The Greater America Exposition of 1899
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1-13-2000
Following the great success Omaha had in 1898 with the Trans-Mississippi Exposition, a group of investors decided it did not make sense to tear the buildings after just one year. They raised enough money to buy the grounds and embarked on a second exposition, which would later be named the Greater America Exposition. This is the story of that exposition as it was reported in the World Herald in 1899. A few articles have been added from the Omaha Bee, which are marked "Bee". All others are from the Morning edition of the World Herald. The format used was to pull highlights from the articles. Enough of the article to give the reader an idea when and where to look on a given subject, but not the entire account. To get the complete story, it is recommended that you go to those papers and read the entire article. Nov. 2, 1898 $66,900 subscribed to save White City...200 stockholders... four $5000 subscriptions...most exhibitors will return according to Major Hamilton, presently in charge of Illinois Building, 20 more states will be represented Nov. 4, 1898 First building to be torn down is the Kansas building, was bought by Gus Peterson for $150.00...New York Building sold and converted into double dwelling. Nebraska Building being converted into storehouse for state property. Meeting of Minnesota Commission in St. Paul today to decide if building will be given to Riverview Park or sold to Mr. Austin of Chicago. Affairs being closed at Iowa and Wisconsin Buildings...will be left to their doom in a few days. Several of the smaller buildings on East Midway going down Nov. 5, 1898 Iler and Hayden Bros. offer $10,000 for...project to hold the show another year Nov. 8, 1898 Waiting to see about next year...most States and Midway people hesitating to dispose of their buildings. The Iowa Building is the second building to go down. Nov. 11, 1898 Park Board sentiments on Kountze site...to replace all of the earth, but leave steel bridges as memorial of Exposition... Board loaned Expo thousands of trees which will be removed... and will planted along boulevards. Sycamores and elms on 20th street, south of Expo grounds. A large number of flowers and shrubs also belong to Park Board and will be transplanted... Trans-planting has been suspended until results of movement for Exposition next year known. BEE Board of Directors will meet to discuss the proposition submitted by Iler to purchase the property for $10,000. It is intimated the Committee is not likely to accept the proposition, as they not want to sell until they know who is behind scheme for another year of it Nov. 12, 1898 Builders and Traders Exchange favors another exposition Nov. 13, 1898 Railway tracks finally reach large buildings...admission to grounds to watch demolition reduced to 25c & 15c...tearing down of German village begun last night...Press building was closed down yesterday. Nov. 15, 1898 '99 plan feasible BEE Expo in '99...sentiment in favor of another fair in 1899 is rapidly crystallizing. Downtown dealers want it to be bigger and permanent, feel it will benefit everyone. Nov. 16, 1898 Iler & others offer $17,500 for White City...numerous bids... Chicago Wrecking Co. offers $15, 519...Sec. Wakefield moves his office to Mercantile Bank Building downtown. Nov. 17, 1898 Rosewater mad...files injunction stopping $10,000 for writing official history...says he has material and knowledge, and he is the fit, suitable and proper person to write the history of the '98 Expo. BEE Take it or leave it...bid accepted with some conditions... Price offered exceeds that from Pg. 5 any wrecking company. Rosewater says is costing $500 a day to protect the property. History injunction provokes a lively discussion. Nov. 18, 1898 Question of holding the Show another year will be decided Saturday night...$30M subscribed. John Ryckman suggests Colonial theme BEE 99 tide is rising...immediate action necessary... Nov. 19, 1898 "The Expo proved Omaha could do anything and its people should not forget this important lesson", Congressman Mercer at Commercial Club. Committee appointed to raise money for '99 Expo...$100,000 goal. Nov. 20, 1898 Another year of it...$60,000 subscribed, more coming Nov. 23, 1898 Expo transferred...sale of property completed...German Village property sold at auction yesterday to satisfy claims against it...Snow blocking the grounds...several feet deep in places. Nov. 24, 1898 Jobbers of Omaha against '99 fair...based on view that retail merchants in small Nebraska towns against it and will withdraw their trade from Omaha. Nov. 25, 1898 Fifteen guards laid off because not much to do only seventeen left. Nov. 29, 1898 Spain accepts American terms for peace...Real Estate men not prepared to endorse or oppose '99 Expo...Alleged official history being worked...Rosewater doing his own unauthorized history... Nov. 30, 1898 Nebraska Expo Commission held its final meeting in the Nebraska Building Saturday morning...Silver Creek (NE) protests against 1899...signed by local merchants of Silver Creek. Dec. 1, 1899 Expo for next year...Omaha must hold an Exposition again next year. There is no time for argument...Call made to postpone sale of Nebraska Building BEE Dec. 2, 1898 Woe for Midway concessionaires...Several T/M people were lured to the Pure Food Show in Cincinnati. It supposedly had the backing of 1200 local merchants and would run for three weeks with expected attendance of not less than 200,000. The first day drew 18 visitors to the midway, the second was no better. It closed after three days and all who went lost heavily. Dec. 3, 1898 People of Wymore and vicinity threaten boycott of Omaha businesses...Plattsmouth objects to '99 Expo Dec. 4, 1898 Accounting to the state...report from the Nebraska Commission on the design and use of Nebraska Building during 1898...Nebraska Building sold for $ 470 to new company...furniture sold separately, much of it going to speculators...Sod House sold for $ 25. BEE President McKinley favors an Omaha show during 1899...to exhibit new possessions of United States. Dec. 8, 1898 Women meet to discuss roll in 1899 Exposition. Want their own building...criticize Midway, would make next more refining and eliminate beer and coarse elements... Dec. 9, 1898 Omaha jobbers, wholesalers & manufacturers oppose '99 Expo as detrimental to city... BEE Nebraska Commission completes sale of Nebraska Building contents, cases, tables, rugs, furniture, etc...some purchased by '99 people, some by speculators Dec. 11, 1898 Nebraska City will boycott Omaha Dec. 12, 1898 Warning to public about unauthorized history of '98 Expo being peddled BEE Big lagoon on Exposition grounds opened to skaters for season. Estimated attendance about 1000... Dec. 13, 1898 Fate of '99 Expo...will it be abandoned? BEE Discuss the Expo...both sides debated. Wholesalers attempt to kill off proposition. Mr. Iler moved that the old Expo Commission be requested to take back property and keep it intact until it is learned what the Government will do... Rosewater opposes taking back property Dec. 15, 1898 Greater America Exposition plan...mass meeting to determine whether it will be held in Omaha next year Dec. 16, 1898 Organizing Committee Chairman Rosewater protests against '99 Expo being belittled by speakers saying that others in state against it. Mr. Dumont comments, "If Omaha had to ask outsiders what it should do, it would never do anything." Dec. 17, 1898 Articles of Incorporation...to be known as Greater America Exposition...