Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-17
THE CHICAGO wIGwAM.

1t Will Be in Readiness by Tomorrow Even
ing for the Convention.
The condition Of the work on the demo cratic
wigwam in Chicago warrants the prediction
made by the building committee that the edifce
will be completely finished by Saturday even.
ing. Working men are busy all over the in
terror Of the ediice, which from the interior
looks like an oblong bowl Of yellow wood about
800 feet long by 200 broad, and in the central
space, from whence the eloquence Of next week
will go forth into space, now stands pony
steam engine straining at cables and jerking
long timbers up to the upper floors. Shifts Of
100 men are working day and night, arc lights
being provided for the hours of darkness, and
the damage done by Sundays cyclone il being
repaired SO rapidly that the building seems to
grow as one looks at it.
The entire change Of plan made necessary by
the substitution Of q wooden for canvass root
has naturally affected the appearance of the in
terror. Where before one great pole stood in
the center Of the wigwam holding up the roof
there will now be some hundred large pillars
made each of thick boards nailed together The
effect OF this will be that many Of the most de-
sirable seats before Mondays storm will now be
ensconsed behind wooden screens not even as
transparent as a theater hat With the excep-
ments are practically unchanged. The conven-
ton will face toward the west The delegates
will occupy platform in the middle of the hall
in the shape Of fat ellipsis about this rise tier
after tier Of seats already chaired and on Sec
ond story set further back and much more
acutely tilted climb the seats of the galleries.
When the new roof is on instead of the former
simple device Of lifting up the canvass to let in
fresh air there will be a long break in the roof
which will drop down over what might be called
the dress circle seats and rise again over the
delegates as though q long and deep channel
pivoted windows.
Mr.. Allen, the member who, through no fault
Of his own, has had SO much Of his work to do
over again, said: Everybody may feel abso-
lutely certain that the wigwam will be ready to
turn over to the committee on Saturday even
ing. am now working shifts of 100 men. To
morrow and until the end this number will be
increased to 30O."
"Do you consider the building safe?" was
asked.
Beyond all question:" replied Mr.. Alien.
''1t is as safe as the solid ground. The only
through a stampede, and that is dangerousAny-
where. We had one down in the park here a
while back, you must remember, and then
several people were crushed.
"The stairways, thirty feet wide, have been
arranged 30 as to be behind every 1000 seats,
uHu sAos suOuiu utuNcr the crOWQ WltQOut any
difficulty. Remember, too, that there are sepa-
rate stairways for the galleries and for this
floor. No, apprehend no danger whatever
at any rate, none for which the building will be
to blame. 1t has been made much stronger
than the specifications demand"
Col. Bright, the sergeant-at-arms, was found
examining the exterior of the building with
John s. Hopkins Of the local committee. The
outside of the wigwam is effective rather than
estheuc. 1t is an arrangement in yellow pine
in which absolutely nothing has been sacrificed
to ornament. II stands square against every
wind that blows like an exaggerated dry goods
box with stairways. II looks strong and it il
strong, and those long banks Of steps leading up
to 1t seem to clutch 1t and buttress it stoutly.
The front has a further front of scaffolding that
will be left there for the time being until the
decorations which are being rapidly prepared
are put in place. These are to be democratic
but non-partisan. They will consist chiefly OF
bunting, flowers, flags and streamers, With an
occasional picture and motto against the yellow
pine background. The legend National DEM
ocratic Convention will dominate in big black
letters the whole length Of the Michigan avenue
side.