The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1893-05-22
INCOMPETENCE AND LAzINESS.
Those Are CALIFORNIA; Exhibit
at the Chicago Fair.
A Most Bisgraceful State of Things
Known TO Exist.
Only One of the State Commissiopers, MT.
Phelan, Has Done Any Work Women
to DO Mems Work and PIowmen
to Mako Paper Flowers.


The HERALD OF Saturday contained a
statement of the wretched way in which
California's state exhibit at the Chicago
lair had been managed.
The San Francisco Examiner of the
same date has the following statement
OF the condition of things from its
worlds fair special correspondent:
CHICAGO, May l9.-Chicago's motto is
Il will" California's motto appears
to be, Il will wait"
The California building ia still not
ready, and though the work has been
going with rush the last few days
there is much to be done that ought to
have been done weeks ago. Some Of the
delay has been unavoidable, but much
has been caused by incompetence and
lazinese.
rne delay in the completion OF the
binding is the fault of the state commis-
eioners Several OF the gentlemen were
very anxious to get their places, but
eince their appointment they have me-
elected their work. Up to last week all
the burden OF looking after the building
was left to James Phelan. He has done
his best, and it is not his fault that be
has not had the training OF practical
superintendent OF building construc-
ton.
THE CoNTRAcToR's CHANCE.
After the main Du lding ontract was
let change was made in the plans that
gave the contractor chance to evade
his Obligations, OF which ne has taken
the fullest advantage. If the commits
eioners, instead of spending pubic
money, had been contracting Tor a
building in which to carry on their own
business they would have taken care not
to nave put themselves at the mercy of
a Chicago builder. Wien they found
that the roof could not be mede ready
they would have put on tin roof or
something else to keep out the rain
while the work was being done inside.
But the delay in the building is not
sufficient excuse for the present dis
graceful condition OF the dieplay. Four
weeks ago to day The roof WAS on, and
but for some few leaks was in good
order. Before that time many of the
exhibitors mad begun to get their goods
INTO p ace, yet to-day more than half OF
the pavilions are unfinished and more
titan hall oi the packages ere unopened.
All the people in charge OF the exhibits
have excuses to offer, but most OF them
are bad. The root of the uole was
In the selection of idle or incompetent
persons to do the work.
BUTTE COUNTY NOT HALF FINISHED.
The Butte county exhibit is not half
finished. IL Is located under the north
west gallery, and is in charge OF b. II.
Allen. His excuse today WAS that the
ram mad delayed him, and that for some
time alter be was here the building was
ankle deep in mud. But his section is
under gallery and out of the way of
other people. Hs was working today
with his assistant FASTING strips OF gold
paper along the BORDERS of the boxes in
wnlcn seeds and grain are shown. A
box factory land Chicago is full OF tnem)
would do more work OF that kind in one
hour than Mr.. Allen could in & day yet
no doubt he wouid feel hurt if told that
he was Incompetent to do what he has
undertaken. Ali that Butte has to show
could be opened and put in place by
practiced hands in week. Yet four
weeks have passed and it is not yet
ready.
But il Butte has been slow, what shall
be said of San Francisco? The city'a
exhibit is big relief map, which may
be artistic, hut is not useful. 1t does
not give as much information as table
of the daily temperature, or a record of
| the city's manufactures. Today some
men began to dig foundation for the
map. Tue thing was bu 1t by an archi-
tect named bugbee in San Francisco,
and did not reach here till last week.
A man named Schiller, who has to set
! it up asked to be notified when the
map arrived, and was duly telegraphed.
A week later he put in an appearance.
and today commenced work. 1t will
take another day to dig out the founda-
ton and more time to set the map up.
! Doubtless Bugbee has some excuses, but
in real lie men have to pay for delays
! OF this kind.
Santa Clara, in charge of Colonel Nc
| Glincv, is ready after months work,
and Humboldt, in charge of Mrs. Her
rick, is fairly we'll advanced, but ought
to nave been finished week ago.
NOTHING READY.
In the vitlcultural exhibit, under
charge OF Mcneil, nothing is ready. Nc.
Neil has also control of the joint wine
exhibit OF 81 growers in the viticultural
department.. It contains about 400 bot
ties and is arranged on three sets OF
wooden stepe. For two weeks man
has been pottering around with these
bottles putting them up and taking
them down. His name is j. Z jenkins,
and he lie paid salary by the State
commission, and was given his place by
L. J. Rose. A ten-dollar-aweek porter
in any store would open, unpaper, wipe
and place in position the whole exhibit
in one day, and Jenkins has coiored
man to help him. 1t is funnier to watch
them waste time than to look at Kar
Hggenbacks performing monkeys
There have been no leaks in this build
ing and nothing to delay the show ex
cept lsziness. NcNeil's exhibit in the
California building is not started. HI
blames the commissioners and one o
them at least blsmes Mcneil. Perhaps
they both know what they are talking
about.
WORTHLESS ASSISTANTS.
The historical exhibit in the soutl
| - Me-