$ 500,000 stock available Dec. 21, 1898 Fate of '99 Expo depends on H. Kountze and Frank Murphy... if he refuses to lease this property...and insists buildings be cleared by 4-1-99...would prevent holding another show Dec. 22, 1898 Expo a certainty BEE Inquiring of the Expo...inquiries from possible exhibitors pouring into offices of GAE...from Kansas City, Brooklyn BEE Endorsement for '99 fair by Bloomfied, NE Journal Dec. 24, 1898 America takes possession of Wake Island Dec. 25, 1898 '99 Expo will be the expansion of the United States in miniature...the idea is that people shall have an opportunity to become acquainted with their new compatriots...their customs...what they look like... The trouble with the Worlds Fair in Chicago was that they promptly Americanized themselves...this will be painstakingly avoided in Omaha Dec. 27, 1898 Holiday at Expo...sleeping White City deserted save for skaters...Minnesota Building gone...Portions of lagoon in front of Government Building, which has sprung leaks again, torn up to remove electric fountain. It was by far the largest single building the Government had erected for any exposition. Dec. 28, 1898 Election of GAE Board of Directors delayed. Rosewater condemns BEE bankers and resigns from committee... Dec. 31, 1898 Filthy city streets...public outcry against condition of main thoroughfares in Omaha BEE 1899 Jan 1, 1899 Great demand for Expo stamps...no 4c or 10c left in Omaha...requests for 3c, but none printed Jan. 8, 1899 Midway people seek space...concessionaires putting in bids for1899...Chinese village...Old Plantation...$ 18,639.45 paid for Expo grounds...17500 for property of old company, $ 500 for Illinois Building, $ 639.45 for Nebraska... Jan 11, 1899 GAE insured for $ 80,000...balance sheet for 1898...Like Eqypt...Icilio Ninci, manager of Streets of Cairo,...says he cures homesickness by gazing upon heaps of snow on Omaha's principal streets that remind him of sand around the ruins and pyramids in Egypt... Jan 12, 1899 GAE envoy in Washington D.C....prospects bright for bill in Congress. St. Louis selected to hold World's Fair in 1903... Jan 22, 1899 Joint resolution introduced in congress by Mercer and Thurston ...no pecuniary assistance requested, only same support for Indian Congress as in 1898... Feb. 3, 1899 Lost painting from Expo given to city library found...”Moonrise off Cape Ann" has been at express office since November... Feb. 6, 1899 Filipino's attack Americans...1st Nebraska boys in thick of fight...two Omahans killed...Nebraska man fired first shot for American forces... Feb. 9, 1899 Coldest day in seven years in Omaha...-23 degrees...14th consecutive day zero or below... Feb. 16, 1899 Exhibits from Philippines...arrangements made...will include six ponies, four water buffalo, native carts, monkeys, native birds...also native dancers, musicians and jugglers... Feb. 19, 1899 John Keys submitted plans for "parking" the Grand Court...Eleanor Dutcher, Nebraskadelegate to the National D.A.R. will distribute advertising material and color views at the convention. Feb. 21, 1899 98% of Exposition grounds now gathered in by GAE... Feb. 22, 1899 Two season passes to GAE will be sent to every editor in Nebraska and selected editors in other states... Feb. 23, 1899 Special committee appointed to solicit cooperation of railroads...New power plant to be ordered right away... Feb. 24, 1899 First call for large amounts of exhibit space from Beloit, Wisconsin firm for 1250 sq. feet for exhibit of gasoline engines in motion... Transportation Building will be used for agriculture implements and stock, and will be expanded to include quarter mile track, show ring and amphitheater for 2600. Feb. 25, 1899 Demand for pamphlets has been so great 5000 more needed... Feb. 26, 1899 A trip to the old T/M...lonesomest place in the city..."where ghosts walk and coming glories of '99 Expo cast their shadows before"...stately buildings still stand...but the soul is gone ..the merry streets of the midway are a tattered, tawdry ruin. Feb. 28, 1899 Going east after "live exhibits"...will visit 20 to 30 of the largest manufacturers...Dept. of Publicity has issued a new book of views...in addition has added views of public buildings, residences and scenes of Cuba and the Philippines. Replies received from railroads show a willingness to distribute pamphlets and advertising material... March 3, 1899 GAE bill meets decided opposition in House...Senate passed it but the temper on Expositions is not favorable due to heavy appropriations for Buffalo and Toledo... March 4, 1899 GAE cut out...the end of efforts to secure action on the GAE was readied today...no prospect of securing favorable consideration in the House of Representatives... March 5, 1899 Applications being received for exhibits...arrangements underway to build 1/2 mile speed track on site Indian Congress held last year...will be used for sham battles...Dr. Miller named president of GAE... March 7, 1899 Dr. Miller's house burns down...almost nothing saved from fire ...total loss about $100,000. March 8, 1899 Applications received for...Philippine display...Sousa wants to open the Expo...20,000 copies of a new pamphlet, showing diagrams of the grounds and buildings was just issued. It will be mailed to potential exhibitors...Sec. Smith will call on railroads in effort to get special rates...Douglas County will occupy same space as last year... March 10, 1899 Dr. Miller and Ed Rosewater go to Washington D.C....Rosewater throws cold water on ideas...has little confidence in them... March 11, 1899 Porto Rico wants independence...rioting and disturbances throughout island...ill feeling grows... March 18, 1899 Pushing Expo...Col Nicci was awarded management of Streets of All Nations at GAE...says last year will be tame to this year. Telegram received informing Expo management that Government would furnish transportation to agents of Expo to go to Hawaii, Philippines, Cuba and Porto Rico for purposes of collecting exhibits. Klonbrock Boiler Co. will have charge of the boilers again...Thomsom-Houston Electric Co. will have charge of electric lighting...new machinery will be ordered at once... March 19, 1899 H. F. Dailey goes to Philippines...Frank Clark to Hawaii to look for exhibits... March 21, 1899 Twenty Filipino families to be brought to Omaha...local company being organized to get Philippine Village display...John Key going to Chicago and St. Louis collecting displays for Fine Arts Building... March 22, 1899 Uncle Sam gives a lift...will transport all exhibits from colonies...finest display ever seen of Mexico products... enough exhibits secured in Chicago to fill a big building March 23, 1899 About Aug. 15 Cincinnati will run an excursion to the GAE... March 24, 1899 Omaha Business's Proclamation...trade is thriving...population pouring in. The business interests of the city proclaim to the country the destiny of the city. It is entering a new life and beginning her career as the greatest city of the west. We proclaim we are the best markets for buyers, most attractive field for investors, the best opportunity for home seekers... March 26, 1899 Booming the 1899 show...more interesting Indian Congress...larger mining display than T/M in 1898... March 28, 1899 The question of buying the Government Building will be proceeded with...attempt to delay sale by Chicago Wrecking Co., but officials say cannot be postponed. GAE officials will buy it...as law requires it must be sold... March 30, 1899 Capt. Lee Forby dies of wounds... Rough Riders may come to Exposition...Concession for souvenir spoons to George Ryan of Omaha... April 6, 1899 GAE stockholders elect ten Directors...Rosewater resigns, reserving his reasons for a later date...terms agreed upon to buy Government Building... April 7, 1899 Twenty concessions have been closed...Will pay 15%-20% of gross receipts. Managers worried people may have been surfeited on the Midway rides. Among those granted are: The Enchanted Island or "A Midnight in Hawaii"; an electric scenic theater; the Cyclorama "Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge", Old Plantation; Electric Wargraph Theater with Hobson sinking the Merrimac, a Chinese village, Cairo Street, Philippine Village, and the Enchanted Chamber. April 8, 1899 New cruiser to be named "Nebraska" cost $ 4 million, displaces 12000 tons...3rd Nebraska regiment leaves Cuba for Florida. April 11, 1899 Exhibits...Libby Prison Museum will be in Government Building. F.T. Cummins is first to get out an '99 Expo badge...It represents two globes and Government Building dome... 10,000 issued. April 12, 1899 Outlook for the big show very satisfactory...Rosewater asked to reconsider resignation, declines saying there was not enough money raised to make it a success, but if vigorous effort made to raise more funds, he would reconsider and be on ground floor... April 16, 1899 GAE to people of Omaha...