New-York tribune., 1899-07-30
WORK on THE PARIS EXPOSITION.
DATICN FOR THE RUMOR THAT THE
BUILDINGS WILL NOT BE
READY IN TIME.

F. J. V Skin. director in chief of the exhibit de-
partments for the Commissioner General Of the
United States to the Paris Exposition has Just
/ reached NewYorii from Paris. A day two be-
fore his departure from Paris Mr.. Skiff made a
thorough tour of investigation Of the Exposition
grounds.
Paris Just now" said Mr.. Skf. from to
west. from roof to basement Is being overhaued.
upset and generally cleaned UP for the Exposition
Alfred Picard. the French Commissioner General,
and his assistants TO be congratulated on the
remarkable progress they have made IN their stu
pendous undertaking The Universal Exposition Of
1900 Will mark a date in the annals OF the whole
world, and France will emerge from It stronger
and more powerful than ever. covered with glory.
"As to the rumors that the palaces and buildings
will not be completed In time for the opening next
April there is truth in such statements On the
contrary. the work buildings. gardens and
grounds is so far advanced that believe the Ex-
position could open in January II the exhibitors
were ready
Work the National Building OF the United
States is progressing rapidly The foundations are
competed and the largo beams for the main floor
were on the ground when I left Paris BY this
time the carpenters at work erecting the
wooden frames. The United States Building will
resemble In some measure the Administration
Building Of the Worlds Fair at Chicago The
magnificent dome which will surmount the building
will be one Of the main features. It will probably
national pavions. The interior will be arranged
In worthy Of the United States and from
the point of view of modern comfort and general
convenience there Will be no place the Expo
sition grounds that will compare with It,
"All the other nations have begun their buildings
These pavilions of foreign Powers Will rise on the
left bank Of the Seine. The site destined for them
extends from the Bridge of the Invaldes to the
Bridge of Aims. This part OF the river bank Just
now presents scene Of interesting activity. Every
where rise the piles intended to support future
buildings and In many places they are already
sunk in the river On the Champ de Mars all the
buildings have their ironwork up. For the Palace
OF Social Economy and Navigation and Forestry
along the river. the heavy framing Is up and
plastering begun.
"On the Espanade des Invaldes the railway sta
ton is entirely finished All the ironwork Of the
buildings on the Espanade des Invaldes is finished
and part Of the roof on the Liberal Arts Building
IS In place and part OF the STAFF work of this build
ing is done. Nearly all the concessionaires and
Colonial buildings on the Trocadero grounds are
begun. and Old Paris on the same bank is nearly
completed.
Work on the Army and Navy buildings has just
begun. The main iron dome OF the Palace OF Mines
is nearly completed. The Alexander III Bridge
which will be Of the wonders OF the Exposition
is progressing rapidly. This bridge, in the decora-
tions. will unite the work Of the best known scup-
tors in the world. 1t is magnificent structure
Palace OF Fine Arts finished the roofs outlined
and the work on the main entrance is nearing com
pletion. Tht Grand Palace Of Fine Arts has slf-
fered no delay, and crowds of workmen are con-
stantly busy pushing the magnificent building to a
hnish Work on the Palace Of Electricity is being
pushed with energy. Most OF the masonry con-
struction this building is finished and Ave large
trusses are ZIP at the south end. The Sale des
tetes. or Festival Hall, Of this Exposition viii
hold over twenty thousand people. IL Will cut the
height OF the gigantic hall will reach nearly one
hundred and fifty feet, and the large glazed bay
VIII be one hundred and fifty feet In diameter
INTO hall for congresses a concert hail or a
ballroom. Work IL is going ahead with vigor
The hall viii be lighted with nve thousand ncan-
descent lamps, and the Horticultural Palace Will
oe marvel with the park. when all the fora OF the
world shall be represented. One OF the features OF
the monumental gate OF entrance 10 the Expo
siton grounds viii be the splendid effects OF its
electric nghting This gate will bear thirty-eight
arc nghts and thirty-two hundred incandescent
lamps In the Champ de Mars, ! think | can
safeiy say In five places out Of six the building
operations are three parts finished.
AS 10 the present condition OF the payilions Of
foreign countries England s quite advanced in the
work. The foundations OF the British pavilion are
finished and the iron work is going up The ROYAL
Pavilion STANDS on the banks OF the Seine with a
terrace looking out over the river. Ii is OF the
fifteenth century style.
THE idea of endowtng Paris through this Ex-
position with permanent monuments which Will
that city has been the dominating thought Of Com