The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-23
MUCH PR|MP|NG
AT EXPOSITION
Great Army Of Workmcn
Rushing Things for
Opening Day
SPLENDID SHOW
FROM BOARDWALK
Impression Gained by Visitor
Who Approaches from Hamp-
ton Roads Lasting and
Most Pleasing-Fine
Appearance by
Friday.

Especial From staff corresponden..l
j AM STOWN POSITI o
GROUNDS, April 22.-Viewed from
certain points. the exposition looks to-
1T noon Friday. Finishing touches are
being put to buildings, the ground Is
being cleared of rubbish. 1owerbeds *
nre In process Of being leveled down.
Of State buildings are being
washed. So productive of results Is
the rush of the past two or three weeks
that in some sections OF the ground
this appearance of practical completes.
ness is strong
But the constant sound of the saw
and the hammer is disillusioning, the
gangs of hundreds of carpenters, stone-
bricklayers and rough labor
ers. employed in building, digging.
hauling. give a vivid idea of the work
being done in order to make ready for
the opening. And. as matter of fact
an enormous amount OF work needs to
be done In order to have the exposi-
ton at that stage of completeness
which will be satisfying to the visitor.
While many of the buildings are
complete. others have scarce
teresting to observe the various stages
of progress on the buildings, which viii
eventually form q part of the picture
which the visitor to the exposition will
carry away with him.
Several appear finished, others near.
ly SO. some half-done, some mere
skeletons. on which busy worknen are
putting the flesh of brick and wood
and staff. What feast for flames
20 ~ ftN. Ia
Grounds now. with the streets so OBJ
structed with lumber. brick, freight
and rubbish that the fire department.
could not make milo an hour. There
is fire station, finely equipped and
manned, In central spot on tins
grounds.
AS Seen from the
Virginia Building.
1t is on the long. broad boardwalk,
which runs along the shore of Hampton
Roads for mile. that one gains an
idea that the exposition Is practically
completed. The various State buildings
front on the walk. and these are for
the most part completed, or SO nearly
so they wear that appearance. The
Virginia Building. the handsomest of
the entire number. looks as though 1t
might have been standing there for
years. instead of weeks. The view
X
the buildings erected by the different
States, is superb Hampton Roads
stretches out to the east and west
as far as the eye can reach. I counted
twenty-three war-ships at anchor in
the Roads to-day, and in fair view
from the veranda of the Virginia
Building. Many were riding at anchor
out of view. Directly opposite. six
miles across the Roads. was Old Point.
and Fortress Monroe.
Far out to the eastward was the
open sea, to the west the old town
of Hampton, and in the dim distance
up the James, Newport News, so new
as to be regarded as an upstart among
the old municipalities down In this
section and so prosperous as to eX-
cite the envy of all OF them. It is diff
lcult to conceive a more beautiful or
more inspiring view than that which
the exposition visitor may have from
the boardwalk or from the front of any
of the State buildings overlooking
Hampton Roads.
So rapid is the progress being made
in getting the exposition ready for
the opening that there Is feeling Of
clatton manifest in the countenaces
of the exposition heads. The great
show will not be ready. but 1t will look
to be almost SO, and a few more days
of good weather after the opening
day will enablo the ,workmen to put
on every finishing touch.
How to Get There;
Transportation Problem.
The problem of transportation is un-
uuestlonably the only one which is
now giving trouble. Every other has
been solved, and while 1t Is claimed "
that water carriage from Norfolk to
the grounds will solve this one, the
solution will not be available until !
rNY l1n . 70 90
pleted, which will not for for con-
siderable time after the opening.
II requires about an hour to make
the trip from Norfolk to the grounds. and
while it Is promised that cars Will ne run
every two minutes on tho opening day, y
is asserted by people not OF the trans
portation company that this VIII Do an
Impossible schedule. Facilities for reach-s
ing the Exposition Grounds now are so
poor that it is almost impossible for per-
sons living in Norfolk temporarily TO get
their baggage transferred to the Inside
Inn, which will be open on Thursday.
The overcrowded condition OF the city
shows itself In the mail service. the street
car service, as we'll as in the hotel lob
bles and on tho thoroughfares. The post
office people are practically swamped. all
though nine additional carriers and sew
enteen additional clerks were put en-
few days ago. There Is no transfer ser-
vice between the entrance to the hotels
grounds and inside. and no express SER
vice to the grounds These may be repl-
edied, but their absence Will prove
serious Inconvenience to tho opening day
visitors,
1t is Impossible for a visitor to obtain
information regarding tho exposition
| without making visits to several Offices.
| The representatives OF the Mexican gov-
ernment. for instance, We're In Norfolk .
week before they We're finally discovered
by Lieutenant Philip Bagby, OF me army,
| who is statnoned at the exposition,
( charged with the duty of receiving foreign
| visitors of military character and pros
Ii .L..al1 arla alIasai Anil