Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1901-08-08
PITTSBURG EXPOSITION.
Fine New Buildings on the Ruins OF
Those Destroyed by Fire.

When on the evening OF Wednesday
Sept 4, the Pittsburg Exposition
opeus for their season OF 1901, there
will be general wonderment among
the thousands of visitors al the sur
prising changes wrought since 1t
closed It's doors last October.
1t will be remembered that IL
March Of this year fire completely de-
stroyed the big main building with
Its many costly exhibits, and its shell
for band and orchestra concerts De
termined not to miss season the
/ Exposition directors the very EefI
day planned to rebuild on larger
and more elaborate scale. Architects
and contractors were called IN Iot
consultation. work Of construction in
! volving an outlay OF fully S4500uO was
decided upon and night and day work
has since been pushed, with the re-
cult that, spick and span, in costly
new dress. the Pittsburg Exposition
will be ready to welcome the public
on the date originally fixed early in
January.
Difficulties, of course, there have
been galore in carrying out success
fully so great an undertaking, but
noteworthy Il Is that not once was
there q thought Of altering the open
ing date, Sept 4. On that night John
Philip Sousa and his famous band
will dedicate the fine new music hail.
to the strains Of march that the
great bandmaster is now composing
especially for the occasion.
In place Of the one main structure
through whose portals last year there
passed 100000 persons, there now
rtand two monster structures, each
bighly steelarched and fire-proofed
within, and beautified with the finest
of pressed brick and stone trimmings
without One of these is the main
building proper, and SO nearly com
pleted is It at this date that the
raised floors are being erected for the
use Of exhibitors In locating their
booths. A pleasing feature here will
be a promenade "a feet wide, and run
ming unobstructed the entire length
OF the building, $50 feet.
The other Of the two structures Is
magnificent music hall, in whose erec'
tion the Exposition management
takes especial pride, since its need
has been so urgent through all the
years Of past seasons. The front
alone OF this hall, or more properly
speaking, temple Of music, is worth
a journey Of many miles to behold.
The interior arrangements leave moth
ing to be desired. A large stage, per
fectly equipped, will be available fot
great musical and theatrical enter
tainments; comfortable opera chairs
will provide seating for 5000 persons;
thousands OF incandescent lights will
furnish gorgeous Illumination; the
acoustics will be as nearly perfect as
can be, and extra exits for use In case
OF fire will be found In satisfactory
number. Naturally. under such con
ditions. the daily Exposition concerts
will gain in favor and be more enjoy
able than ever before was possible.
A already stated the 6ousa bAnd
will be the opening attraction for
what promises to be season of un-
approached brilliancy in every way.
Following this organization will come
Walter Damrosch and his New York
Symphony orchestra. Third on the
with the noted Eugenio Sorrentino as
conductor, while closing the season
will come Emil Paur, whose ac.
complishments as director OF the high
class Philharmonic orchestra created
genuine sensations in New York all
last winter.
Naturally much interest attaches to
the character of the exhibits AS the
fire in March destroyed every vestige
of those stored in the main building,
together with the booths sheltering
them, there will be only new ones
this year. A glance at the drawings
for some of the booths now under con.
struction has convinced the manage
ment that for artistic beauty and cost
liness they will outstrip by far any
thing ever displayed at the Point
show
In brief. then. when the doors of
fhe rejuvenated Pittsburg Exposition
swing open on Sept 4. there will have
been expended In the interest Of Its
patrons a half million dollars In now
buildings, the four finest musical or
ganizations obtainable In the United
States will have heen engaged at
enormous cost and fne of exhibits
entirely new will have been ARR 7ged
IN addition to other interesting attrac-
tions almost too numerous for men.
ton