The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-30
WORK BEING PUSHED
 AT THE B|G FAIR The Exhibits Are Now Being
 Rapidly Installed VULCAN Is TALKED ABOUT Big Statue Is Attracting Much Atten- ton and Age-Herald Reports
 Are Read In St. Louis
 With Interest.
VULCAN IS TALKED ABOUT


 Activity at the worlds fair is figured now each day in the industry and skill of ten thousand men and the incoming of hundreds of car loads of exhibits from all quarters of the globe. The work upon the buildings would have been completed by this date but for the harassing de- mands of some of the trades and the delays caused by strikes.
 In the past few days the painters who are finishing the exterior of some of the buildings and who are getting $5 a day. struck for $6. Their unions repudiated the demand and refuse to support the men. President Francis addressed the the exposition would not grant their de- mand They had entered into an agree ment when the advance to 8 day was made, that they would demand no fur ther increase and the president gave them to understand that if they persisted in this new demand the buildings would be left unpainted and the responsibility would be thrown back upon the painters who had violated their contract with the exposition. The order of the union pre- vailed and the men went back to the painting at $5 a day.
 As striking illustration of the labor conditions which prevail within the ex- position grounds, an experience of the Bethlehem Steel works is worthy of note. This great company brought in thirteen car loads of exhibits for the mines pal ace. With the cars came thirteen men from the Bethlehem works. who were familiar with the labor to be done in in- stalling these exhibits. The principal fea- ture of these exhibits Is a turret of a battleship in operation. The men accom- panying the exhibits were especially skilled in this part of the work, but they were not allowed to touch 1t. They were sent back to Pennsylvania without turn ing hand and the fair grounds work men took charge of the york.
 A long train laden with Filipinos reach ed the fair on Friday and were placed in their comfortable quarters in the Filipino reservation, where a district of forty acres is devoted to their use
 Exhibits Being Installed.
 The exhibits are now being installed
 rapidly in all the buildings on the grounds and this work is employing ar
 immense number of people, many oi
 whom are sent here with the exhibits The Model City near the main entrance is approaching completion and all of the
 great show buildings of the Pike will bs ready for business when the fair opens
 There Is no exaggeration in saying that
 this part of the exposition will excell by a hundred per cent any midway that has
 been assembled for any exposition in the
 world. The truth of this statement may be realized when 1t is considered that the Pike represents an expenditure of about six million dollars.
 There Is an immense increase in the at- tendance at the grounds each day and a large number of automobile carriages are kept busy riding the visitors about the grounds. The price of admission thus far has been twenty-five cents, but 1t will be advanced to fifty-cents on April l. On April 15 the grounds will be closed to visitors until the opening day. April 3O While there is an immense amount of work to be done before the opening day. Ex- perts express the opinion that all depart ments of the fair will be well advanced by the opening day and that In few days thereafter everything will be in working order.
 Vulcan Interest Growing. The interest in Vulcan instead of abat- ing has greatly increased since I was last here. Everybody about the exposition ex- press the opinion that it will be one of the most striking and attractive features of the great show. 1t Is easy to tell from the manner of the inquiries made that the Vulcan has deeply impressed himself up on the minds of even the most blase exposition authorities They are all pre- pared to see him become as he certainly will become, one of the most popular and sought after wonders of the exposition. pr. J. A. Holmes, chief of the mines department has given his personal atten- ton to the construction of the heavy pile foundation on which the statute will stand Nine massive piles were driven to bedrock and hammered on until the two ton hammer bounced upward when it fell and could not drive them hairs breadth deeper These piles are bolted together and held in place by twelve by twelve timbers. It is estimated that each pile will sustain a weight of twenty tons or 10000 pounds, so that the entire founda- tion is safe to susutain about 36O, ,00( pounds. As it is not likely that the Vul- can will weight more than 100000 to 125, 900 pounds, 1t will be seen that an i'm. mense amount of allowance has beer made on the side of safety.
 Vulcan Easily Seen.
 In his final arrangement of the great features of the Mines Palace. Dr. Holmes has placed the Vulcan so that he faces across the building in such a manner that he will be seen from every point There are no timbers nor supporting columns near enough to the site of the colossus to obstruct the view, and the entire Alabama space is free and clear from these incumbrances. The roof of the building is about 40 feet above the head of the Vulcan.
 Artists and newspaper men who are here from all parts of the country are anxious to obtain the latest news about the great statue. The daily reports in The Age-Herald about the progress of the work at the foundry are read here with the deepest interest for the fact Is appreciated by we'll informed men that no such statue has ever before been built. and that it is a work of such importance