New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-25
RUSHJAMESTOWNW WORK
CLEANING UP GROUNDS.
Officials Expect 100, 900 at Opening
of Exposition.
IBy Telegraph 70 The Tribune. !


Norfolk, Va, April 24.-Eight thousand men
are working hard preparing the grounds and
buildings OF the jamestown exposition for the
opening on Friday. Both day and night gangs
are busy.
If the weather holds good It is safe TO say
that when President Roosevelt at noon on Fri
day presses the button that will set the ma
chinery in motion there will be fully 100000
persons on the grounds. When the gates swing
open for the crowds the exposition will be
about 80 per cent completed Eight Of the
state buildings are complete and the exhibits
and furnishings are IN place The other twenty
state buildings are nearing completion All Of
the federal government buildings are completed
and the exhibits installed.
While all of the exposition buildings are prac-
tically finished, few exhibits are now ready.
They are on the grounds packed in hun
dreds Of freight cars but the congestion is
so great that it has been impossible to unload
them with any speed. There is considerable
chaos on the grounds at present. but the man
agement says positively that within a month
after the opening there will be complete trans
formation and that certainly by June l the ex-
position will be complete.
The miserable weather this spring has greatly
retarded the work. otherwise the big show would
have been practically completed on the opening
day. As it is there many granOlithic side
walks and some OF the streets have been ma
cadamized. Great steam rollers are working
night and day getting the thoroughfares in con-
dition. The War Path. which is TO be the
midway. is about 80 per cent complete. There
viii be few attractions. however. running on the
opening day
The browning feature of the tercentennial.
however. is the naval end. Out in the roadstead
of the grounds tonight lie at anchor the flower
OF the United States navy-eighteen modern
battleships, the old Texas, and many OF the older
types OF ironclads. There is big feet OF tor
pedo boats and destroyers, and many GOLFERS
and supply ships.
The German cruisers Room and Bremen are
anchored near the American vessels and this
afternoon the cruiser Presidente Sarmiente OF
the Argentine Republic Joined the feet Wire
less messages from down the coast indicate the
approach of the British fleet OF four cruisers.
By noon on Friday it is expected that practi-
cally all OF the foreign en-of-war Will be in
Hampton Roads The salute 10 President Roose-
welt on Friday morning viii be early feature
of the opening day.
PLANS FOR THE PRESIDENT.
After his arrival in the Roads the President
VIII pass through the long lane of ships in
the AIayfiower. after which he will go ashore
for a reception before he presses the golden
button At night. with the grounds brilliantly
illuminated and the thousands OF lights on the
war vessels there will be presented novel and
magnificent sight.
II is the opinion that IL there were nothing
on the grounds the army and navy end would
carry the fair. With the many steamer. troll
ley and steam lines. It is believed that the
crowds VIII be handled with ease.
The appearance OF measles in the family OF
Harry ST. George Tucker, president of the
jamestown Exposition Company. has made
necessary a change in the arrangements for
the dinner 20 be given President Roosevelt by
Mr. Tucker on Friday evening following the
opening Of the exposition. The original plan
was 10 have the dinner at Mr. fuckers home
The Myers mansion, one OF the Oldest houses
in Norfolk and the home OF Barton Myers. gov
ernor Of ways and means for the exposition. has
been rendered for the purpose and accepted