The Indianapolis journal., 1896-12-27
THE GREAT PARIS ExHIBITIo>.
Tearing Down to Make Room for the
New BuildfnEs-The Hotels.

London Telegraph.
Although three years and half will have
rolled by ere the opening OF the great ex-
hibition OF 1900 takes place. the preliminary
works have already been entered upon in
real earnest. There is now no doubt that
every effort Will be made by the authorities
to render this worlds show even more bril-
liant than its predecessors, and signs arc
rot lacking TO demonstrate that they will
be zealously seconded i'm their exertions by
the commercial element and by the public
at large. Parisians are never so happy m
when their gay city is thrown out into
broad relief as the great center of attrac-
ton. and they are looking forward with
pride and enthusiasm to the date when for
eignerS will flock To this metropolis from
every point of the compass; when hotels,
present and future. will be thronged with
visitors; and when the boulevards and lead
ing thoroughfarcs will be as full OF varied
samples of humanity as in the summer or
1889 and in the earlier part of last month:
I'll faut souffrir pour etre belle was the
exclamation made TO me to-day by more
than one person who II already compelled
TO make the detour owing To the erection
of Enclosures within which busy ouvriers
are now employed. Neat palisades sur
round the whole of the back OF the Palais
de rIndustrie. as well as the pavilions fac
ing the river and the Jardn des Piantes.
The work of demolition has commenced.
Ii seems to be settled that the Palais de
IIndustrie will remain intact until the next
salon is over. but in any case. there is
quite enough TO be done on other parts OF
the ground until that date. With a view TO
the removal OF the debris Subterranean
operation is now being carried on. The
wall Of the quay close To the Pont des In
valides has been pulled down. and the earth
below is being excavated for the construc-
ton of n tunnel. which will run right into
the incloSed space and Will he utilized for
the conveyance of the rubbish 10 the lower
path alongside the Seine. Whereon rails
have been laid to facilitate the passage OF
the light carts which are already shooting
their loads into barges moored i'm nook
almost under the bridge This afternoon
large crowds gathered along the Pont des
Invalides and the quay TO watch the prog
resS of the work
This. however is not ALI While prepara-
tions have been begun for the work of de-
molition, pending the erection OF new edi-
fees of finer or rather less severely plain
architectural proportions. and of n variety
of other trifies i'm the building way. the
bridge which is to span the Seine between
the Pont des Invalides and the Pont de Ia
Concorde. and the first stone of which was
laid by the Gar during his visit to Paris.
has not been forgotten. The two lines OF
flags. long since reduced to the semblance
Of rags. which marked the position which
IL would occupy have been taken down. to-
gether with most OF the scanolding set up
on the lower quays on either side Of the
river. and now the presence OF several
lighters, as well as of one or two posts
which rise above the water surmounted by
Il bit of red bunting. as . warning 10 the
boats that ply up and down. indicate that
engineers are taking the matter actively in
hand, and that the Pont Alexander Trois
as il is to be called will soon assume a
measure of reality. Here, again. traffic will
be somewhat hamDered, Tor very careful
steering will become an imperative necessi-
ty the passenger steamers. tugs and
lighters glide W and down the Seine with
their fares and cargoes. But the shin
ing river. on terra firma. this temporary
Inconvenience will be borne cheerfully. all
keeping their minds fixed on the eventful
date and on the wondrous transformation
which will convert these banks into very
pretty imitation Of fairyland.
A considerable amount of hotel building.
i'm anticipation of the exhibition of 1900. Is
about TO begin. The Wagon-Lits Company
has bought magnificent site I'm the
Champs Elysees, and the prelirninaries
have already been commenced Of the con-
struction of a handsome and spacious edi-
fee which Will be fitted up i'm the newest
style. / also learn that NJ. Ritz. OF the Sa-
voy Hotel, and London syndicate have
purchased a property in the Place Vendome
for a similar purpose. Other undertakings
of the kind are i'm contemplation. and may
add that IL is reported that the mansion OF
the Due de la Tremoille and the adjoining
one. belonging to the Comte de In Panouse.
both situated between the Rue de Faubourg
Saint-Honore and the Avenue Gabriel. and
close to the British embassy. are likely TO
be bought for the erection of large hotel
on the ground which they occupy.