Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 October 1890 — SITE FOR THE BIG FAIR. [ARTICLE]

SITE FOR THE BIG FAIR.

IT IS NOW DEFINITELY AGREED UPON. Th® World’s Fair Will Be Located on the Lake Front, Jackson Park and Washlngt n Park-The Tender of Washington Park. [Chicago dispatch ] The site for tho Fair is to be Jackson and Washington Parks. The Lake Front will have two or three handsome buildings on it containing such exhibits as will be particularly attractive at night, but the commission is almost unanimous in its desire for a major portion.of the Fair at the southern end of the site. In fact, the fear that the southern end would be discriminated against in the interests of the Lake Front inspired some of the Commissioners to object to the Lake Front being made a part of tho site at all, and the assertion that the commission would have the apportionment when deciding on plan and scope was the only thing that quieted them. Final action, however, was hamoniou-:. “Gentlemen,” said President Palmer as he put the question, “it looks to me as though this were all going one way, so I may say that applause is in order.” The applause came and was long continued. In the galleries there was shouting even; yet the gavel never fell. There was cause for applause. The site matter had been settled, after months of wrangling, to the satisfaction of all concerned. Chicago had given the best it had, and the Commissioners could go back to their States and say so. It had given three parks, practically, including that tho live-stock and agricultural interests should have the best of treatment —a pledge that was not needed, by the way.

Progress has been rapid in the last twenty-four hours In the site matter. The South Park Board met and agreed to give the park if the request were made strong enough. Tho Board of Directors met and made Its request strong. Then it passed tiie question on to the Commission, which clinched it by passing a resolution introduced by Martindale, of Indiana, which was passed without a dissenting vote. After reciting the decision of tho South Park Board to offer Washington Park if the Commission should insist, the resolution concludes with tho following: Resolved, By the National Commission, that this commission does still Insist ttiut the space needed for the exposition.and to make the samo adequate and satisfactory to this commission, requires that 'Washington Park be added to the several plats of ground heretofore tendered to this commission as a site for the exposition, and that the addition of Washington Park may be niado by the Chicago directory, and will bo accepted by this commission with the understanding that only so much of the seveial plats as may be required for exposition purposes will be used; and that the presentation of said park and its acceptance, with the acceptance of the Midway Pluisa/ice, shall be a final settlement of all questions relating to the sit 3 for said exposition. And when the South Park Board meets it will be handed by its Secretary, H. W. Harmon, a polite note which that official received from Secretary Dickinson of the commission. This note contains a copy of the resolution last mentioned, and a courteous request that the board take action on it at its earliest possible convenience, as the National Commission cannot adjourn until tho board’s reply is received. Then the whole procedure will begin all over again. The South Park Commission will pass its ordinance, the directors will pass it, and then the commission will close tho matter by accepting it. Then comes the question of its use—in fact, of the use of all three portions of the site. The commission is under practical pledge, in view of what has been said and done, to avoid cutting down trees and destroying drives in Washington Park, and it is practically under pledge, in view of what was said at th'o conference Saturday, to make no attempt to abandon the Lake Front. Jackson Park seems to be the only portion of the site on which all meet on entirely neutral ground. All parties in interest are agreed that that must be used to a large extent, in any event.