The herald., 1893-10-25
ABOUT THE MIDW|NTER FAIR
Progress Being Made in the
Preparation Work.
The Administration Building Now
Under Way.
Javanese at Work-Many People View
tho Buildings-Scenes and In
cidents at the
Park.

Forbidding-looking clouds and slight
sprinkle of rain at times during yester-
day afternoon, says Mondays San Fran
cisco Call, did not deter the thousands
OF visitors who focked to Golden Gate
park bent partly upon a mission of in
spection of the progress made upon the
midwinter fair buildings and to also en-
joy the many attractive features of the
park itself.
The natural focus OF all travel seemed
to be in the direction Of the big build
ings being erected for the fair. Upon
the grounds one lost sight of the fact
that it was Sunday. The busy workmen
in and about the various structures PROF.
ecuted their labors with the same energy
which has caused such a transforma-
tion in the appearance OF the site within
the past few weeks.
The manufactures and liberal arts
building, with its large timbers forming
the roof supports is assuming the ap-
pearance of a monstrous skeleton as
each piece in the great framework lie
fitted to its place. 1t is expected to have
dll tlcec IOOl buPDOIb bh up Wy tuio ONOA-
ing and a good portion of the gallery
floor and the outside walls will be in po-
sition By the end of the week. Con-
tractor Smiley said that the next 10
DAYS will make far more of showing
than has been made in the past, as ma
terial which hae been delayed is now
rapidly arriving and it is not thought
that further inconvenience OF this nature
will be encountered.
The ioists for the second floor of the
art building are now being placed in po-
sition, and the same timbers for the
yesterday. The truss lamber for the
roof of the latter is now on the ground,
and the roof will be put on this week.
Floor laying will also be commenced to-
day or tomorrow, and number of men
who were laid off ON account OF the de-
layed arrival of lumber are being put to
work again.
The fret work on the administration
building was done yesterday, when the
workmen began digging the trenches in
which the foundation for the walls will
be laid. The contractor said that they
chose Sunday to commence operations
in order to see what luck it would bring
them.
On the site of the proposed Javanese
village few native workmen were yes
terday engaged in framing the timbers
for the first OF their buildings. A curious
crowd watched the primitive methods
of the men employed, and one of the
little fellows who possessed rather
long beard was particularly an object of
interest. LUX at his whiskers % said
native Of st. Patrick's isle, who pos
sessed rich brogue, "the haythen thinks
Denny Kearney won't know i'm wild
dem tings on his face !"
On the mechanical arts building work
has reached that point where future
progress will not be as noticeable to the
eye. as in the past few weeks. The Frame
work is about all up, except the roof,
and the workmen will start the eleva-
ton of the trusses for that portion of the
structure today. 1t is expected to have
the building all inclosed by Saturday.
The floors are all laid and the main or
front entrance is about the only portion
of the outside of the building yet to be
completed, and this will be pretty we'll
advanced when the week closes.
People who have just come back from
Chicago bring even more encouraging
news of interest there manifested in the
midwinter exposition. For long time
there was an element of doubt as to
whether the exposition would be a "go."
There has recently been brought to the
notice of intending exhibitors series OF
pictures of the build dlngs in progress of
construction in Golden Gate park. These
pictures have carried conviction with
them, and the result has been scram-
BILE for space.
The question as to whether we are to
have the Dahomey village at Golden
Gate park during the midwinter exposi-
ton will be settled in few days. This
matter is one that has been lett in the
hands OF Director-Genersl de Young
while he is in Chicago. The managers
of the village are anxious to come, and
the exposition people want them. 1t is
only question of terms that is yet to
be settled. That these people would
prove great attraction there can be no
doubt. There has been nothing at Chi
csgo in the line of people from foreign
land who have been 30 much talked
about. The Chicago Record described
the dedication of the Dahomev village
as follows: 1.-THE people from Dahomey
were led by an Amazon of some 30 years.
standing, with Sullivan jaw and q
cannel-coal mplexion. Her costume
included nothing but calico skirt and
little brief authority. Some OF the
men yielded to the necessity of the oc-
caeion long genough to don red and yellow
tunics for the dance"
One of the famous pumpkins like
those concerning which go many big
stories have been told all over the world
about California has been raised this
year in Healdsburg. William Saunders
is authority for the statement that there
grew in the alluvial soil of that district
during the past summer pumpkin that
weighed 1173 pounds and that measured
IL feet 4 inches around the smallest
part. In seyering it from the vine it
required the use of cross-cut saw in
the hands of two men. Sonoma county
is great county for raising almost any
thing, butthis pumpkin would certainly
put her in the front rank.
Contractors are at work preparing the
foundation for the se ting of the Drake
cross, which will be erected on the sum
mic OF the hill to the north of Straw
berry hill. The cross, which will be
erected to commemorate the visit of Sir