(Management of GAE gives a complete statement of its present status and requests the businessman to take a hand in pushing along the project) April 18, 1899 Over 200 Indians, from four tribes, coming from Arizona territory...Navajo, Pueblo and an Indian Band... A force of men put to work on grounds...will take up a lot of brick sidewalks about the buildings and put in sod... promenades will be bricked (not paved)...Southern Pacific Railroad agrees to give same rates as '98... Plattsmouth...we will be coming, but a couple of suggestions: The Omaha Railway not persist in packing people in their cars, We don't see why policemen cannot be as civic and courteous as conductors and motormen, the policemen are no better men... April 20, 1899 At work on the grounds...Force of men cleaning up rubbish and getting ready to repair buildings. Will work on Government Building first... April 23, 1899 Every available foot of space taken in 3 buildings...Fine Arts Electrical and Machinery Buildings well nigh filled...contract for magnificent display of fireworks...New exhibit showing battle scenes of Manila and Santiago...a lake will be made 300 feet long by 150 wide on which miniature fleets will float, with the Spanish fleet going down... Three exhibits a day. April 24, 1899 Libby War Prison will arrive tomorrow... April 30, 1899 War Museum now safely in Government Building...Nebraska Bldg. will be used for women’s display and state fair offices... Illinois building will go to Fraternal organizations... State Fair people will fill Agriculture and Horticulture Buildings..Liberal Arts Building will be filled with the Colonial show...500 men now at work on the grounds, painting, patching, cleaning and planting flower beds...which will be illuminated with color lights. Then and Now poems... May 2, 1899 Spanish war museum secured...scenic railway again to Griffith, but will have new scenery...800 new trees around lagoon... May 3, 1899 Several firms assigned exhibit space...some machinery will go into Dairy Building...52,594 sq. feet contracted for exhibits... E.W. McConnel in town to supervise putting up cyclorama... 50 feet high, 376 feet long...is rolled upon a roll over 6 feet high. E.J. Austin is here to supervise placing of war pictures of Dewey's battle at Manila and Hobsons sinking of the Merrimac, a building will be put up for them... May 4, 1899 No state fair in 1899...will have exhibits at GAE instead... Fred Millikin of Nashville given concession for Congress of All Nations... May 5, 1899 ...It is now practically settled that a large part of the Agriculture Building will be devoted to exhibits of farm machinery...something that was conspicuously absent last year. May 7, 1899 Cuba's notorious choker to come to Expo...Hangman Valentine Ruiz, the terror of the people, will be part of the Cuban exhibit. Indian Congress will be more interesting than last year... will feature Indian Snake Dance in August, only month they perform it...Red Cloud will visit... The Nebraska Building will be made Fraternal society headquarters. May 8, 1899 Memories of days of yore...Sunday marked first opening of Expo grounds...5-6000 journey out to see changes...wooded area developed between Wisconsin and Horticulture Buildings to make up for loss of Iowa Building...architectural repairs begun in main court...a third more lights this year, over 3000 added to Horticulture Building alone...also more on Twin Towers, which was a weak spot last year... In order to provide 12000 more lights, arrangements made with Omaha Electric Light Co.to furnish power for live exhibits and Midway and lights on grounds. Last year generated own, but so much more needed this year, that outside help needed. Buildings are closed...so people made a circuit of court, passed through the Midway, got a view of the Bluffs tract before leaving grounds... May 9, 1899 July 3 to be Schley Day...hope to bring him here... May 11, 1899 Third Nebraska Regiment to muster out today in Georgia...Music of the Exposition...practically all dates filled... May 12, 1899 County Attorney declares his position...Rosewater tried to tear down Trans-Miss Expo and failed to do so only because the good men connected with it sacrificed themselves and their pride to save the city. Now he proposes to follow the same course towards the GAE for the sole reason that Dr. Miller had presumed to give C. V. Gallagher employment... May 13, 1899 Railway officials meet with Expo officials... May 14, 1899 Curios of interest secured for the show...Libby Museum will include over 500 Lincolnrelics...several hundred articles from Jeff Davis and Robert E. Lee...Park Board requires GAE to make a contract with it for use of Kountze Park and if it fails to do so they will take possession of Park and portion of Florence Boulevard within Expogrounds... May 18, 1899 GAE will offer cash prizes aggregating $ 20,000 for agriculture show... May 19, 1899 Admiral Winfield Scott Schley visits Omaha... May 21, 1899 Pictures of grounds...drawing of proposed Philippine village...description of village... May 25, 1899 Art from New Orleans Exposition which closes May 30, will come to GAE...contract awarded for Moorish Palace...will be repainted and remolded...new wax figures...will feature the "Passion Play" carried out with moving pictures... May 26, 1899 Tribute to GAE by Chicago Record newspaper...Omaha businessman are sending thousands of invitations to Chicagoans asking them to come to Omaha when GAE is open. The GAE will be the first national show which will contain a colonial exhibit... May 27, 1899 100 Wisconsin editors visit GAE grounds...delighted and surprised...will recommend to readers... May 28, 1899 Col. Roosevelt may be visitor at GAE this summer... The four Johnsons, divers, will be here...a special building will be constructed...have no equal in U.S... President Diaz of Mexico will visit GAE... May 30, 1899 Title of Kountze Park...in deed to city and T/M Company was to have use of groundsduring 1898-98 and if necessary 1899. This dispossess of idea Park Board must take possession by 6-1-1899 or Mr. Kountze could reclaim land... The Omaha Water Co. has been digging trench in No. 20th St. from Exposition grounds south to Lake Street. May 31, 1899 First place among the great expositions...Chicago Times Herald writes of the GAE... Pg. 5 Gates open to public...last chance for free admission...over1000 laborers will be employed within a week working on Filipino and Cuban Villages, construction on Paines Cyclorama will begin at once... Test made on new electric lights on buildings...statuary not lighted as well last year...this year each one lighted... June 1, 1899 Knox county...contract for animal show awarded to Frank Bostick who will use same building as last year... June 2, 