Omaha daily bee., 1897-12-05
WORK ON THE BIG BUILDINGS
Contractors Push Ahead with Speed tn t
Astonishes the Watchers,
CONSTRUCTION IS WELL ADVANCED
Handsome Structures Around the
Main Court nt the Exposition
GrOands Certain TO lie
Ready on Time.

Whether the buildings on the exposition
grounds will be ready for occupancy in
time to open the gates OF the great show
at the time fixed, June l, 1895, now seems
answered. The buildings on the main court
in which the greater part OF the exhibits
are to be installed, are all under way and
the rapidlty with which they have been
pushed along to their present state OF COM
pletion leaves no room for doubt on this
very serious matter. These buildings are
all designed along very elaborate lines and
require very much more work in their erec-
tlon thln the buildings which will be erected
on the other portions of the exposition
grounds. The facility with which the prn-
cipal buildings are being erected makes it
certain that the minor buildings will be
completed In ample time.
The present condition of the various
| buildings In the main court may be briefly
summarized as follows:
The Administration arch, the tall and mar
row building forming the center OF the north
side Of the main court, is practically COM
pleted. Only the finishing touches remain
to be put on in the way of painting the in
terror woodwork and touching up the outer
walls at few points.
The Manufacturers building is rapidly near
ing completion. The carpenters have fin
are covering the skylights with the trans
lucent fabric which is to serve instead Of
glass. The windows and doors are being
put in place and the building will be COM
pletely enclosed within a very few days.
The staff contractors have nearly finished
their work on this building, a few finishing
touches about the cornice and one or two
of the pavilCns, the plastering of the in
terror of the clear story and finishing the
plastering at the lower part OF the outside
walls being all that remains to be done.
The Mines building is the next in order
and here the roof has been put on, the sky
light covering being nearly all in place. The
outer walls, with the exception of the cor
ner paviions, are ready for the staff men
and these have commenced putting up their
staging for hanging the staff. consider
able portion of the outside of the building
has been covered with lath, ready for the
plasterers, and the ornamental staff work
is nearly all cast and ready to be put in
place.
The outer walls of the Machinery and
Electricity building are about ready for the
staff men The roof trusses are being raised
into position, the contractor on this building
having completed the walls before COM
mencing on the roof. The staff for this
building is being cast by the staff workers
and large part of it has been finished and
is ready to be put on the building.
Remarkable progress is being made on the
Agriculture building, and If 1t continues at
the same rate it will be one of the first OF
the big buildings to be completed. The side
walls are all erected and much of the sheet
ing on them has been put on. and the staff
workers could start on the building at any
time The roof trusses are being raised as
fast as machinery can do 1t, and this build
ing will be under cover within very short
time. Much of the staff work for this build
ing has been cast and is ready to be put on
the building.
The Liberal Arts building has reached an
stage The side walls are
erected and the roof trusses are being framed
being sheeted and the building will be ready |
for the staff workers within the next ten
lays.
The Art building has been delayed by fail |
lre to receive the lumber at the time it was
promised The piles for the foundation are
all driven. and nearly all of them have been |
,ut off to the proper height ready for the |
sils of the building The lumber is being |
on the ground and active work on
he building will be commenced at once. The
building is not as large as some of the
others and will not require so much time in
ts construction. but there is little doubt but
hat it will be finished by March /.
The Government building is just getting
under hcadway. The piles are beHg driven
md the heavy timbers for the sills are being
framed Contractor Moore says he intends
% push the construction with all the men he
,an put on the work, and will have the build
ng completed on time.
The Auditorium is making good headway
The side walls are up and the floor is being
aid Contractor Credon is crOwding the
work at a rapid rate. and there is little doubt
hoIt the building being comDleted on time |