The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-05-28

The committee appointed by the LOUIS
lana Purchase commission OF the state
of Rhode Island consisting of the treas
urer. Mr.. Edward q. Penniman, and exc
cutive commissioner George ~ Kings
bury 10 visit ST. Louis have returned and
rendered its report to the commission.
On their arrival IN st. Louis they were
met by one OF the executive officers or
the exposition and joining delegation
Of about 20 of the Pennsylvania commits
sion they were taken to the grounds In
a private car and presented TO President
TrarSts and director OF works Taylor.
Carriages were furnished and both dele
cations were driven about the exposition
grounds for three or four, hours. They
were much impressed. not only with the
magnitude OF the work but with the prog
ress already made. and under way. A
dinner was rendered the Pennsylvania
and Rhode Island delegations by the
president I'm the administration building.
The first business OF the Rhode Island
delegation was TO find out about the site
for the Rhode Island building. They
found that while IN the preliminary as
signment OF sites a location had been
given to Rhode Island. that this assign
ment had not been strictly adhered TO,
hut that the state which had representa-
tives appear at the exposition offices
were being given the choice OF any sites
winch had not already been reassigned.
A CHANGE DESIRABLE.
The committee also found that owing
20 changes that had been made In the
drives, inside the exposition grounds the
site which had originally given to Rhode
Island was not altogether desirable be-
cause IL was on rather low ground
The location OF all the state buildings Is
in the southeast corner of the exposition
grounds. All this portion OF the grounds is
covered with a beautiful grove OF oak
and walnut trees from one foot to two
feet in diameter and 30 TO so years old
The highest portion OF this land is In the
extreme southeast corner, from that
point the land slopes gradually down to-
wards the northwest
The prevailing winds In this locality
during the summer time are from the
south, and IL therefore seemed to the
Rhode Island representatives that a site
should be secured. II possible. on as high
ground as was available. The site select
ed for the Rhode Island building Is west
of and adjoining the Indiana state build
Ing and after an extensive examination IL
was evident that this was one OF the best
locations on the ground.
The site faces the north, Is on about the
highest ground being% about 140 feet above
the Mississippi river so that 1t should re-
ceive the benefit OF every breeze. a
broad macadam avenue is fully completed
I'm front OF the site and the gas. water
and sewer pipes are already laid: the
land upon which the building will be built
is about IL feet above the street and is
reached by a very graceful slope which
will add 20 the appearance Of any build
ing which may be placed there.
NEAR ENTRANCE.
The frontage Is about l75 feet and the
depth not determined. II IL within a few
hundred feet OF the southeastern en-
trance 10 the grounds just outside OF
which Is one OF the direct car lines into
the city OF St Louis. II Is also very near
the lire of the Intra Mural railway which
will make all parts OF the exposition
easy OF access A fully equipped fire en-
gine station is also located about three
20 four hundred feet I'm the rear OF the
site. The distance from the Rhode Island
building TO the nearest OF the exposition
palaces is about 1900 feet
The director OF works made a definite
assignment OF this site and urged the
Rhode Island delegation to have prepared
as soon az possible and submitted 20 him
for approval the plans Of the building
With this idea In view the Rhode Island
commission has appointed n building
committee consisting OF Messrs. Penni-
man and kingsbury. who are taking ac-
tive steps 10 this end. They will adver-
tise this week inviting the architects resi-
dent In Rhode Island TO submit designs on
or before June % While the commission
does not desire To control the ideas Of
any architect as 10 the style OF the build
Ing, yet they incline 10 the belief that one
OF Colonial character will be desirable.
ONLY ONE BEGUN
None OF the states except Iowa have
actually started on the construction of
their buildings. although several OF them
have had dedicatory exercises on their
sites. The Mexican building is we'll under
way and r. about 90 by 30 feet IN size
and Of a very attractive character.
While the committee was In ST. Louis
they were guests at a smoker given by
the Pennsylvania society at the Mercan.
11ls club and every courtesy was accord