1899 Chicago Railroad promises to cooperate in advertising, exhibits and rates... Hall County, Cherry County, Boyd County, Elkhorn Valley will have exhibits this year... June 3, 1899 GAE almost a fairyland with 1500 new globes of white fire... Offices of Departmentsmoving from downtown to grounds in Manufacturers Building... The Women’s Weekly newspaper has been awarded contract for printing official programs...Supt. Simpson says he could use 10,000 sq. feet more of space for exhibits... June 4, 1899 Big sale of T/M stamps in May...Postmaster reports sales of $ 30,762 against $ 28,824 last year...large numbers of T/M available at Omaha Post Office...all Post Offices in United States must secure them through the Omaha office... Cutoff Lake Park...Park Commissioners look with favor on plan for water resort...saving if buying more land adjoining Kountze Park and Bluff Tract... GAE great beyond hopes...with buildings jammed with exhibits, music divine and art unexcelled...President McKinley will visit ...Horticulture Building will be a tropical garden...100 concessions awarded...Roosevelt here July 3rd... June 5, 1899 Thousands see grounds...one of the finest and attractive exhibits will be Creole Days in Louisiana...not decided where it will be housed...perhaps in Wisconsin Building... June 6, 1899 Roosevelt to come later...cannot make opening day...Wisconsin Building purchased yesterday for LA. exhibit...F. T. Cummins purchased Bemis Bag Building, which will be moved to west midway as headquarters for concessionaires club...Harry Langdon came in yesterday, has painters at work beautifying Seesaw... Gallery of Manufacturers Building being turned over to women for display on women’s work...members of 2nd & 3rd Nebraska Regiments to be given preference as guards... June 7, 1899 California man wants to invest in Expo tickets...offers $4000 cash, but gets them for 40c each. Executive Committee accepted his proposition, but unsure of his scheme... Carload from Florida of pines, palmettos and tropical trees expected to arrive today...three carloads of animals came in Monday for Hagenbacks... June 8, 1899 Twenty Pueblo and Yslita Indians from New Mexico coming...Workers tearing outplatform of Auditorium and will rearrange in better shape...Council Bluffs Wigwam will be used as a restaurant, as company from C.B. has purchased it...will also serve as Iowa Headquarters...nothing has been done with Montana or Georgia Buildings yet... June 9, 1899 Indignant Expo managers reply to libels in Bee that contended Chief Red Cloud is too old and blind to be an attraction and now claims that the GAE is just a lot of stuffed snakes, bats and lizards from the Philippines... June 10, 1899 Rock Island gets cash...T/M settles with RR for $ 17500... only two suits still unsettled... Wild West Show and Maple Sugar Candy vendor... Workmen putting up Hawaiian Village...the Merry-go-round, so long on the corner of 15th & Capitol, is now being placed near the Giant Seesaw...rom now on 10c admission required...Illinois Building designated public comfort headquarters... June 11, 1899 The new YMCA Athletic Park at 24th & Ames opened up... Monument fund for soldiers monument started with shooting contest that was held in enclosure formerly devoted to Wild West Show... Glorious week for GAE...E.C. Bickford has purchased Montgomery Ward Building and will operate restaurant...Paine’s Cyclorama is being built...International Building being remolded...will add fountain in center, great dome for light on top and arch connecting it to Manufacturers Building... Everybody but Rosewater now gives support to GAE... Red Cloud will be a star attraction at Indian Congress... Chadron will be here... A company has been formed to introduce horseless carriages to Omaha...three companies formed in Trenton N.J. to provide Cab, delivery and Truck service... June 12, 1899 The Bankers Magazine of New York gives flattering endorsement of GAE... June 13, 1899 Schlitz is moving building he had at stock show to west midway opposite his present building...F.T. Cummins has decided not to move Bemis Bag Building, will be a collection of photos of Parisian life... No dairy exhibit this year...building will be used as beer garden and restaurant... the Douglas County pavilion used last year will be moved to east end of building, near it a monster warship will be built and filled with grain and other products of county... June 14, 1899 Space on Midway taken up...only 2 spaces left on west and 4 on east...work begun on Hawaiian and Mexican Villages yesterday, will occupy space just south of German Village, extending back to bluffs... June 17, 1899 Chicago tribute to GAE... June 18, 1899 Midway gleanings...Royal English Marionettes will perform for first time in America at building created for them...the Phantom Swing will mystify visitors...Lunette will be in building formerly used for Explosion of the Maine...Naiads of the Fountain will be in Flying Lady building...the Old Plantation will not be recognized, much larger this year and theater is at front this year. Performers already here. Dairy Building will be called "Milwaukee Dairy" not German Gasthous...Cyclorama is now complete...Improvements at Chutes as large pavilion being built where public can sit on upholstered seats in the shade and watch others coming down... June 20, 1899 All Nations being rebuilt for Cuban exhibit...Wisconsin Building being moved to a position just north of the German Village... June 21, 1899 The Louisiana exhibit has been canceled due to deaths in family of manager and the Wisconsin Building will be used for Hawaiian Village... June 24, 1899 The ladies of the Creche or Omaha Day Nursery will control the Boys and Girls Building. They will run a fine restaurant on the second floor...the ground floor will be a public hall. June 25, 1899 People and material from Hawaii cannot get here for opening...Royal Japanese troupe of super acrobats will be at village until Hawaiians get here... Scenic railway changes...each car has seating for 16 plus brakeman...cushioned seats and backs...built of white oak... outer loop is completely housed in...internal tunnels filled with scenic effects...huge rocks and boulders, precipices, caverns... German Village bar will be supplied with the best in the way of drinks, from champagne to Schoenhofen beer...the waiters will be chiefly girls...with natty short skirts, white caps and a dainty apron of snowy white...another feature will be a palm garden with cool arbors and spraying fountains... The Cuban and Porto Rican Village...is located where Streets of All Nations was last year...now removing old building... Heaven and Hell renamed "the New Darkness and Dawn" because management objected to name...contest was held...1123 entrees such as Sunshine and Shadow; Day and Night; War and Peace; Above and Below; Roses and Thorns... Government Building will feature...Libby Prison Museum...and North Pole collection... Horticulture Building will be a great collection of palms and tropical plants...fountains... 100 cages of singing birds, canaries and parrots... The Temple of Palmistry will be the home of the Omaha Occult Society... The World Congress of Beauties...will feature 24 young ladies from different countries in native costume... Orpheus Vaudeville Theater will occupy the former site of Chinese Village... June 26, 1899 Cubans for Expo arrive in New York...24 people... June 29, 1899 Much has been done, much remains to be done...Douglas County exhibit being placed... 