The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-05-01

Il
American citizen who could approach
the United States government structure
or peer within to-day without de-
lighted thrill OF exultatlon, Possibly
never more perfectly has the effective
ness OF the national resouroess been
brought 10 bear to meet given condi-
tionB. From the stars and stripes hut-
teTing above the huge red dome and the
great gilded eagle over the entrance TO
the tiniest details OF the showing oil
Uncle Sam's household affairs every
thing was in spick aud span order, II is
a curious fact, in striking contrast
with the bewildering confusion in 80
many other places, that inside the fed
eral walls, in the Big space devoted to
the army, the most serious necessary
preparation in progress for to,morrow's
opening and inspection was being per-
formed by o couple Of boys in blue who
were rubbing some strange ilecks ot
dust from the lltelike representations ot
government mules attached to an anl-
bulance. Close at hand was 52,ton
piece OF modern artillery exactly in
place as 1t will be throughout the expo.
sition, Similar system and order and
readiness was uniform, whether one
chose to gaze at the handsome model
postotlice with the shining fast mail
railway coach alongside, at the varied
and complicated devices for river and
harbor improvement, the state depart
ments' oil painting Of famous Ameri'
cans, and cases OF precious documents,
torpedoes that would hoist hostile
man-ot-war skyward, and 40 on,
THE AGRICULTURAL BUILDING.
The interior OF the agricultural build.
ing presents very much the appearance
OF Kansas village Just after u rainless
cyclone. Boxes, bundles, sheaves,
grain, bottles, skins, agricultural imple-
ments and machinery are distributed in
apparently hopeless confusion oil over
the building, and scarce u dozen OF the
hundreds OF exhibits appear to DO TAX
ing on any systematic shape. II is ap-
parent to the novice that weeks must
elapse before the exhibits OF the agri-
cultural building will be installed ready
for visitors, Several OF the more ener-
getic exhibitors have, however, made
commendable progress, though the en-
tire building fails to show single
complete installed exhibit
THE HORTICULTURAL BUILDING,
The horticultural building was one Of
the fret to receive exhibits, and Its in
terror has been kept in state OF trop-
ical warmth throughout tho entire win
tor. From one end to the other, ar
ranged in perfect system and with ex-
Quisite taste, are every variety OF plants
and flowers known to all the zones.
Orchids to the value Of hundreds Of
thousands OF dollars are on exhibition,
and the great triumph Of the exposition
is tho unique spectacle OF century
plant five hundred years old in full
bloom. This plant has attracted thous-
ands OF visitors for weeks, and
will continue to do 80 until
1t has run its race, as the
tradition 10 that the plant must wither
away after this centennial bloom, The
horticultural building Is heated by an
ingenius system which furnishes warm,
damp air Of an unvarying temperature,
and the plants flourish under Its balmy
influence. The building is one OF the
most conspicuously located Of the fair.
having floor space Of six and one-halt
acres and costing over 100000. In
front OF the building there Is terrace
and low parapet; the front OF the ter
race borders the water and affords q
commodious landing for the pleasure
boats and gondolas.
| TPANspoRTATIoN nIIfLnTNG
1t Is very doubtful whether any
building within tho grounds OF the
great fair will attract more attention
than that devoted to transportation. 1t
is radically dictinct from all the others
at least to external appearances. The
external walls are decorated In colors
about as brilliant and varied in design
us those found in Turkish rug; all the
other great structures are white or
cream colored. There are enough ex-
hibits in place to give one On idea as to
what may be expected when the whole
is finished. The exhibit OF the trans
portation building comprises every
thing from u Mexican donkey to mod
ern locomotive; from q birch bark
canoe to q full sized model Of modern
ocean greyhound. Just within tho
main entrance to this building, known
as the Golden Gate" Is a model OF
Christopher Columbus flagship, tho
Santa Maria.
In the historical exhibit Is the old lo-
comotive engine General" which some
federal soldiers stole from the confed-
/ n ~ h0N IN Itt u kl.s,
late rebellion. In tho British exhibit
Is the cold Lord Of the Isles, built in
1851 for the worlds Exposition in the
Crystal palace.
THE NAVAL EXHIBIT,
Within u stones throw Of the tall
light house at the extreme northeast
portion OF tho park is tho picturesque
war ship in which the naval department
will makeits exhibit. Tho cruiser Is con-
structed on piling driven in tho bottom
or the lake In such manuor as to give
the impression that 1t IL rOal war vos-
sci Of tho navy department. Tho ship
Ia 34S feet in length, sixty.nino feet In
width and twelve feet IRON the main
deck to the water line. A realistic ap-
poarance has been effected by tho pres.
once Of guns, turrets torpedo tubes and
nets and other appliances found aboard
a man.oi.wOE
MACHINERY HALL.
Nearly ull tho heavy machinery Is in
place in machinery hall, and much Of Il
will be in operation from tho opening
day, but thcro 10 grea! deal to bo
done.
THE STATE BUILDINGS,
OF the state building that Of Illinois