Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-04-16
CHlOA6OS
GIN. ST. CLAIR TALKS ABOUT THE PROGRESS
OF THE WORK.
Splendid Specimens Of Coal and Timber from West
Virginia, but the Manufacturing Ex-
hibit Disappointment

Hon. j. w. st. Clairs OF tayette
county, member for West Virginia OF
the National Board of Control OF the
Worlds Columbian Exposition, was in
the city few hours yesterday, on his
way from Chicago to Moundsville, where
Mrs. st. Clair is visiting her sister. Mrs.
NJ. Van Pelt, wife OF the superintendent
OF the State prison. Mr.. st. Clair will
leave Tomorrow for his home, where he
will appear as counsel in murder case
next week.
"There is so much to be done In Chi
cago just now" he said in the course OF
pleasant chat with REGISTER re-
porter, that should have remained
there, but the business which called me
home was imperative. You could form
no adequate conception OF the
magnitude of the work, unless
you were present upon the
Exposition grounds. We are receiving
from 200 to 500 car loads OF exhibits
every daY, and small army OF men Is
employed in arranging and classifying
the different matter. Notwithstanding
SEINE reports to the contrary which have
been freely circulated, it is the intention
of the Board to open the Fair on May
1st, although there is a probability that
much work will remain to be done at
that time.
1.-THE Fair will be all that has ever
been claimed for it. 1t will be the big
gest show in the history OF the world.
1 nave read great many newspaper
articles upon the Exposition, but 1t has
never been done justice"
"Is there not probability that the
progress Of the work upon the build
ings will be checked by future labor
disturbances" asked the reporter.
mo. There are probably 1000 car,
penters at work upon the State and
government buildings. A few days ago
we had a strike, in which less than
4, 900 men were involved, but it was
promptly settled, and the men entered
into written agreement with the
Board to continue at work until all the
buildings are finished, and no further
trouble ia anticipated. The union car
penters did not want to work with non
union men, and asked for their dis
charge. This we could not do. The
United States government has never
Disseminated between union and non
union labor"
"How is the work progressing upon
the West Virginia building"
"Our State building is handsome,
and will compare fayorably with that
OF any other State OF equal population,
and many States which are much
larger. The State buildings are not in
tended for exhibits, so much as club
houses, for the entertainment OF visit
ors from home, and as general head
quarters for the people from the re-
spective States. The West Virginia
exhibits will be very creditable, espec-
tally in coal and timber, and the State
will derive great benefit from the dis
play or her boundless mineral
wealth. l was agreeably surprised
at the display of specimens Of coal and
timber. All OF these will be classified
and arranged in the Forestry and Mines
and Mining buildings, and most are al
ready in their place. We are fortunate
In having heSJ NIISluld Aou III Cudi 10
OF these departments. Mr.. l.. NJ. Evans,
OF Montgomery, Fayette county, has
charge OF the forestry exhibits, and Mr..
D. c. Boyce, of Quinnemont, OF the coal
and timber displays.
Tho display Of manufactured prod
ucts from West Virginia does not quite
come up to my expectations. Ohio and
/ Marshall counties have been somewhat
backward, and the world will judge us as
an agricultural rather than manufac-
turing community. The manufacturing
exhibits which have already arrived
from Wheeling are very creditable. In
addition to the displays to be made in
the different departments In the main
buildings, we will have specimen ex-
hibits IN the State bnllding."