50 people arrive for Old Plantation from South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky and Missouri Giant Seesaw operated for first time to see if it works after long winters rest...everything worked like clockwork... St. Johns Lutheran Church of Council Bluffs has purchased Wigwam and will operate restaurant... June 30, 1899 Grounds closed... OPENING DAY July 1, 1899 GAE endorsement by Des Moines Register...Jealous cities who thought Omaha had its share of the pie opposed the plan. We did not favor it...but now hope it is a success... July 2, 1899 Great show...15000 attend...T/M eclipsed... The Exposition skirt is to be the golf skirt...ladies resolved not to carry their 1899 trained skirts over the crowded street of the GAE...it was bad enough in '98...Edith C. Garloch July 4, 1899 Night will blaze...first general illumination of the Grand Court with new features illumination of flower beds reserved for Fourth...24 large flower beds around lagoon and 14 of them lighted...with over 1900 tiny bulbs... New attraction is painting "First Grief" by Alonzo Tojetti. It represents the death of Abel by Cain. It will be in the same building as Trilby last year... Scenic Railroad carried 12,173 passengers yesterday. Streets of Cairo twice as good as last year. Gen. Joe Wheeler was a guest for lunch at the Moorish Palace…The Cuban Village and Puerto Rican Village will open today... July 5, 1899 28,000 visit grounds on Fourth...26 Indians arrive from Arizona...will stay in Dairy building until tents can be pitched in Transportation Building... Expo is winning golden opinions from public in spite of petty annoyances that Mayor, Fire and Police Commissioners seek to hamper it with... Rosewater not viewing the enterprise with favor on account of the rejection of a few of his pet ideas and favorites... First installment of Boone County exhibit arrives...work progressing on Waterloo and Cuming County and York County exhibits... July 6, 1899 Light day at White City...few visitors...Rosewater threatens great difficulty in securing licenses by Fire and Police Boards unless Gallagher removed from office... Buildings and Grounds Department lays off 107 men, as grounds in completed condition. Baby leopard, 4 months old, escapes from Hagenbacks...supposed to have hidden itself under some of the buildings...Cuban Village opened July 4th... July 7, 1899 Yesterday attendance about 4000...temperature quite uncomfortable... July 8, 1899 GAE growing, a marked improvement in buildings on Grand Court with installation of new exhibits... Philadelphia Record speaks of attractions at GAE... July 9, 1899 70,000 admissions in first week beats record of predecessor... Twenty-two retail stores agree to close on Saturday nights at 6 O’clock...so employees can attend Exposition... Rosewaters pictures...copyright...Rosewaters contemptible policy towards the GAE...his raid on treasury in 1898... Combination of Chutes and Restaurant is very popular...Jules Vernes great story entitled "A Trip to the Moon" is surpassed on the East Midway by a similar production... Pictures of GAE opening night... July 11, 1899 Congratulations to GAE for not making Rosewater mistake... references to extravagance in advertising in 1898 alluded to. Payroll of $5,000-6,000 per week to employees... July 12, 1899 Crisis for Omaha...GAE has empty treasury as result of Rosewater cussedness...Executive Committee presents demands for $30,000 for amounts advanced to carry Exposition through period of preparation...Resignations of Rosewater, J.L. Brandies and Herman Cohn and Thomas Fry accepted. Pg. 4 "The GAE has no Government exhibit, no showing from any of the Trans-Mississippi states, no mining exhibit, no agriculture exhibit, nothing that would give the visiting stranger any idea of the greatness and richness of the Great West. It is simply a big Midway... it is an Omaha scheme, pure and simple." editorial by the Denver Times Meeting of North Siders...to protest fight now being made on GAE... Pg. 4 An echo of Rosewater libel...The GAE is not an Exposition in any sense of the word... A trip to the moon, which is presented in connection with Wargraphs on the East Midway, is becoming more interesting to visitors... July 14, 1899 Decree executed...Rosewater demand for control leads Expo directory to take remarkable action. Two managers forced out and new manager instructed to borrow $25,000 with hypothetical gate receipts as security. The GAE is reorganized with a new Executive Committee... UP passenger train...heaviest traffic yet...with Expo guests from the west... Omaha at Paris Expo...educational exhibit (will be partly from Omaha)... Pg.4 In the interest of Omaha...(defense of GAE by World Herald) July 15, 1899 Battleship Olympia gaily sits in lagoon...concert given from a facsimile of Olympia anchored near east end of lagoon... Krug Cafe, located on Indian Congress grounds of last year, being moved near Manderson St. gate... July 16, 1899 Daily average looks well...first fortnight closes with GAE only 9000 behind T/M... last installment for Fine Arts Building arrives... Concessionaires feel good...many say financial success assured ...being run economically... T/M attendance 2300 per day, GAE about 2000 per day... New badges have arrived and being handed out... Work on the "Up and Down" railway will begin Monday...will take place occupied by miniature railroad...new attraction this week is "Deep Sea Diver", Mrs. Sorcho only female sub-marine diver and Capt. Sorcho, who made official report on Battleship Maine...interesting change at Hobson electric torpedoes now in place... Automobile test race across Nebraska...route to be followed... GAE photos... Dissertation on summer drinks...Omaha invented drink that became famous... "Phosphoguarana" by D.W. Saxe...soda fountain. July 17, 1899 Fine Arts Building to open Wednesday (19th)... July 19, 1899 Hawaiian Villagers arrive in town...28 natives arrived yesterday in special car... July 20, 1899 Little ones have gay time...10,000 children flock GAE... Spanish cannon which arrived Tuesday and taken to Expo grounds belongs to Park Commission, which has loaned it until Nov. 1.. effort to get it began last March...came from Morro Castle... July 21, 1899 Admission set at 50c & 25c during day, 25c & 15c evenings and Sundays... 5 O’clock tea on Giant Seesaw...Deep Sea Diving exhibition given for first time last evening...vandal attempted to steal a valuable collection of Persian armor from Artists Studio last night...used during crusades...frightened fellow away... July 23, 1899 Nebraska regiment leaves Philippine battlefields...a sadly changed band... Pg. 6 Hawaiian Village opens...proves a great attraction...New attraction "Living Wounded Heroes" opened last evening...The opening of the "Fat Mans Beer Garden" in the German Village was a great success...Mr. Henri Maurice Cannon, at 617 lb. the heaviest man in the world is headquartered there... A most amusing incident occurred at Moorish Palace...Prof Tobin fell asleep on a divan... and two ladies of Omaha, quite fascinated with the marvelous realism, approached the sleeping figure and after a careful examination said, "I think that is the most lifelike figure I have ever seen." The other could not agree, arguing the expression was not natural. At this juncture, Prof. Tobin awoke and the ladies made post haste to the Passion Play... Pg. 31 Omaha's contribution to the war tax...