Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-07-16
CHICAGO AND THE FAIR.
Some Interesting Facts About the City
and the Large Buildings.

Mrs. Nettie B. Bristow, of Middlesex.
who is in Chicago attending the World's
Far. has written the following interesting
letter TO a friend in Manchester, where as
Miss Brown she long resided:
The progress Of Chicago has been
amazing. 1 find that III 1890 the lnhabl-
tants numbered little more than 100000.
Now the figures run up TO 100000. Chi
cago river. with its branches, divides the
CITY into divisions north, south, ahd
west. Chicago III 1885 had an area OF 2. .55
square miles Now she has ls2, lake
frontage of 70 miles. and a river frontage
of 5S, 22l5 of which Is navlgable.
II Is believed that Lake Michigan at one
time covered almost all of Chicago's site.
The business part was once marsh. IL IS
said that beneath the marshy soil is blre
CLAW and underneath this Is quicksand.
Some leading engineer claims that Chicago
Il built on q crust less than 30 feet
thick and that the weight may cause o
collapse Water is reached at depth or
feet.
HOW THEY GIT FOUNDATIONS.
Foundations are generally made by
driving long piles in the soil or crossing
and recrossing II with steel rails. winch
are filled in with cement. 1his secures q
uniform pressure.
Now for the absorbing feature of
the place. The Worlds Fair, with its
spacious grounds and immense build
in0s to an inexperienced eye is q
marvel. The Manufactures and Fine
Arts Building is the largest exposition
building ever erected. The great central
hall is ,2sOx3S0 feet and the height of the
roof is 2i5 feet. The style OF architecture
"a Corinthian. The main entrance leads
through An opening "a feet into rotunda
100 feet IN diameter, the dome of which IS
GLASS 40 feet high This building covers
more than nine acres.
OTHER LARGE BUILDINGS.
The Agricultural Building is beautifully
situated. IL is near the lake shore and
almost surrounded by lagoons. On each
sIde OF the nam entrance are mammoth
Cor,nthian pillars 80 feet high. The
Horticultural Building is most attractive
structure Ii Is iOUX2S6 feet. IL contains
a central and two pavilions IN the end, con-
nected by curtains. These are oeautlully
decorated IN color and planted III orna-
mental shrubs and flowers, reminding one
az Runyaus Beulah's Land. The central
rav,lion has a crystal dome lS7 feet IN
dIamefer and ll3 feet high. Nothing
could exceed the beauty OF the Woman
binding, which IS Italian renaissance IN
style. In front tho lagoon IS all OF 4VO
feet wide.
The Government Building reminds one
much of the Government Building IN
Washington. L. is constructed OF iron,
brick. and glass. 1t has an octagonal dome
$50 feet high.
The Administration Building. attracts
the most attention. 1t is French renais-
sance and has a gilded dome. Tue hrsi
story Is in the Dorlc order, surrounded oY
a high balustrads. Here YOU enjoy seeing
souInture. The lagoon is the artificial
waterway of the Fair Grounds. There IS
a building on piles-lhe Cesine-mos'
beautiful in appearance. 1t contains nine
peyilions and is supposed TO imitate Venice:
II is communicated with by bridges and
eondolas. | must not forget q pier near
here extending 900 feet IN Lake Michl'
Gan, and 50 feet III width. J.
All the fair buildings are eoSeIeu ~
staff much, in the distance, resembling
marble.