The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1907-04-18
WILL Be TWO-THIRDS READY



Hampton Roads, Va. Especially -
Two-thirds of the jamestown Expo
sition buildings will be completed,
the rest nearly ready, all but the
educational buildings installed with
their exhibits and State and Warpath
exhibits in fair shape for the open
ing of the Exposition on April 26.
II would be too much to say that
the Exposition will really be ready
for opening, but no exposition ever
Is really ready. Three thousand
skilled laborers-carpente brick
layers, masons, electricians, etc.
ana 700 laborers are at work in the
division of works, trying to hurry
the outfit to the best state of readi-
ness. Three steam rollers are run
ming over the drives, the landscape
is setting out nicely, the macadam
and asbitum streets and the grano-
lithic walks are being whipped into
shape, and all the carts available are
being put to work.
The States have been slow, the
Warpath exhibitors and their con-
tractors are behind time and the
weather has been against the project,
the Exposition management has not
done its best to realize the expecta-
tions of those who have perhaps been
too sanguine.
Delay Caused BY Lack OF Funds.
There was a time when the ques-
tion of money was a consideration
and a very serious one. Then IL
was that the Exposition management
1nd fD o..
100000 loan. Congress was slow.
In the meantime the management
could not go to a contractor and prod
him with no money to back up the
prod. To get money takes time.
While this time was being taken
the management had to be content
with what 1t got, and 1t is no secret
that the various contractors coolly
waved aside the question of haste
and waited for development. Just
that much time was lost. 1t is one
of the ironies of fate that the time
being consumed in getting the loan
through was beautiful weather, and
the minute 1t was made cetain that
the Government would back the
project 1t started to rain. 1t has
been raining ever since, with a few
short intervals of clear weather.
Today the Exposition grounds pre-
sent a picture of unfinished roads,
loosely thrown heaps of dirt, great
piles of crushed stone for paving,
unfinished buildings and partially re-
ceived exhibits. To the layman
there is no reason to believe that
the grounds and buildings will be in
shape for the opening, but to Mr..
c.. Brooks Johnston, chairman of the
board of governors, things look bet
ter.
Good Progress Under Circumstances.
when the Exposition opens 1t will
be in fine shape he said today.
Considering the opposition we have
had from the weather and other cir
cumstances, we have made remark
able progress. All the buildings con-
trolled by the Exposition Company
are ready, the exhibits are making a
good showing, the States are moving
in, the Warpath Is being completed
rapidly, and we have for our opening
day spectacle which will alone be
worth the trip--the naval and mill
tary maneuvers and the arrival of
President Roosevelt The Exposition
grounds, buildings and exhibits will
be so nearly ready on the first day
that those who have attend other
expositions will be surprised. OF
course, there is bound to be a cer-
tain unfinished condition of things,
but this will interfere with nothing
in the way of pleasure and instruc-
tion."
Transportation Could Be Better.
In the Office of Mr.. w. e. Cottrell,
who has charge of the division of
public works, it was reported that all
possible help in the way of labor is
being rapidly taken advantage of.
The traffic department reports that
transportation facilities will be ade-
quate, although this is not at all
certain to the casual visitor, who is
compelled to hang to strap over
nine miles of not too even roadbed
of the Traction Company, being
crowded out of u seat or comfortable
standing room by the normal travel
of workmen and concessionarIes.
The Tidewater Railroad people have
arranged to transfer cars of all
other roads direct to the Exposition
grounds, which helps some. There
will be two trolley lines working,
with a promise of sufficient rolling
stock to run on q two-minute or
such schedule, as is considered safe.
Numerous steamboat companies have
applied for permission to land at the
deep-sea pier, and other boats which
can go into shallow water-seven
| feet at low tide, with a tide of two
| feet--will land at the commercial
| pier