$ 3,428,079.38...breakdown given for beer, cigarettes, cigars, etc... July 24, 1899 Thousands swarm around lagoon...attendance as good as last year...just 1800 behind... Arizona cactus garden nearly complete on Bluffs Tract...over 700 snakes in Cuban Village exhibit... pythons, boas, electric eels...27 foot boa 1 foot in diameter July 25, 1899 Council Bluffs children’s day tomorrow, all children under 15 free... Cacti Garden lighted now... Dangerous to steal globes...to curtail thefts in flower beds...vigorous current left on all the time...when one undertook to unscrew, the effect would be felt...several have complained, but thefts are down...only 60 so far... July 26, 1899 Little girl drowns in water at Battle of Manila Bay Monday...Jennie Hoover, 14 year old daughter of the engineer of the Scenic Railroad was wading in the lake that represents the Battle of Manila...and was drowned. Midway concessionaires take up fund to help pay funeral expenses... All children under 15 free... July 27, 1899 Horse racing on Expo track... July 28, 1899 Dull day at grounds...due to rain...Fine Arts Building to open Tuesday evening (7-31)... July 29, 1899 Filipino's held up in San Francisco...trade them for crewman from USS Indiana... many of whom are native Filipinos, until others can get to Omaha... July 30, 1899 First Nebraska arrives in San Francisco...list of deaths... Pg. 6 Fifth week opens well...large attendance...many from out of town...222,000 in four weeks...average 7000 a day... Decision to locate Indians in park south of Horticulture Building has proven satisfactory... Yellow dog loose in Colonial building...lots of passes...4000 Press...2376 workers, exhibitors, etc....7000 total... Pg. 21 Railroads grant stopover passes...some now, more later... July 31, 1899 Attendance exceeds any previous Sunday...Indians start arriving this morning... Aug. 1, 1899 They lop off many heads...members of Executive Committee use pruning knife...offices being combined...Superintendents, staff, 14 guards laid off...dozen more not needed... Pg. 3 West Midway people protest Indian Congress location...Indians can't locate yet...will stop at old grounds...some days at least in Transportation Building... Filipino's detained in Rawlings, Wyoming... Aug. 2, 1899 1st Nebraska deaths and where buried...25 members decide to remain in Philippines... Fine Arts Building formally opened last evening... Indian museum and relics in Colonial Building... Riverview Park...squirrels possessing spirits of dead Indian children released in park... Brule Indians... Aug. 3, 1899 Indians pitch tents south of Transportation Building... Great deal of complaints of wheels, horseless carriages...and dogs running loose on grounds...these things were not in evidence last year... Executive Committee will continue cutting off heads as needed First bicycle race on grounds yesterday afternoon...100 Indians parade through downtown Omaha...but no Red Cloud... Aug. 5, 1899 Indian Village location settled...going to Bluffs Tract... Jack Red cloud, son of Red Cloud, on grounds...near disaster at Hagenbacks due to Indian war whoops startling one of the lions Part of Hawaiian exhibit dumped overboard in San Francisco by customs officials...60 tubs of native plants destroyed Heavy rain...many buildings leaked badly...everything suspended... Aug. 6, 1899 Photo of Henri Cannon (Callon)...Fatman at German Village... Pg. 31 Opium joints of Omaha...Union Pacific fossil expedition... Aug. 7, 1899 Big crowd at Exposition...exceptionally large crowd...one of the best of the season... Question of fish starving in lagoon a serious one...millions of them, all sizes, minnows, carp, perch...larger ones devouring smaller ones...fishing prohibited, but fresh fish common in many restaurants. One suggestion is that permits be sold for fishing... something must be done... Aug. 8, 1899 Paid admissions 7500; 10,000 total...more guards dismissed... Philippine exhibit arrives...the 17 intended arrive to join the 23 who came a week ago... 35 feet of balustrade (colonnade) on east side of lagoon fell over onto sidewalk yesterday... Aug. 9, 1899 Great battle in Philippines... The float for the Electric fountain display is being built... First reception in the Fraternal Building given last night by the Modern Woodmen... Beckwith aquarium on West Midway will be completed in a few days... Aug. 10, 1899 Stand up for Nebraska...Pennsylvania and Wyoming are bringing home their regiments (from the Spanish-American War) on special trains...Nebraska cannot afford to let its soldiers come straggling home...$20,000 needed...Sweltering heat...98 degrees... Pains Fireworks this evening...only five more...no plans for future ones... Philippine Village opens today... Aug. 11, 1899 Auditors report shows income within a few thousand of bills... no trouble anticipated continuing show... Aug. 12, 1899 Chairs at wrong end of lagoon for concert...best show so far..8000 people around lagoon Roosevelt will try to visit grounds next month... Aug. 13, 1899 Disappointed the crowd...weather interferes...all special attractions called off...day started with sunshine, then storms rolled in...grounds practically deserted by 7 P.M. Second carload of material for Hawaiian exhibit lost...some where between San Francisco and Omaha... Aug. 14, 1899 Good crowds at grounds...bicycle races called off due to lack of interest... Electric fountain operated in a very satisfactory manner last night, but fire dance almost a failure. Management neglected to provide for any music. When dancer began, no music was forthcoming, so electricity was shut off and show declared off for the evening, leaving the audience to make its way out in the dark... Aug. 16, 1899 Editors at grounds...not a large delegation from Nebraska... about 100 editors total... Aug. 17, 1899 First Expo special by railroads...MoPac will run an excursion Aug. 25 from Falls City and points between at special rates. Burlington announces lower fares to Omaha for GAE starting Aug. 29-31, but only on certain dates... Aug. 18, 1899 Hitch in music plans for Carnival Night raises questions of who's boss... Sunday people of Fairbury will attend...700/800 will come...Special rates by Elkhorn Railway on Aug. 29-30 on run from Hastings to Omaha... Aug. 19, 1899 New concession on lagoon...is venetian gondola rides... Valentine and the garrote on which hundreds of men were executed are two of the most attractive features of the Cuban Village... The inhabitants of the Hawaiian Village are to hold a feast known as a louas...everyone is invited... Aug. 20, 1899 Special train for 1st Nebraska boys...Governor makes loan of $ 2000...people of state make up balance... Pg. 6 Protests against Electric Fountain and Fire dance on Sabbath overruled... Railroads announce a special rate within radius of 150 miles ...one rate-round trip... for Saturday Aug. 26, return Monday. Where trip crosses Missouri River twice 25c extra... Pg. 21 Omaha's Filipino colony...(profiles of natives at village) Aug. 21, 1899 Attendance exceeds any previous day...12,000 pour through gates...two special trains from Missouri and SE Nebraska... Must check umbrella's and canes at Fine Arts Building and pay charge to have them looked after...Picture Gallery room only 1/3 full, looks bare and empty... In Agriculture Building exhibits being placed very slowly...Douglas County exhibit "Maine" almost hidden by wagons and carriages... Aug. 22, 1899 Heat wave...day was absolutely void of feature or incident... A few stragglers came in during the day, inspected grounds... Indians nervous that there was nothing for them to do... Tomorrow three of the Southwest Indians will leave for home... The work of enlarging and altering the "Olympia" will begin today...W.F. Brinton of Washington, Iowa has a flying machine...will bring to GAE in a few weeks... Aug. 25, 1899 Six water buffalo left Philippines...only two arrived in Omaha Aug. 26, 1899 Storms spoil carnival...MoPac brings in 700...UVU Day... Aug. 27, 1899 Saturdays attendance was very small... Aug. 30, 1899 1st Nebraska Regiment returns home...will visit grounds... Aug. 31, 1899 Lively times on Midway recall closing hours of T/M...water carnival called off... Sept. 1, 1899 New attraction has opened...Red Windmill of Paris is an exact reproduction of famous Paris resort... Sept. 3, 1899 Two GAE Exposition law suits...Society dancing every evening in the New York Building continues to be popular... Pg. 8 Mrs. Bowser has opened a restaurant in Chinese Building on Bluffs Tract, in addition to her meals at the Sod House... Sept. 4, 1899 Labor Day...crowd yesterday fairly large...fist-a-cuffs between two employees... Mrs. Myra Walters, of Arlington, NE, was prostrated by heat yesterday... Blanks shoot kid injuring him...R.C. Wisner, midway employee, spent last night locked up for reckless shooting. He was firing blanks as part of his show and pointed the gun at some boys, filling the forehead of one of them with powder, burning the flesh considerably Sept. 5, 1899 Temperature torrid...large crowd...third really reasonable crowd since opening... Sept. 6, 1899 The 67th day of the GAE was a dry number so far as attendance and general interest was concerned... 