The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1902-03-20
Buys the Pan-AmeriGan Exposition.

The Chicago House Wreck ing Company pur-
chases the complete Buffalo Show.
Few people appreciate the colossal undertaking
connected with the purchasing and dismantling.
OF an Exposition 1t is about big an enterprise
as the ordinary person would care to contemplate
even in Imagination, and yet there is located in
Chicago at West 35th and Iron streets, q Company
that devotes oceans of time and thousands OF
dollars in contemplating the wrecking of such
Institutions after they are closed.
1t would be pity indeed il all OF the vast guam
quality were to lose its intrinsic value after /,
had completed but short period Of usefulness.
We are all more or less interested IN an EXPOSE
ton during its life, and 1t might not be amisS to
give few minutes thought as to what becomes
of an exposition after the lights have gone and
The features OF the Pan-American Exposition
Will live in the memory OF all who were fortunate
enough TO see it, The highest skill in science and
art had been employed in making exposition
fully worthy of this era OF progress and invention.
The illumination was unqueStionably the finest
ever before seen. II was as grand sight as NOR
tai eye had ever beheld. The color effects of
the buildings and the beauty OF the architecture
were the result of more than ten years of careful
thought and study IL was in fact in every way
such an institution as we were all proud Of The
enterprsing people of Buffalo and the state of
New York had spared no expense in making an
exposition fully worthy OF the great common
wealth that il represented.
TO give YOU an idea as 10 the enormous quantity
OF material necessary in the construction Of such
anexpoSiton we briefly mention the fact that there
were 5000 feet OF lumber used In the conStruc
ton, $4,000 81 feet OF windows 1000 So. feet of
DOORS 100000 lbs of iron pipe, 100000 lbs struc-
tural iron, 20O,0 incandeScent lights, 100000 So.
feet roohHg tile, millions of brick 5000 flag poles,
Is 600 flags, 1,500 sculptuTa groups and countless
Of other items were used in building the exposi-
AS No, ember list drew near the question of dis.
posing of the material and OF restoring the grounds
to their former condition was naturally the all i'm
pOrtant proposition Of the directors OF the eX-
position. What to do with the material and who
could successfully undertake the gigantic task?
As a matter of fact there were but few cCntrac-
tors In position to undertake the job.
The Chicago House Wrecking Co. was practi-
| eally the only bidder and the contract was
awarded to them. II is understood that some
| thing like SlS2, 600 was the purchase price
At the company's extensive plant in Chicago
there is scene of hustle and hustle. Buildings
are being cleared that they may receive the
enormous contents. The yards are swept
OF heaped up goods and the tracks that run
through their yards are being strengthened to
take care OF this enormous traffic. A thousand
freight cars win be needed in moving the material
Worlds Fair OF 1898, They are also the pur-
chasers Of the Trans Mississippi Exposition Of
| Omaha, Neb., 1899 and dismantled the Chicago
| Postoffce and Sub-Treasury Building. They are
the only concern OF their kind on earth who make
| scientific study OF the business. They are not
wTeckerS in the ordinary sense OF the word, be-
cause they preserve and do not destroy. The
| wrecked material THAT comes into their poses
sion is carefully gone over, and wherever possible
| restored TO its original condition.
Atthe time OF the purchase OF the Worlds Fair
the question OF what to do with the material was
| very important one to this company. Chicago,
however large was too limited field in which to
dispose OF all OF the material. A systematic and
complete catalogue was issued containing care.
fully detailed description of the material and was
| mailed broadcast throughout the country. The
reception accorded IL vas a very encouraging one
TO it's promoters, and showed there was an enor
nous demand for building material at low price.
1t is now n regular business with the company TO
| issue such catalogues. The material that IL ac-
quireS in the dismantling of institutions and
expositons is scattered over the face of the earth
The statues used as object lessons in colleges
and art institutes. They are of great value when
properly taken care OF, and the company knows it.
The lumber is carefully removed from the build
ingS and the nails drawn and il is so arranged
| as new material. The pipe is rejuvenated the
steel roofing is preserved. This same also applies
| TO the various other items that enter into the
| construction of buildings.
When writing mention this paper.