Omaha daily bee., 1897-10-21
Illinois State Commission Readily Decides
After Looking Over Grounds.
PLEASED WITH PROGRESS OF EXPOSITION
Members Entertained at Luncheon and
Express the Highest Satisfaction.
HEY PROMISE AN EXCELLENT EXHIBIT

| the city.
Twelve members OF the Illinois Exposition
commission arrived in Omaha yesterday
on the Burlington train which arrived from
Chicago at o'clock They were met at the
| depot by President Wattlcs and Directors
Babcock, Markell and Evans of the Trans
mississippi and International Exposition and
escorted to the Millard hotel
The party comprised Clark Il. Carr, presi-
dent Of the commission ana formerly United
States minister to Denmark under the Harri-
son administration; William II. Harper OF
Chicago, chairman of the executive commit
tee c. E. Hambleton of Chicago, secretary
of the commission; John NJ. smyth. Joseph
p. Wheadon L. O, Goddard Chicago; George
| w. Wall, Duquoin; William b, Brinton, La
Sale; William II. Stead, Ottawa; Randolph
| Smith Flora; Charles c. Williams, Hope
ston, and c. II. Keeler, Dixon. The party
was accompanied by w. C. Gregory of the
| Chicago Tribune and &. L. Pierce Of tho
| Inter Ocean.
After depositing their travelling parapher-
| MALTA at the hotel the visitors were escorted
| to the headquarters of the exposition in
! the Paxton block where they were shown
| through the various offices and departments,
| after which the offices of the supervising
| architects We're visited The architects,
| Messrs Walker and Kimball showed the
| visitors through the draughting rooms,
| where the plans Of the grounds and the
| various buildings were inspected and dis
| cussed. The visiting commissioners ex-
| pressed the greatest satisfaction at the
many evidences Of substantial progress
| which were apparent on every hand and
| took great interest in inspecting the draw
| ngs, asking many questions of pertinent
| nature and showing insight into the require
ments of the situation. The general ar
| rangement of the grounds shown by the
| drawings was heartily comp!imented, and a
| number Of the visitors confessed to a feel
| ing of surprise at the completeness of tho
detail drawings and the other architectural
| arrangements.
After half an hour spent in this way, the
members of the party mounted two tallyho
coaches and were driven to The Bee office,
where the offices of the Publicity department
were visited and call made upon Manager
Rosewater. The visitors were supplied with
literature and were greatly interested in ex-
| amlnng the brd's-eye drawing of the ex-
position ground which recently COM
peted. The Bee Office was next visited. the
visitors inspecting the mechanical department
| Of the newspaper, after which they de-
scended to the fifth floor and made a brief
call upon General Coppinger commanding
the Department of the Platte.
PLEASED WITH THE GROUNDS
These formalities disposed Of, the coaches
were again mounted and a trip made to tho
grounds. Distributed among the visitors on
top OF the coaches were Directors Dabcoct,
Kirkendall, Reed, Evans, Markell. Fitzpatrick
and Lindsey. Mr. w. S. Poppleton and
Architects Walker and Kimbal The route
was via Sixteenth street and Sherman
| avenue, the various points of interest along
tho way being pointed out and information
regarding the exposition being dispensed as
| the occasion offered
! When the grounds were reached the mem
bers of the party were driven into the main
court coming into full view of the grand
court from between the approaches to the
viaduct. The first view of the main court
presented busy scene The sun was shin
ing brightly and the weather all that
| could have been desired The bracing effect
Of the cool air seemed to make itself felt on
all sides, and the large gangs OF men work.
Ing on the main buildings seemed to be im-
bucd with the spirit of energy that perme-
| ated the atmosphere The huge frames which
are soon to blossom forth into dazzling white
palaces were covered with men working like
beavers huge timbers were being raised into
position and the snorting piIedrvers thIeY
out clouds of smoke as the huge hammers
were raised to administer the blows which
sent the long piles into the earth. Large
gangs of men were working on every hand
a gang putting in water pipes, another pre-
pairing the ground for another main building.
Some men were making roadways and others
were working on the incline about the la
goon. Scores Of men were at work unload
ing the lumber from the dozens of cars
standing the exposition tracks and hun
dreds Of mechanics were working at top
speed to prepare the umbers for the huge
buildings.
The visitors partook of the enthusiasm
which prevailed every side. They ex-
pressed the greatest qualification at the
energy which was being displayed in bring
ing order out of chaos and were enthusiastic
over the outlook for 4 magnificent archl-
tectural display in the grand court. Plans
OF the grounds and pamphlets containing the
| cuts Of the main buildings were examined
and thus the visitors formed in tne.' minds
mental pictures OF the completed scene CIV
ing expression in no uncertain terms to tho
ilattering prospect for magnificent display.
PLEASED WITH BLUFF TRACT
After the scene irOm The head OF the
| lagoon had been fully enjoyed the coaches
made the circle OF the body OF water and
! then the bluff tract was VISITED. The broad
valley Of the Missouri Nas brought into full
view from the top Of the coaches and tho
visitors enjoyed the beautiful sight to tho
utmost, the ragged bluffs on the Iowa side
being softened by misty veil Of haze which
but added to the beauty OF the scene.
Here the plans OF the ground we're again
brought into play and the most favorable To-
cation for the Illinois building was discussed
The members Of the commission were most
fayorably impressed with the beauty of tho
bluff tract and studied the plan very care
| fully.
4 After gtudyiny tho Iituatinn from diffar.