The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-05-01
THE TOUCH OF A BUTTON
To- Day II Starts the Machinery for
the Greatest Exposition
Ever Known.
But Those Who Want to See
It AL Will Have to Wait
Some Time.

Tho Exhibits Arc Not All in Plsoe ana IL
VIII Hs Some Time Before
1hoy Arc Ready.
CHICAGO. April 90. - When President
Cleveland presses the electric button, tho
signal for the formal opening OF the
Worlds Columbian exposition, tomorrow,
tho public will find tho fair still in
somewhat incomplete condition. but this
regrstful situation 10 due more to tardinesa
on the part of exhibitors than to any lack
Of zeal on the part of the management of
the exposition. Nearly every building con-
stsuoted by the exposition proper, in the
great white city, is practically completed,
and while confusion still reigns in most Of
the structures. IL is in tho matter of the in
stalation of exhibits and not delay which
can be attributed to any failure Of tho CON
struction department.. The great buildings
which constitute the vital conception
of the international exposition. and
which are monument TO the indomit-
able executive ability of Chief Burnham
and assistants. have been completed
for weeks and ready for the installation Of
exhibits. They are the manufactures and
liberal arts building machinery hall. elec-
trictty hall. the fisheries building, the art
building. the women's building the for
estry building. the mines and mining build.
ing, the horticultural, the agricultural, and
the transportation buildings. Tho admin
istration buildings are nearly all completed
or nearing completion and Midway plais-
ance shows dozens of Javanese, Turkish,
soudaness and other typical villages which
have sprung up like mushrooms In few
weeks or days.
On all earth to-day there ia probably no
buster community than that which 10 work.
ing at top speed in the manufacturer and
liberal arts building. Hundreds of trucks
rumbled through the streets and avenues of
this Thirty acre house To-day and thousands
with their hammers. For one
writer. or twenty, to describe the
details of the scene and the action in this,
the largest building ever constructed, is not
to be attempted. The building itself is
completed, and the work being done day
has TO do with the constr uction of the city
Of booths. houses and temples to hold the
displays. Reference to thu buildings in
progrsss in this big building may suggest
to those who have not been here. only little
affairs. but whom it is stated that the golden
eagle of Aust ALA IL perched on top Of
towers seventy feet in height. and when
it ID known q New York jeweiry tiim has
the noble American bird on top of
column 100 feet high. the subject will as
sumo proper view to the mind.
Gould Ajax but step within the portals Of
the magnificent temple of electricity at the
Worlds Columbian exposition. he would
scarcely have the audscity to defy modern
lightning, bridled as it is by science. The
electrical display far surpasses anything
the management of the great fair ever
hoped to secure. In this building 50 per
cent. Of the exhibits have BEEN received,
and according TO a statement prepared by
Supt. rrstt, 60 per cent. OF them have
been installed.
Less confusion reiRns in the arts gallery
than in any other of the buildings but this
is owing much to tho fact that the exhibits
are less cumbersome and more easily
handled than those in other buildings.
Some exhibits are in excellent shape.
notably those OF Great Britain and Ger
many. One trouble with the gallery of fine
arts is that the building itself is not yet
charge Of the exhibits said they would not
unpack their stuff until the roof had been
entirely finished. In the space allotted to
Austria the work is we'll along. OF the
American pictures. but few are on the
wall. Spain 10 in the worst shape. Italy
tion. while Holland 10 In fair way TO have
every thing in shape within week. France
| will take a fortnight to get matters in
| shape. The paintings az a rule are better
prepared for exhibition than the sculptu ..
However, despite the confusion in the
one
The mines and mining building IL simply
wilderness Of boxes unfinished booths
and unpacked exhibits. 1t will bs month
before the building 10 in proper order.
Throughout the entire building there 10 but
the farthest end of the earth. New South
Wales. The delay in this building is due
directly to the tardiness OF exhibitors, for
the building was finished completely over
eight months ago. Some boxes have been
uEpackcd but nothing has been done to-
other foreign countries are in any thing like
presentabls shape. Up IN the galleries mat
| tors ATE in no better shape. A large foroe
| OF men are ut work in this portion of the
| building and II 10 expected everything will
| be- in shape in about two weeks. Down on
| acres. a tremendous force of men are work
ing with desperate energy. but no force can
arrange the exhibits in the mines and min
ing building before June.
| On the island at the entrance north OF
| the lagoon ia the fisheries building. a model
of architectural beauty. The displsya in
| the main part are being rapidly placed in
position, aud include skeletons of M ammoth
| whales, bonts of sverv description from
| tho canoe hewn from n tree by Alaskan In
dians to tho trim sailing smack; vast cords
of dried fsh onught in Norway waters. and
| nah prepared in every conceivable manner.
| in the east wing are ten acquaria contain
| ing every form of fish and animal life pos
| sibls TO obtain. Iu the center OF the build
! inc workmen are constructing huge
| aquarium from which ar aes mounds OF
| iock. Here fresh water fish will live.
Around the court adjoining the rotunda
| glass aquaria are arranged for the reception
| Of al most any number of fish. Every va
riety OF fish from the half vegetable forma-
| tions found at the bottom OF the sea to the
| most active species may be seen. All ex-
hibits have not yet been received and many
in the building have not been unpacked.
The indications are 1t will require some
active wotk to arrange 1t in less than two
weeks.
With characteristic determination the
lady managers of the women'e building
have about completed the installation OF
their exhibit and the building and exhibit
will stand as = monument to the energy
and courage of the women OF the present
eta. Weeks of active endeavor have re-
suited in n ma ajority Of the exhibits being
placed and the building will be thrown
o, en- tomorrow to visitors after nppropri-
ate dedicatory exercises have been held.
Every article display sd 10 from the hand Of