26 guards resign in protest of relieving of head of guard force...only 14 remain...others to resign... (Ed. Note: Rosewaters influence here...politically motivated) Douglas County display will be a unique presentation of the great agriculture resources in the county and state...every feature of soil production, seeds, fruits, etc. The battleship "Nebraska" will be launched and dedicated. Pg. 8 Explosion of shell in Philippine Village causes minor damage.. An old Spanish cannonball, which was part of the Filipino Village display, ignited when a match was dropped in it by an inquisitive person... Sept. 7, 1899 Intense heat paralyzes attendance...100 degrees... Edith Shugart, a 3 year old child, was injured when she was bitten by a pup...her father works in the horse race squad... Pg. 8 Two belles from the Old Plantation will be wed...The grooms, being from Nashville, will bring in a preacher from there to conduct the services. Sept. 8, 1899 Exposition City sold for $ 50,000 to Chicago Wrecking Company. A portion will be paid immediately, with balance ready Nov. 1. GAE treasury is replenished...management reserves waterplant and lagoon. Transfer not to be made until Nov. 1, when Expo will positively close. This should relieve those in the city and state that worried Exposition would become permanent fixture...There is now $ 30,000 borrowed money... receipts are about balancing expenses at this time... Sept. 9, 1899 Labor Unions oppose early closing...carpenters demand 35c per hour and no work Saturday afternoon... Pg. 6 Loses job at GAE...Charles Coleman, Democrat, out at Expo because he won't plug for Rosewater, Republican... Managers...now appear greatly relieved and have taken on a fresh grip on life...propose do some hustling and make last days some of the best... Sept. 10, 1899 Last appearance of the new Electric Fountain and Serpentine Dance... list of special days in September... Douglas County exhibit formal opening delayed until 9-21... were too busy politicking... Two accidents...one at Mystic Maze where a Lincoln man put his knee through one of the mirrors. He was repaired at the hospital. Julia Lone Elk, who had just won her race, was injured when she fell from her pony and rendered unconscious. This will probably end the squaw races... MoPac agrees to allow stopovers in Omaha... Sept. 11, 1899 Santiago Day...Omaha Post 7 GAR...Attendance Sunday very large Sept. 12, 1899 Special rates by several Nebraska railroads to GAE Sept. 12-14 Sept. 13, 1899 Promoter from 1898 at work...renewed confidence by Executive Committee since arrival of H.F. McGarvie...who was made Superintendent of amusements and advertising... he held same position at Trans-Mississippi Exposition. New attraction at New Streets of Cairo is a fire eater... Omaha draws new firms...agriculture and implement manufacturers flock to city. Their warehouses will bring a welcome change along the 10th Street viaduct. Others on the way. Sept. 14, 1899 The 75 Indians were paid there $10 for their August service... Sept. 15, 1899 Venetian Carnival Day... First Indian sham battle...at Village on Bluffs Tract... Standards (flags) of 1st Nebraska Regiment turned over to State...National Export Exposition opens in Philadelphia... Sept. 16, 1899 A number of Midway exhibitors get in trouble with Tax Collector for not paying war tax...went to GAR Encampment in Lincoln and refused to pay tax...7-8 warrants issued... (Ed. Note: Note they left GAE grounds. If business had been good, they wouldn't have left. GAR boys came to Omaha in '98) Sept. 17, 1899 Champion high wire walker Alfredo...will walk 1/2" wire strung over lagoon 100 feet high between Mines Building and Machinery Building...has walked Niagara Falls... Sept. 18, 1899 All Railroads Day...Buffalo Bill show in Omaha...GAE Indians combine in War Dance on grounds with Buffalo Bill's Indians...200 braves...dog feast afterwards... Sept. 19, 1899 Western Illinois Day... Seven boys met with disaster yesterday while trying to catch a glimpse of the Wild West Show. They were perched on the highest limb of a tree at 21st & Paul, when it broke, hurling them in a heap to the ground. One suffered a broken leg. Sept. 20, 1899 Odd Fellows Day... Sioux Indian War Dance and dog feast featured...(large add) Sept. 21, 1899 Douglas County Day...South Dakota Day... Indian sham battle with Ernest Mattocks Wild West Show every day this week... Sept. 22, 1899 Minnesota Editors Day... Sept. 23, 1899 War dance...$1000 fireworks display...Midway parade... Sept. 24, 1899 Midway parade drew big crowd...more moneyed sightseers than for many weeks... Florida exhibit fully installed in Colonial Building...last outdoor concert for season on Plaza...Auditorium hereafter... No night race this week...not enough electricity available...plants being taxed to their full capacity... Picture of Beckwiths lady swimmers... Arrangements made for last 3 Aksarben parades to pass through Exposition grounds... traverse Main Court and Midway... Premiums awarded for floral displays... Sept. 25, 1899 Aksarben Week...wind and dust no detriment to the crowd Sunday ...throngs of eager people take in the buildings and exhibits. Sept. 28, 1899 Fireworks postponed until Friday and Saturday... Clash at Auditorium...Cummins ticket seller taken to jail for blocking entrance to Auditorium in dispute over who collects charge for seating... Sept. 29, 1899 Sham battle...Wild West Show...fireworks...Death spoils sham battle...redmen at GAE mope in teepees over death of Conquering Bear, Oglala Sioux, who was killed in an accident in downtown Omaha yesterday...jumped off moving street car...fell and struck his head...remains will be shipped back to Agency. New attraction at Battle of Manila Bay...a real ship will be blown into atoms by a submarine mine... Cold wave yesterday caused some activity...hustling for stoves about the White City... Sept. 30, 1899 Magic Court frost bitten...spoils pretty plants...many hurried into buildings... sham battle not given with usual zest... Oct. 1, 1899 Retrenchment in expenses is order of the day and many will lose their heads. Show will close for good Oct. 31, not one day before. Have never entertained a thought of closing before date advertised. Will consider further reduction of work force in next day two...cleaver used in Department of Promotion and Publicity... Sherman Ave. gate by Wigwam has been closed for a week...only open in evenings... Oct. 5, 1899 Fees will be charged to sick taken to hospital...noone to be treated without remuneration... since use of new system, number of sick people has wonderfully decreased... Order has been issued...noone with packages or bundles can leave grounds without a permit...people lugging off Exposition property... Frank and Sam Harris of Chicago Wrecking Company on grounds...taking inventory of property purchased... Oct. 6, 1899 Capt. Sorcho upset