People's Pilot, Volume 2, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 March 1893 — TALES OF THE FAIR. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TALES OF THE FAIR.

▲ Grist of Gossip About Chicago and the Columbian Exposition. The Queyion of Conveyances—Casting of Montana's Silver Statue—A Brome Columbus for the Lake Front— At Jackson Park. [Special Chicago Correspondence.]

1 ""THERE is considerable talk in it —TTI now about the L' |y I « facilities at hand for the conveyance of u world’s fairvisitors about the city. The pres1/ ent population is sufficient to ® tax the existing modes of transit to the uttermost, and the jXgSP contemplation of the situation “ with the thou-

sands upon thousands-of added visitors is, to say the least, anything but reassuring. We are promised, however, that by the time the fair opens there will be ample facilities for taking care of the crowds, Chicagoans and all. But notwithstanding this promise, even though it is made by the statistical genius who runs the mathematical department of the world’s fair, there is room for fear that there will be some discomfort in getting about our big city, when the numerous railways which center here begin unloading their throngs of passengers in our midst.

The aforesaid statistical genius, who, by the way, has figured the thing all out for the guide books, states that in addition to the present accommodations there will be extra trains run between the city and Jackson park on all Yhe roads running in that direction. There will also be a number of boat lines which will take a great many people down the lake shore to the fair grounds, which beyond doubt will be the route most favored by all who enjoy the fresh breezes and a ride on the water. These boats, or a few of them, at least, were kept busily employed all last summer in carrying people to the fair grounds, but the force is to be greatly augmented and large landings are being built on the lake front for the use of passengers. We hope our mathematical informant is correct in his calculations, and we have every reason to believe'that he is, but until the fair season js fairly on and we have had a test there will continue to be some doubt as to our ability to cope with the masses of people from abroad. Within the last week the famous Montana silver statue “Justice” has been cast, and the operation, which was performed with imposing ceremonies, was an initial success. The statue is the largest ever made of such precious material, and when complete and mounted will undoubtedly be the marvel of the century. It is the lifesize figure of the celebrated actress, Miss Ada Behan, and something like

sixty -five thousand dollars’ worth of .999 fine silver was used in the cast The silver in the figure is two inches thick, and the metal that overflowed in the casting will be made into sour venirs for the people of Montana. Much uneasiness was manifested by those in charge of this important work, for fear the cast would prove faulty in some respect, but when the molds were cooled and the figure exposed, it was found that the work had been perfect, and the chief operators were overjoyed at their success. It is announced that Mrs. McAdow, who is the owner of the ■“Spotted Horse” gold mine in Montana, will furnish the two hundred and fifty thousand dollar gold plinth or base for the statu". The citizens of Chicago have in store a great surprise. It will be sprung upon them in the course of a few days. It will be the erection of a heroic bronze statue of Columbus at the foot of Congress street on the lake front; The statue was determined upon by the exposition management about a year ago, but the matter has been kept very quiet, and only those who were on the inside knew the significance of

die huge mound of earth which had been thrown up on the spot intended for the statue. The statue is twenty feet in height, and Is quite different from any other statue of Columbus here or abroad. It represents the Genoese ia the act of dia-

covering America. His costume is military and he wears a luxurious cloak, the capacious skirts of which are flapping in the wind. His feet are far apart, one foot being in advance of the other. His arms are slightly raised, and his right hand clinched like a person thrilled with what he saw. The countenance is intelligent and noble, eye fixed and the lips parted. The statue will face Michigan avenue, though a regard for realistic effect would suggest that it be placed facing the water of the lake. It will be placed on a plain and massive pedestal of granite, with a simple inscription, and the work is to be finished and the statue in place, according to contract, by the middle of April. The statue, however, will be covered, and will not be visible to the public until formally unveiled. The tftne for this ceremony has not yet been positively fixed. It may occur before May 1, but the probability is that it will be deferred until the dignitaries from Spain and Italy are here in order that they may take a prominent part. The particulars concerning the erection of this statue have been kept as private as possible, partly to prevent it from becoming stale before it is unj

veiled to the public and partly because speculators were anxiously watching an opportunity to copy it in the shape of souvenirs and make it a matter of merchandise. Even now the artist and the art committee decline to have it photographed, reserving it as a surprise to the citizens of Chicago and their visitors. Out at the world’s fair grounds the workmen of all descriptions are toiling like beavers to get things in shape for the opening day, which is now but little over a month away. The force has been increased from time to time, as the weather would permit, until at present there are over ten thousand

men at work, perhaps nearly double that number, and large forces are working at night in many of the buildings. Most of these men are employed in putting the finishing touches to the interiors and unpacking and placing exhibits, which are daily arriving in train loads. Most of the debris of the buildings has been, removed from the grounds and the roads and walks are receiving a final dressing and smoothing. Many of the buildings are being freshly coated with white, and away up in the air the painters look like pigmies as they busily ply their brushes upon the statues which adorn the lofty domes. Each day brings with it some new feature in the park. One , may travel about the grounds to-day and see everything that is to be seen and to-morrow there will be some new surprise for him. Among the latest oddities is a queer-looking structure being erected on the south end of the wooded island near the Davy Crockett log house. When completed it will represent the sort of cabin the antipodean bushmen occupy. It is being built of bark brought from Australia, and is held together by long poles lashed together with twisted grasses. This odd building will be occupied by Australians during the summer, who will decorate the interior with an interesting collection of hunter’s traps and trophies of the chase. Another interesting exhibit which is about to be constructed is that of the empire of India. It will stand near the houses of Sweden, Hayti and New South Wales, in the north end of the park. In architecture it is oriental to the minutest detail. The building is nearly square, eighty feet long by sixty wide and twenty-five feet high. A lofty gateway leading into it is topped by minarets painted in a rich but harmonious oriental style. Smaller minarets of a similar design to those over the gateway are placed at each of the corners of the main building. The general effect of the exterior will render the structure a striking object among the cosmopolitan specimens of architecture at the north end of the park. The contents of the building will be

in keeping with the style of exterior decoration. The chief feature of the exhibit will naturally be tea, in the cultivation and manufacture of which those represented by the Indian Tea' association have invested many millions of dollars. Associated with the Indian Tea association of Calcutta is the Bengal chamber of commerce, so that the entire tea industry of the Indian empire, which gives employment to nearly one hundred and fifty thousand people and in which are invested ten million dollars, will be represented at this building. In the Indian building the visitor will be able to drink Indian tea, served in Indian manufuctured crockery, hand-painted by native Indians and served by native servants in native garb. Indian carpets, brass and copper utensils, gold and silver vessels, antique Indian arms curiously inlaid with filigree and mosaic work in precious metals, magnificent collections of ivory goods, etc., will be open for the inspection of visitors to this unique pavilion. The total value of the collection will be something enormous, reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars, and the ebony-hued attendants who wait upon visitors will at the same time be exhibits as custodians of the costly treasures in the building.

LAKE-FRONT STATUE OF COLUMBUS.

INDIA’S TEA BUILDING.

AUSTRALIAN BUSH CABIN.