Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-07
Every Point Except Distance Said to Be
to the Advantage of This Site.
tlMwooD PARK is GIVEN SECOND PLACE
East Omaha Too Flat, While Hanscom and
Riverview Parks Are Too Rough.
ACTION BY DIRECTORS POSTPONED
Spirited Debate Follows the Reading
OF the Report and Adjournment
Was Then Taken TIL Next
Tuesday Afternoon.

At meeting Of the Board of Directors
of the Transmississppi and international
Exposition yesterday afternoon the report
of the special engineers on the availability
of the different sites was opened and read.
1t was found to contain recommendation
in favor of the Miller park location. The
report was discussed by the directors, but
further action was postponed till next Tues
day afternoon.
Forty-two of the fifty directors were pres
ent and the spectators outnumbered the di-
rectors by far. The advocates of the several
sites were out in force, every site being
represented but the supporters of Miller park
constituted the large majority of the au-
| dience These latter secured seats among
| the directors and from these points of van
| tage they did some very industrious log
rolling during the debate which followed the
reading of the report of the engineers. Dur
ing the reading of the report Of the en-
gineers, especially that part Of 1t recon-
mendng Miller park as the best site, the
promoters of that site manifested their Joy
in audible smiles, and the conclusion Of the
reading was followed by such an outbreak Of
! yels that President Wattles was obliged to
caution the leather-lunged delegation against
disturbing the meeting. Some of the di-
rectors, also, were overJoyed at the rec
ommendation of the engineers that they
could not resist "twitting" other directors
and interrupting them while they were ad-
dressing the board.
AS soon as the meeting settled down to
business President Wattles called for the
report of the special committee appointed
to employ a nonresident Engineer and
a nonresident landscape architect
to examine the several sites offered and re-
port in writing their findings and conclu-
sions to the several sites. Chairman
! Yost of the special committee handed the
report of the engineers and the report OF
! the special committee to the president who
opened them and passed them to Secretary
Wakefield to be read.
The report of the special committee mar
rated the work of the committee In going
to Chicago, where, after making a thorough
search they reported that they had engaged
Fl. C. Alexander and A. C. Schrader, the
former superintendent Of Lincoln park, and
| the latter an engineer under the West Side
Park board
WAS OPENED AND READ
The report of the engineers was sealed in
separate envelope and was signed by
Messrs Alexander and Schrader. The docu-
ment bore date January 49, 1897. The fol.
lowing is the report of the engineers in
full:
In this recommendation Cor the selection
of exposition grounds the following points
We're considered, so far as 1t was possible
within the limited time allowed: First, the
topography and general availability of the
| ground for building purposes; second, trans
portation facilities by street cars, steam
| roi OIL va r1 On
and water supply; fourth, distance from
postoffice. In the examination of the
grounds for topography, dependence was
placed simply upon inspection as no topo-
graphical charts were submitted which
would cover the ground.
In our opinion the Miller park site is the
most available location considering all
points. 1t is understood that the Fort
Omaha grounds included in this site.
In regard to the topography of the Miller
park site it can be prepared for exposition
grounds at less expense and will allow Of
a better grouping of buildings than any
other site. There is sufficient variation
in elevation of the ground to avoid monot-
ony. and the Fort Omaha grounds have
many grown trees that may be preserved
and made to conform TO plan.
1t would be desirable to have Thrteth
street closed as public highway within
the exposition ground limits II the grounds
lying both east and west of this highway
are used. Should Thirtleth street be re-
tanned as II public highway ii would neces-
state double line of fencing, each one
, half mile long, and separation of grades
of roadways at one crossing Mt least. 1t
would also completely separate the
| grounds. which would bo undesirable.
In regard TO the development of water
areas, we may say 1t Is possible to a
limited extent Areas varying from seven.
| fa,t In, ,,rilt ha
found along the creek bottoms by construc-
tlon of proper dams and overflow utilized
for irrigation purposes.
| 1t Is intended that the natural flow oil
| the creeks shall be utilized as far as pos
sibe as "A feeder 10 maintain water levels
and during the dry months OF the year this
2 supply should be supplemented from the
water service system If 1t IL found neces-
sary. Although the water areas will neces-
sarily be comparatively small In extent, they
should be introduced as far as practica BILE
to vary the landscapes. Bridges of artis-
tic design can be thrown across the mar
rover portions and suitable shrubbery
ETC., line the edges of the water areas,
RAILROAD ACCOMMODATIONS
The site may be reached by at least
@ three separate street car lines, the Six
o teenth street Twenty-fourth street and
8 Thirtieth street provided the proper ex
tensions are made TO the grounds. The
. steam railways available for transportation
: are the EllIhorn, the Bolt railway and the
Omaha, all of them passing close or can be
extended to the grounds, and suitable ar
. rangements can be made for the handling
, Of both freight or passengers Trackagt
facilities for other railways can probably
!. be arranged via the Belt railway or Other
lines.
Although the distance to this site ex
ceeds that TO Hanscom park and Is alsc
greater than that to RivelYlew park from
the city hall, we consider II as easy OF
access because OF the greater number OF
transportation lines and the comparatively
{ level roads over which the street cars. bi
cycles and other vehicles can pass at q
! higher speed and greater case