The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-01
WORLDS FAIR OPENING.
No Postponement of the Ceremonies, Even 1
IL Rains in Torrents.

WORLDS FAIR OPENING.
No Postponement of the Ceremonies, Even a
1t Rains in Torrents.
Special 70 the Indianapolis Journal
CHICAGO, April 30.-If fervent wishes,
not to say prayers, count for anything. to-
morrow will be clear day. All the hopes
of the worlds fair officials to soy nothing
of the people OF Chicago. are eentered on
fair weather; not that the opening cere-
monies will be postponed, or even msteri-
ally interfered with If it should rain all
day. In that case the ceremonies will
simply be transferred from the plaza of the
Administration Building to the terminal
station. If the weather clerk should prove
smiable and send sunshine instead of rain.
there will be a more general celebration.
tie crowds will be larger ana the whols
affair will be much more satisfactory and
in keeping with the magnitude of the occa-
sion than would be the case if the heavens
frown.
1t was raining in torrents and blowinga
gale from the northeast when Director.
general DAVIS hurried down to the worla'r
fair grounds this morning, but despite
the fury of the elements. there was large
force of men at work putting the finishing
touches to the grounds and arranging the
interiors of the big buildings. Hundreds
of men and teams were busy cleaning up
the rubbish. removing the piles of gravel
and dirt, levelIng mounds and putting the
place in holiday attire SO far as the
weather would permit. Every whore work.
men were busy with hoes and shovels.
brooms and rakes. removing every particle
of dirt and debris from the plazas and
around the buildings and along the
laeoons. Superfuous material, lying in un-
slightly piles and obstructing the view.
was carted away to remote corners. The
landscape gardeners. too, were hard es
work, despite the rain. and the work OF
sOdding the bare spots went on unabated.
1--WE shall be in q pretty good shape to-
morrow morning, rain or shine" said Col.
Davis. THE outside work VIII have to
stop to- night of course, butth men on the
inside will work right through the night
and up to the time Of opening the gates to
the public tomorrow. There will be some
evidences of InCompleteness of course. but
fancy that the average visitor will lind
little TO indicate the tremendous stress we
have been under for she last month. We
bad weather, by labor troubles. bg tardy
exhibitors and by thousand and one
things that were unforeseen and could not
be guarded against. but after oil We have
pulled through satisfactorily. IL only it
does not rain tomorrow we shall all be per-
fectly happy"
GLANCE THROUGH THE BUILDINGS.
Almost while Colonel Davis was speak.
ing the rain began to slacken. and By noon
it had ceased altogether. The sun did noe
appear. but the cessation of the rain en-
abled the outside laborers to pursue their
work with redoubled speed. Inside the
buildings the exhibitors were scrubbIng
floors, cleaning allsyways, and decorating
their pavilions. In tho Msnufscturers'
Building, Columbian avenue. was the
scene Of the greatest activity. With
few exceptions the exhibits along
this broad highway. stretching
ipSm inS eni 8l be END Ir perfoos ot' shape sSaps
when the doors are thrown open Tomorrow
morning. Away mp against the roof hum
dreds OF flags futtered and trembled TINS
afternoon in the thunder of the caroenters
hammers and miles of bunting hung from
rafteTs swung in graceful tolds over the
ratings and across the wide stretches from
gallery 80 gallery. The chime OF bells fox
the big central tower has been put IN place.
ter of Columbian avenue have gwen way
TO a now floor and the general work of IN
stallation Is progressing rapidly.
At the Government building everything
is In order and quiet. The painting of the
exterior is finished, and to-day the werk-
men were taking down the last of the scaf-
folding The same Is true of the Fisheries
Building. where many things are in place
and ready for inspection. Picture hanging
went on all day in the Fine Arts Building.
and III the Mines and Mining Building huns
dreds of men spent Sunday unpaoking exc
hibits and putting them IN place:
electric light tonight. Horticui-
tural Hall was the scene of great
activity. The flowers and plants in the
great nothouse were transferred TO the
great hall and as the rest OF the exhibits
have nearly all arrived. the principal work
Is that OF arranging them. In the Trans
portation, Electricity, Machinery and Agri.
cultural buildings the effect of the work
done was not so apparent as IN ether iocaii-
ties but satisfactory progress was being
made. The Administration Building seems
10 be in apple pie order aud all Is In readl-
ness for to-morrow's ceremonies there
THE CONGRESS OF NATIONS.
In the Midway PlGisance the congress OF
nations got up early this morning and be-
gan cleaning house for the opening day.
The animals in the menagerie were given
rehearsal for their opening performance.
The dancing girls numbered themselves
to the accompaniment of atwo-stringed i'd
die played by q fat Arab from the Sondan.
aad the representation of the volcano OF
Kilauea spouted mimic flame. smoke and
lava, as il will do regularly every day dur
ing the continuance of the far The South
sea islanders had q bad day of il. The full
dress costume of their ma tive land consists
of a bland smile and bunch of feathers.
This morning tho mercury was down
nearly 10 she freezing point and
the Islanders shivered in their tents,
bugging the stove and not venturipg ous
ell day. The Jayanese. who are noe
troubled with any Sabbatarian scruplea
worked eli day, and this evening had cons