Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-14
REBUILDING TIE EXPOSITION
Hundreds Of Men at Work Upon Buildings
and Grounds,
GETTING READY FOR THE OPENING DAY
FLOWERS, Palms md Tropical Plants
Are to lie Features in the
Main Court-Additionnl
Electrical Effects.

and in order that everything may be in
readiness for the opening, which has been
set for July !, 325 men are working from
early morning until night. These mon are
scattered in squads over the buildings and
grounds. Some OF them are cultivating tho
lawns, some are beautifying the buildings,
while others are setting out trees, making
flower beds and doing the thousand and one
things necessary before the gates are thrown
open 10 the public.
OF course people who attended the Trans
mississippi i and International Exposition can
easily recognize that the buildings and
grounds occupied by the Greater America
Exposition are the same, yet, nevertheless,
some important changes are constantly go
ing on, all of which 1t Is commended will
enhance the general beauty of the main
court and the Bluff tract.
Last year 1t will be remembered that the
open spaca in the Main court between the
buildings and the lagoon was paved with
brick. This year this has been somewhat
changed, as at intervals the paving has been
torn out and flower beds have been planted.
While flowers will be the feature of these
beds, in many of them stately palms will
rear their heads and around them will be
tropical plants, giving this portion of the
grounds a decidedly foreign appearance.
Heretofore the semi-circular space at the
west side Of the viaduci over Sherman ave-
nue. has been covered with running vines,
but this season, trees, shrubs and flow
ering plants will take their place. The same
general plan will be carried out with ref
erence to the colonades and on the little
plats of green between the main building.
Directly north of the Arch of States and
between it and the bridge, a large foun-
tain is in course of construction. This will
be fanked by flower beds which will con-
n,, t1apt- rr,,,, CUBA md pprtn Rfpn which
1t is said are nov on the way here.
Benutifying the BIuT Tract.
Over on the Bluff tract the handiwork of
the landscape artist is visible in many
places. New and additional flower beds
have been planted, new walks have been
laid out and trees have been put in in some
of the vacant spaces caused by the re-
moval of the Minnesota, Iowa and Kansas
state buildings, which were sold after the
close of last years exposition. Generally
speaking, however, no change has been made
in the landscaping that was admired so much
last year.
Under the colonnades, the gravel that fur
nished the wearing surface last year has
been removed and in its stead paving
brick have been laid. The brick used are
those which were removed to make room
for the flower beds on the Main court.
If there is one thing more than another
that occasions surprise it is the excellent
condition of the buildings after the severe
weather of last winter. 1t was thought they
would crack, settle and that the staff would
scale off. However, this has not been the
case. In some rare instances small sec
lions of the staff came off the buildings and
the posts along the lagoon. In these places
patches have been put on and all of the
cracks patched up, giving the whole a new
~ ynn nha a IA ~ nlnnu IA To-
COON and upon the buildings has been treated
TO a coat of new white paint. The rub
beroid roofs of all of the buildings have been
thoroughly gone over and repaired; the sides
of the Lagoon have been strengthened by
the addition of extra stay rods and wher-
ever a decayed plank has been found 1t
has been taken out and a new one put in
In its stead. The water and sewer sys-
tens have been changed in some particulars,
new pipes having been laid to parts OF the
grounds not reached last year.
The plan of lighting the exposition grounds
Is being changed to a certain extent. Around
the Lagoon the clusters of incandescents
will DE used, as will be those upon the
main buildings. However, the electricians
are at work putting in the wires for thou
sands of additional incandescents. These
will extend around the windows OF all the
buildings upon the Main court and up over
the figures upon the roofs. In the Hover
beds and among the palms myrlads or small
globes, carrying lamps Of about hve-candle
mower each will be placed. The same policy
will be pursued with reference to lighting
the shrubbery at the east end of the Lagoon
and along the sides of the colonades.
Midway Furnishes Its own Light.
The lights for the exposition grounds will
be furnished by the lighting plant upon the
-.-.1 1.4 hoo 1hnY ypi1I hn ,tcnl aIpnu
the Midway and at the concessions will be
furnished by the plant that supplies the city,
the exposition management being of the
opinion that they can use all the light that
the plant there can supply.
On the grounds where the Indian village
was located last year a grand stand and
race track Is in course of construction. The
race track will be a half mile stretch, with
q cinder path for bicycles and a roadway
for horse races, the Intention being to put
on numerous races during the summer.
Where the fireworks were exhibited last
year workmen are now engaged in eXca-
waiting for a lake that will be 100X30O feet,
On this and under the direction of the eX-
position will be put on the bombardment
OF Santiago. Arrangements have been com
pelted for securing the painting and a num-
Der of miniature war vessels. 1t is said
that while fireworks will play an important
part In the bombardment, real cannon VIII
be brought into use in the destruction OF
the city.
The Libby Prison War museum has ar
rived and is being installed in the old Gov
eminent building. There are some nine car
loads of this exhibit. In the Fine Arts
building Work has been commenced pre-
paratory to the reception OF Tlssot's pic.
tures, entitled. The Life of Christ" There
are 500 of them, which in addition to the
other pictures, will quite fill the building.
Up to this time contracts have been closed
for 80, 900 square feet of space in the
main buildings. There will be no attempt
TO put exhibits In the Horticulture build
ing, hut instead it will be used to repre-
sent a winter garden, with snow scenes anC
icicles hanging from thousands Of points
In addition to this feature there will be rart
tropical plants and flowers in the building
with fruits in season in the hooks am
corners. The work necessary to place thii
display is well under way and will be com
pleted in the cburse of a couple of weeks
Most of the concessionaires who were her,
last summer have come back to take a ham
An the Greater America Exposition. A dozel
or more OF them have commenced work oil
their old buildings, putting them in repai
aud in many instances charging them II
order TO have room for more and newer at