The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-10-25
WILDERNESS Is DISAPPEARING.
The Lower Tract Will he Cleared
Within Next Two Weeks.

The Lower Tract VIII he Cleared
Within Next Two Weeks.
The forest glades of the Exposition site
are robed in their supremest beauty. From
the summit Of the Art Palace eminence the
eve may travel across the far reaches of
the tree-speckled tract which is to be
traverseG by lagoons and boulevards be-
tween stately edifices OF Renaissance archi-
lecture.
In the quiet air the blows Of the relentless
ak come from a great distance to the west
where the Wilderness is going down day
by day to make space for the great Trans
portation and Mines and Metallurgy build
ings. One-quarter Of a mile is strewn with
low-laid monarchs Of the woodland. and
bare ground on which the sun has never
heretofore shone in the summer season Is
now exposed. The opening that has been
made by the corps of choppers gives an un-
obstructcd view of the west part OF the
main picture looking from the extreme
western end of Art Hill. Across this clear
ing threads the River des Peres. which will
be undisturbed in its course. while concealed
beneath the foundations of the main build
ings and the broad avenues radiatins from
the Art Palace and its gardens.
Next the attention OF Director OF Works
Taylor will be directed to the trees stud
ding the staked plain to the front OF the
Art Palace site, where the grand basin.
fianked by the main boulevard OF the Expo
sition. will be run in a straight line to the
monumental entrance, three-quarters OF
mile away. Hundreds Of trees in the path
of this gigantic scheme must fall. In two
weeks more they will have disappeared. and
the tract between the base Of Art Hill and
the northern line Of the site will be laid
bare. When the ceremonial Of breaking
ground for the Exposition IS held the
thronss who will attend the important event
will walk over a denuded plain to the spot
on Art Hill where two historic shorels Will
turn the first clods Of earth.
Grading will begin on Art Hill. Thousands
OF tons of earth must be moved from here
to establish the symmetry Of landscape ef-
feet, which will form the basis for the
genius Of the landscape architects. Portions
Of the front Of the hill are to be cut down
to form a more precipitous slope. In Its
native state the hill has a gentle gradua-
tion toward the base, where the head OF the
grand basin will lie. The top OF the emf
nence in the center. where the arched en-
trance Of the peristyle will be surmounteo
by the DOME must be built up and the en-
tire crest Of the hill shaped to form true
arc.
Almost as soon as work begins on the
hillside of the art eminence. excavations
for the grand basin and the lagoon system
are to commence at the foot OF the hill.
The surveyors have established the lines to
be followed by the contractors in digging
the lagoons. When this work is well under
way something of the idea OF the main
..picture" Of the Exposition will begin to
shape itself in the imasinations OF VISITORS
to the site. Almost simultaneous with the
beginning Of the grading and excavafing
Director of Works Taylor says that he Will
commence the erection Of the fence about
the site Before this work Is complete a
Gordon of guards will have been drawn
around the grounds to prevent the entrance
Of curiosity-seekers
The extrication OF the stumps of trees
that have been felled is n part Of the con-
struction that is scheduled to begin with
the other work. Powerful machinery is to
be used to uproot these stumps. They Will
be drasged from their beds in the s:ound
and burned Logs. which are suitable for
the two great log structures projected by
Director of Works Taylor. will be piled
TO ore side for use later in the woodland
setting on the hills in the background OF
the main picture" Workshops will begin
to dot the surface Of the site when the con-
tractors are let loose on the great area !
A temporary hospital with corps OF at
tendants will be established soon.