The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-04-24
With Only Ten Days Remaining
for Opening All Is
Activity.
BUILDINGS GO UP RAPIDLY
III. =. Lyman Writes Interesting
~ of Scenes at Great EN-
position Grounds nc
st. Louis.

! Ten days berore the worlds IA
n opens all IL business and hustle, b,
hardly excitement. All seems to pre-
coed in an orderly and determine
manner, and the amount OF work per
formed Is astonishing, AT least 600
regular workmen, as estimated by IN
labor unions, are employed on tn
grounds and buildings. and half a
many more, certainly, are occupied 4
the various state and national con
cessions.
Buildings are springing up as II b.
q magician's SPELL on the grounds an,
Just outside-those on the outside be
ing hotels. eating houses, etc, ant
those on the inside being the estab.
llshments of concessionarles, such a,
shows. etc. The great exposition build.
fings, or palaces, as they are called
we're, OF course, erected long ago, but
even on them much finishing work Il
proceeding, and the installation OF the
exhibits is just beginning. The build
ings Of the various states and nations
are mostly completed. The greatest
rush Of work just now Is on the drives,
roads, lawns, etc, where regiments OF
men and hundreds Of teams are laying
avenues Of cement at the rate OF blocks
by the day.
As ! happen to know. however, the
appearance of orderliness and regu-
larity and predetermination Is only APP
parent, or partly so. Bosses and EN-
ployers are constantly losing men, who
run from one to another for higher
wages. which are even now high above
union rates; but the workmen natural
ly think this Is bonanza which comes
only once In 100 years and work II for
all II is worth. A mechanic that has
made $25 a week thinks he has missed
1t IL he hears OF another that made $40,
Contractors, however. are more keen
even than the workren. and the show
job will bring bids varying 300 per
cent Rents and rooms and board are
said to be likely to fiuctuate as much.
though the st. Louis papers state that,
at the rate hotels and lodging houses
are going up and accommodations are
being provided in private homes, there
win be no question Of ample room and
reasonable rates. Accommodation for
10000 guests have already been pub
lished by the bureau Of free informa-
tlon, and now it is stated by the Globe
Democrat that room for $4,000 more is
in sight. Rates now for both lodgings
and meals are very reasonable.
The fair will be formally opened,
or no, on the day set, April
80, but work of continuation and in
stallation will be going on for month |
or two longer. An elaborate and i'm
pressive program has been arranged,
as your readers already noticed by
news. The finale viii no
doubt be most effective, or even aston
Ishing. After the speeches, parades
and ceremonies, In which high func-
tionaries and dignitaries of our own
md of all other nations will paFticl-
pate, are ended, Secretary Taft, as
Of the president, max
ng the concluding address, President
at Washington, will touch
/ key-which happens to be golden
,ne-and thus by wire set at work the
machinery in every building, start the
yreat artificial cascade into play, and
1nfurl every flag on the buildings
over 1000 flags will thus be given to
he breeze all in one chorus-s0 tol
ipeak-of color, while the machinery
md cascade and military or other
,ands, and probably the cheers of the
,opulace will unite in a chorus of
ound. While approaching melodrama,
he finale will have interest as Illus
rating the attainment Of applied {
head Of the union at the
.apitol touching instantly the vital (
art of great mechanism and letting J
m the energy, though himself 1000 {
niles or more distant.
The question Of weather will be of ]
ONE concern. Last year on April 30,
/ the dedication, it was most wintry, '
nth raw wind, and fakes of snow /
ying all day. Since my arrival, how |
yer, just a week. It has been very
ood-dry and dusty, 1t is true, with
tiff winds part of the time and
lornings approaching frost, If not I
rossing the line, but no rain. Hardy 9
hrubs are just beginning to flower,