Omaha daily bee., 1897-08-01
SECURING DATA FOR PLANS
Architect from the Treasury Department at
Washington Arrives in Omaha.
PREPARING FOR GOVERNMENT BUILDING
VIII spend several Days Looking
over Exposition Ground md Ex-
aiming Plans of other Build
ings to he Erected.

T., A.. Crane, a representative OF the office
Of the supervising architect OF the Treasury
department, Is in the city in consultation with
the architects-in-chie and officials OF the
exposition regarding the building TO be erected
at the Transmississippi Exposition by the
United States government. The designing oil
this building is in the direct charge of Mr..
| Crane, and his trip to Omaha is for the pur-
pose Of making a personal examination 0 1.-the
exposition grounds, and obtaining such other
data in connection with the exposition as will
better enable him to judge as to the charac-
ter of the building which will best suit the
situation.
Mr.. Crane came directly from Washing
ton, arriving yesterday, and was taken
in hand by Mr.. Walker of the firm of Walker
e Kimball. architects-in-chief an old friend
of MIR. Crane. A trip was made to the office
of the Department of Publicity and Promo
ton, where the perspective drawings OF the
several main buildings were Inspected In de-
tail by Mr.. Crane. The exposition grounds
we're next visited, and the location assigned
to the government building was pointed out
by Mr.. Walker and carefully looked over by
Mr.. Crane, who expressed the greatest salts
faction at the very excellent location wnlch
had been chosen for the federal building.
PLEASED WITH THE SITE.
Hh1tt1 tuIbib hpi MS 'P
position grounds and the examination OF the
sketches of the buildings on the main court,
Mr.. Crane was decidedly enthusiastic over
the opportunities offered the federal govern
ment to make a fine building and a display
which would be highly creditable in every
way. The location assigned to the govern
ment building, at the western END OF the
lagoon and facing the grand court, was re-
garded by Mr.. Crane as the most salts
factory location which had been given to the
building of the general government at any
exposition. -.
"While the supervising architects office"
said Mr.. Crane, has very little to say about
what material shall constitute the exhibit
to be made by the several departments of
the government, yet the facilities we provide
largely control the extent and general char
acter OF the exhibit. After looking over
your exposition grounds | can say without
hesitation that our office Will be able to
provide accommodations and facilities for
each of the government departments that Will
almost certainly result in making the gov
eminent exhibit at Omaha superior to that
made at any exposition which has been held.
The location of the building is all that could
be desired. 1t is a commanding positlon and
will afford opportunity for architectural en-
bellishment which we shall be more tina:
pleased to utilize"
In reply to a question regarding the gen.
elal design and plan of the government
building. Mr.. Crane referred to a rough
sketch which he said had been hastily made
as embodying the ideas which had formed
in his mind as to what the government
building would look like. The sketch showed
a building of imposing appearance, consisting
of a rectangular central portion, 2OOxl2o feet
in size. with a cornice sixty feet in height,
and with wings extending from either side,
15Ox125 feet in size, making the total length
of the building 500 feet. The cornice of the
wings was shown to be forty-five feet above
the ground. The central portion was sur
mounted by an octagonal dome 1865 feet in
height to the base of the colossal figure
standing at its apex, and sixty feet in
diameter. At each of the four corners of
the central portion of the building were
shown smaller circular dunes. A prominent
feature of the central dome wos a high drum
surrounded by Corinthian columns.
The main entrance to the building was
shown by a recessed portico with six massive
columns. Mr.. Crane stated that the archi.
lecture would be of the Italian renaissance
t style and Corinthian order, giving ample
opportunity for elaborate establishment
which would be taken advantage of to the
fullest extent.
, result in a structure that will fill almost
the entire western end of the main court
Its height, as compared with the other main
buildings, will be imposing in the extreme
and it will constitute one OF the most strik.
ing features in the magnificent grand cou.i
where the greatest architectural effect will
be concentrated.
EXHIBIT LIFE SAVING WORK.
There were other features connected with
the location of the government building
which were highly pleasing to Mr.. Crane.
One of these was the grand basin or mirror
which will lie Immediately in front of the
building. Mr.. Crane stated that the life
saving service of the government was desir-
GUS of making an exhibit which would con
vey to the people some idea of the functions
of that department of the government, but
had not been provided in several recent ex-
positions with the necessary place in which
to give practical exhibitions of the work
which 1t is doing. The large basin would
afford a fine opportunity for a display of the
work Of this department and Mr.. Crane said
that an exhibition would be given every
afternoon of the work performed by the
life-saving crews stationed all along the sea
coast and the shores Of the great lakes.
A boat house for the storage of the large life
boat had been agreed upon by himself and
Mr.. Walker, Mr.. Crane stated, and would
i be constructed at the south side of the
! grounds adjacent to the basin, and every
l afternoon this boat with a load of human
5 freight would be overturned in the middle
1 of the basin. the life line would be shot
E out from the shore and the crew rescued
from the perils of the deep.
Ell Another feature which could be provided
for to better advantage than at other eX-
I positions, in Mr.. Cranes opinion, was that
: of a camp for the soldiers who would be
utilized as a feature of the military exhibit
and as guards of the government building.
This camp will be located in the southwest
: corner of the grounds, where there is a
q most convenient plot of ground of the proper
size for a camp of one company. In the
, morning exhibition drills will be given or
the parade ground of this company, and the
routine of camp life will be open to the
inspection OF visitors.
SANCTIONED BY GOV. HOLCOMH
Executive VIII Issue Prociamntion