Connecticut western news., 1893-02-09
IMMENSE BUILDINGS.
Extracts from a Letter Written by
 Mir Edwin F. Merwin, of Waterloo,

Extracts from a Letter Written by
 Mir Edwin F. Merwin, of Waterloo,
 Iowa.
 On my way home from Falls Village, Conn, to Waterloo. Iowa, I spent one day and half in Chicago, and I feel that the time was profitably spent. l went first to the Worlds Fair grounds. cannot explain to you, the wonders that I saw. The buildings are mar vel, and must be seen to be appreciated. The Woman's building is very fine. No time or expense has been spared in the cons truction.
 saw and went through the largest building ever constructed. It has about 31 acres in its grou nd floor. Including galleries, it has A acres of floor room. There are seven million feet of lumber in the foors; seventeen million feet of lumber in the construction of the build ing, and still there is great deal of iron, steel, and glass used in its con- struction. There are, If l rightly re- member,) twcnty-two steel arches, W hich are over two hundred feet high' so arranged, bolted together, that they can be taken down at the close of the Exposition. These are sold to R. R. Go. and will be used in the construc- tion of massive depot. There are eleven acres of glass in the roof of the building, making q think forty car loads. It is estimated that this massive building will consume 1700 acres of average Michigan pine lumber.
 The Horticultural building contains many fine tropical trees and plants. and, although the weather was frigid, the atmosphere in the building was decid- edly torrid. In the inclosure was a miniature mountain covered with tropi- cal ferns and plants.
 The statuary manufactured on the grounds, some of massive proportions, is very fine indeed. Time will not al- low me to particularize, so much was to be seen.
 The Transportation building will in clude everything from a baby wagon to mogul engine, and from cash-carrier to balloon.
 After leaving the grounds I visited some of the important buildings iu the oity proper. Went to the top of the Masonic Temple, 21 stories in all, 19 by elevator and by stairs, where we could Went into and through old Board of Trade. and new Board of Trade build lngs; through the Rookery which is block of offices constructed with an open court in the center so that the in- side offices have equally good light as the outside offices, and all seemed to be occupied An elevator ran to the top, and we had but to step in to be carried to the upper floor, where. as we looked down to the lower story it looked like frightful leap
 We went into the massive dry goods store of Marshall Field & Go. the largest general store, 1.-The Fair.
 We also went through what is said to be the largest store in the world. own ed by Seigel, Cooper & Go. with floor space of 15 acres, occupying 5 floors reached by elevators, where you can buy anything one wishes to call for, pair of socks or stock of dry goods, pound of saleratus or stock of grocer ies, a paper of tooth-picks or a set of furniture, all represented under one roof, anything you call for. groceries. dry goods, fancy goods, carpenters tools. harnesses, have your measure taken and select suit or dress pattern and have them made up under the same admins tratlon; or you could step into niche and get shave, or into another and get good meal, and all moving so harmo- niously. It was great surprise to me l asked one of the employers if it would not be an impertinent question for me to enquire how many employees they had in that building? His reply was, 'now we have 3200, during the holidays 5000"
 Went into the Palmer House, It was very fine. Went into the great hotel, ''The Auditorium. This is a wonder. massive in proportions and magnificent in finish. It is ceiled and finished with the finest Mexican onyx, it's ceilings and it's towering columns. and it's paved floors making it beyond description. One does not have to possess very imaginative mind to have his thoughts recur to the great City which St John describes in his book of Revelations.
 ArchdeacOnrY Meeting.