New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-27
PROGRESS AT THE FAIR.
THE WORK OF PREPARATION GOING on IN
ALL DIRECTIONS.
xEvELLING THE GRoUNDs-THE GRAND STAND
ALMOST COMPLETED-TESTING THE MUSIC
HALL-TIiE PERISTYLE AND
ITS STATUE.
Iron 4 STAFF COMPASSIONATE OF rue TRIBUNE

HALL-THE PERlSTYLE AND
ITS STATUES
[1RoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUNE
Chicago. April 24.-One of the first duties 70
which the outdoor working force at the EAp"'l'
ton grounds was assigned this morning was u'"'
Of shovelling mud. The scrapers were s"' Ill
motion early, and by the middle of the afternoon
the roadways were lined with Little leaps which
looked like mortar beds. and which were col
lected into carts and wagons and hauled away
10 other portions Of the grounds where the ma
terial was capable Of being applied nSe'uilv IN
grading I'D hollow spots in filling in landing
places on the edges of the la2oons. etc There
were so grading teams, 20 hauling teams. 50"
men and 5 crushers moving around the grounds
About 100000 square yards of macadam have
been laid already. and 10000 yards remain To
be laid The force now employed in ills SER
vice can accomplish their task at the rate OF
5000 square yards day. which will snbStan-
tally finish the work during the present week.
but they must labor through storm and Sunshine
In order to do it, and the rain j. falling heavily
again this evening. with little Tat is promoting
or encouraging in the predictions Of the Weather
Bureau. 1t appears to be understood that ONLY
official vehicles will be permitted 10 traverse
these roadways after the Exposition Is fairly
started. If this ru,, shall be carried oGt, these
avenues, once completed. will he comparatively
free from dust. fact which will add materially
to the comfort of the visitors strolling over the
grounds.
Work is advancing rapidly on the grand stand,
and by Wednesday it will be ready for the d'c-
orators to arrange it in the dress II Is designed
to wear during the ceremonial period THIS
duty will be under the guiding hand OF Frank
d. Millet, director of decorations. The design,
IL ba elect.
fully developed. viii be impressive Plants ana
flowers will be supplied in great abundance BIZ
the Horticultural Department.
Much progress was made to-day in laying the
brick pavement upon the immense plaza "l inc
peristylc and if the rain does not contnu" 10 iah
too heavily during the night, forty-eisht nouns
more will see this work accomplished. las' week
nothing could be done in this locality in fact
much that had already been done was undone ny
the rush of water during the storm from the
lake. causing overflows and washoutS III sev'Fa
places The pcrstylc connects the Casino ana
the Music Hall at the eastern end of the BASIN
The structure is 500 feet long, 60 feet wide ara
GO feet high In its centre is the great arch
which forms portal from the lake to the grand
central court Above the arch is group OF
statuary The perstyle has fortyeight columns
representing the several States and Territories
and upon each of these will stand piece OF
statuary. These figures Ae all ready ana ranged
on the ground along the front, overlooking the
court, beneath the locations on the roof when
they are intended TO occupy, but the work on
elevating the pieces TO their respective positions
has not yet begun. The same is true of the
figures which are to adorn the roof of the Casino
and Of the Music Hall.
The interior of these last-named buildings is he
ing rapidly pushed to completion. Much. how
1,o fbp A
will doubtless be completeA before the weather
will admit of it's being put to the special uses
for which it was designed 1t is estimated that
5000 persons can be seated on the upper floors
where the refreshments to be served Inc
kitchen is on the fourth floor, and nearly all the
appliances are IN place, as we'll as immense sup
plies of chinaware. The bannsters are being con-
structed on the great central stairway During
the warmer weather this building, which rests
upon the very edge of the lake, will prove de-
lightful and attractive spot The lower floor VIII
he given up entirely to promenading and loung
ing. The dimensions of tlie building are 1iox
go feet. Just south of it, and not more than
600 feet away, Is the reproduction of the Con-
vent of La Rabida, in Spain, so closely identified
with the earlier days of Columbus. 1t is an
antique and picturesque structure: and unless
one knows what il is it seems almost out Of place
in location approNimatng closely the group
Of great central buildings, the nearest being that
o. Agricultural Hall, standing to the west only
few yards.
Music Hall forms a sort Of north wing TO the
Peristyle, as the Casino forms the south wing.
and both structures are of the same dimensions
and of similar exterior finish. The interior of
tho Music Hal is designed, of course. with
view to the service TO which it is TO be devoted.
seating capacity of 1000 is provided for In
the audience ball, and the stage and in the
orchestra there is space for 420 choristcrs and
musicians.
Tie work is well advanced in this building.
and several tests have been made Of its acoustic
propcrsics, The eounding-bOard, which occu-
pies the entire space in the of the stage, is
not vet finished, but nearly So The test for
orchestral music, for which the hall was chiefly
designed, made two weeks ago by Theodore
Thomas with something less than one hundred
pieces. The result fairly satisfactory,
few changes having been suggested by the leader.
Yesterday the Apollo Club. of CHICAGO, directed
by William L. Tomlins. made trial with ref
erence TO choral music. and the l'all was pro-
nounccd to be well adapted TO such uses. There
were between 400 and 500 members of the club
upon the stage The IIalleluiah Chorus"
among the pieces sung. slight echo was
noticeable. but not sufficient TO mar the general
effect
The work of installation in all the great
buildings is going forward night and day. Ma
chinery Hall, which presented such bleak and
unpromising appearance few days ago. is now
beginning to show the results OF the persistent
labor which is being applied to the placing Of
the massive pieces of metal which are TO be
the sinews Of strength and force when all is
in readiness to instill them with the clements
Of their power During the day l,2oo men
are at work in this great building. ard 500 arc
employed throughout the night time, in con,-
pliance with system providing for two Suits
Of twelve hours each The foundations for all
the larger pieces of machinery are completed,
and the labor performed is beginning to make