection of buildings
about G0,OO0,0OO feet of lumber and 5000
tons of steel and iron will be used. In
their adornment will be utilized nearly ~, =
600 pieces of ornamental "staff' work, of
which about one-third are already com
pleted.
For the water supply there will be two
plants with a total capacity of "a, OOO,OOO
gallons day.
Plans adopted for lighting the buildings
and grounds provide for 138,2lS electric
lamps, of which 6766 are to be arc lamps
of 1000 candle power each, and 131 ,452 in
candescent, Ii candle power each. The
electric lighting will cost something like
S1,5OO,OOO and will be 10 times as extern
sve as was employed at the Paris exposi-
ton.
Transportation to and from the exposi-
ton both for visitors and exhibits, will be
as perfect as it is possible to make it, both
in the matter of facilities and rates. Def
mite arrangements are yet to be perfected.
The present means of reaching the grounds
from all parts of Chicago will be so increas-
ed as to carry to and from the grounds
daily a maximum of 100000 persons.