Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-05-01
WoRLp's FAIR GROUNDS,
CHICAGO, May 80.

When President Cleveland presses
the electric button TO signal the
formal opening Of the Worlds Colum-
bian Exposition tomorrow the public
will find the fair still in a somewhat in
complete condition, but this regretful
situation is due more to tardiness Of
exhibitors than to any lack of zeal on the
part OF the management of the ExpOsi-
tion. Nearly every building construct
ed by the Exposition proper in the great
white city is practically completed and,
while general confusion still reigns in
most Of the structures, IL is In the mat
ter of the installation of exhibits and
not delay which can be attributed to
: any failure Of the construction depart
ment. Indeed to Chief Burnham and
President Higgenbotham must be given
most OF the credit for the phenomenal
labOrs which have converted a barren
park into an artistic city in the brief
space Of eighteen months.
The difficulties encountered have
been exceptional and harassing, the
most severe winter known for many
years 10 the building trades, coming
Just at time when favorable weather
seemed indispensable to the success Of
the international exposition. For
weeks IL was almost impossible to work
on the outside OF the Worlds Fair
structures and the wind did much dam
age TO the roofs of several OF these
architectural triumphs on more than
one occasion. In the brief respiteS az
fOrded by the weather from time TO time,
however. every resource Of capital and
executive ability was brought TO bear 10
hasten the work, and although the un-
favorable elements have waged almost
constant warfare, like revengeful be-
ings, up to the very hour of the open
ing day, the only effect has been to de-
lay the installation of exhibits and re-
tard the completion sof several struc-
lures which were rather the artistic
trimmings Of than a component part Of
the Fair.
The great buildings which constitute
the vital conception Of the exhibition
and which are monument to the in
domitable executive ability Of Chief
Burnham and assistants have been
ready for weeks. They are the Manu-
facturers and Liberal Arts building,
and Machinery Hall, Electricity Hall,
Fisheries building, Art building, Wo-
mems building, Forestry building,
Mines and Mining, Horticultural, Agri
cultural, Transportation building, Ad-
ministration building and the United
States Government building, Of the
score Of State buildings; nearly all are
completed or nearly so.
MANUFACTURERS AND LIBERAL ARTS.
On all the earth to-day there is
probably no buster community than
that which is worked at top speed in
the Manufacturing and Liberal Arts
building OF the Worlds Fair at jackson
Park. Itis teeming city under iron
and glass. Hundreds OF tracks are
rumbling through the avenues and
hundreds of men make the air ring
with hammers. The status OF affairs
In this building is that il
is 80 days this side Df the
condition it ought to be. For one writer,
or twenty, TO describe the details of
scene and action on this, the largest
building ever constructed, is not TO be
attempted. To I'll into this picture all
the minlutIe on these floors where 30O,-
600 peoGle might be seated and on
which then greatest army OF the earth
might be uAobilized, would be 10 count
the sands (that might fill a bushel
measure.
The building itself is completed. 1t
IS ready And1 the incompleteness is
within. The 81 ,l7OO, 900 il was estimated
to cost has been spent; the 3,O00,OO
feet OF lumber needed TO construct il is
in place: the 100000, 900 pounds of iron
has been put intb position; the corinth-
ian pile stands la monument to genius
Of American Sdience and skill The
work to-day being done has TO do with
the construction OF the city booths,
houses aud TEMPLES TO hold the display
of the nationsl Of the earth. who are
here 10 view in Ms excellence Of inven-
ton, constructideRD lSISanship, manu-
facture and fine arts. cSlI spf T.
ing the week of preparing facllS Snbr
showing the boxed up goods nowN~G
forward under pressure and at leash
thirty DAYS would not be too much time
in which all this work might be well
done. The authorities appreciate the
situation, as evidenced by huge pla-
cards that were this morning tackled upl
in all parts of the manufacturers and
arts building. They have this allitera-i
tive heading In big black poster types:
s'Vim, Vigor, Victory" Then follows
an exhortation to haste Of preparation,
and at the close the words in big type:
"There is no such word as fail" Fol-i
lowing this is the announcement that
the building would be surrendered TO
sweepers and cleaners te-night.
THE ELECTRICITY BUILDING.
Could Ajax but step within the por-
tals Of the magnificent temple OF elee-
tricity at the Worlds Columbian Expo
sitlon he would scarcely have the au-
dacity 10 defy the modern lightning.
bridled as il is by science. It's wonder
ful force would certainly apall aby-
one but god, for within this build
are displayed machines and engines nd
contrivances marvellous for their p er
20 perform mans bidding. The eleNrl-
cal display far surpasses anything lhe
MANAGEMENT OF the great fair had evlr
hoped TO secure. There is In this pla&
of wonders everything in the way of
electric contrivance from Benjam