while running gauntlet of mines in the lagoon...Just before he started his trip through the mine field a swan boat came steaming by...dislocating buoys marking the mines, setting some off sending the Olympia off course. He was knocked the water, but was rescued by the Johnsons... Red cloud sent for...President McKinley may come to visit the "Fighting 1st Nebraska"... Conquering Bear left six widows... Indians and Wild West Show...Indian ponies collide while assaulting the Deadwood Stage, hurling their riders off... Indians of GAE sign petition asking old Chief Red Cloud to come to Omaha...on or before 16th when President McKinley is expected... Oct. 8, 1899 Children’s Day...last special day for little ones...2000 take advantage of free admission... Society lady (Miss Nellie Harris) requests to ride with Capt Sorcho aboard Olympia through mine field laid in lagoon...her name withheld to avoid objections... Bridal pair from Clarinda, Iowa take ride on the Deadwood Stage...It was a wild ride, but the bride came out blushing and smiling at finish. Oct. 9, 1899 McKinley will not visit Omaha...Red Cloud too ill to come... Crowds large... concessionaires smiling...for first time in a week...Midway was lively... Oct. 10, 1899 Hastings Day...two trainloads (1800) expected... Thomas Kimball, Sr. dies...Indian sham battle... Oct. 11, 1899 Trouble over payday...employees clamor for wages...several hundred disappointed, not a little out of humor...wild west boys balk, electric light men threaten to turn off electricity. Chicago Wrecking co. has disposed of Auditorium to the Manawa people, who will move it to the lake... Oct. 12, 1899 Modern Woodmen Day...10,000 expected... Weekly payroll provided...coal supply short...requires two carloads a day to supply necessary power and light... Oct. 15, 1899 Last appearance of Alfredo...band all week on lagoon opposite Government Building... Oct. 16, 1899 Beginning of International Music Week... Oct. 23, 1899 Gen. Nelson Miles visits...with Col. Cody... Oct. 25, 1899 Railroads give 1/2 price fares for final days of Exposition... Oct. 29, 1899 Closing days of the show. The fact that 3/4 of the free passes had been taken up, made last nights crowd one of the better paying ones... Siege of powerhouse lifted...guards for ten days have blocked it to prevent officers of the law from taking away the boilers GAE after Bekins...court case of strong box containing $300... A new stage coach and horse took part yesterday, because the old coach and team were taken with an attachment and sold... Pg. 25 Photos of General Miles at Exposition... Oct. 30, 1899 GAE's last Sunday...was best Sunday of the season...one of best days period... 10,000 people attend... Tempest in teapot over property owners passes being refused. 15,000 free passes had been issued, many being used every day ...total attendance to date 725,000...but over 1/2 free... Florida exhibit in hands of law over $ 200 freight bill not paid by GAE people... Coal supply exhausted...barely enough to keep wheels turning… Finally two carloads of fuel came in... Pg. 8 Of two great Expo's-a glance into past of the immense project undertaken by city. The T/M was a signal success, with the fame of Omaha being extended...the whole country increased it's respect...In the past two summers, millions was raised, millions was spent and millions of visitors came to the city...the only souvenir for the city will be Kountze Park... Oct. 31, 1899 Omaha Day...Last Day of Exposition...50c rate only...holiday proclaimed by Mayor...businesses and public schools closed... A number of workers laid off 15 days ago were paid off last night. Exhibitors in Agriculture Building down on books to receive $50 a month, were given $10... Wreckers to begin work tomorrow... Nov. 1, 1899 White City a memory now...25,000 swarmed grounds on last day...Dizzy time on the Midway...all the pranksters in town headed inside Exposition enclosure... Strike at powerhouse over October pay shuts off lights, fires drawn at 4:00 P.M. and water turned on coals...Police took charge of powerhouse and ejected strikers, fires were rekindled at 7:00 P.M... At the Auditorium, the shutting off of lights cast shadows unto the music, for a moment the transition to darkness...then the city line was turned on and the rehearsal was played out by the flickering of a single arc lamp... Owing to the shortness of coal, illumination about the Grand Court and East track was not its usual brilliance, leaving the great show to pass out in a semi-darkened manner... Shortly after 9:00 the lights went out... With the passing of the lights the pandemonium already rampant on the Midway descended into wild commotion. The crowd merged into a wriggling mass of humanity, like an army of centipedes...signs were torn down, thatching torn off the Filipino Village. When the conglomeration grew more boisterous, the few remaining exhibitors began to close up their doors and box the more breakable goods...reminding one of the preparations for an expected cyclone... With the thousands who passed through the gates...the Expo will be a pleasant memory... but there are others for whom it was something of a nightmare... Most of the West Midway restaurants will remain open for two weeks...Schlitz will continue to January 1... Attendance 843,217...427239 paid...although 3/4 at 25c rate Nov. 2, 1899 Exodus from White City...buildings pouring contents into drays and machinery moving out...estimated the GAE company will have to pay $ 130,000 to square itself... Receipts $ 420,000...paid out $ 420,000. At opening Exposition Company $ 60,000 in debt, being borrowed money...additional $ 40,000 borrowed for 2nd Company...gates closed with a debt of $130,000 not counting the $ 89,000 in capital stock paid up ...additional $ 15,000 required to restore grounds and filling of lagoon... Receipts from concessionaires $ 70,000 with a balance of $ 25,000 due...not a half dozen made money-Giant Seesaw, Old Plantation, Scenic Railway, Chutes, Hagenbacks, Wargraph...all others lost heavily... Judge enjoins wrecking crews...Cady Lumber Co. files injunction stopping demolition of White city until claim of $5243 for lumber furnished to repair buildings is paid... Nov. 3, 1899 Omaha Street Railway Company lays off 50 men now that Exposition is over... Nov. 4, 1899 An Army of demolition...wrecking begins next week...carload of wrecking machinery comes from Chicago. 200 men employed, 300 more to be hired. Furniture all out of buildings, being stored in Transportation Building, where auction will be held in a month. Last load of wares left Foreign Pavilion this morning... Midway deserted...many of the buildings disposed of, yesterday Hawaiian exhibit hauled from grounds, some will be shipped back to Honolulu, much donated to Library, some sent to Paris Exposition... Almost every former employee of GAE has gone to work for wrecking company... Mrs. George Miller has died... Cash awards to counties listed... Unloading on lumber market...some think selling Exposition material will stimulate building much as it did last year... Nov. 5, 1899 Judge restrains wrecking company...prevents payment of $10,000 from them to GAE Concessions Department workers have organized an association and will seek to collect what is due them. A number of employees favor throwing the Expo Company into bankruptcy...Coal dealers and others garnish wrecking company in Chicago... Colonial cousins going-Filipinos, Cubans, Hawaiians and Porto Ricans start from Exposition...Midway a howling wilderness...half-dozen buildings already down... Chutes lake is dry... Every building except Government Building practically empty, Fine Arts Building will close out Monday (6th)... Exposition employees and others hold Rosewater and Mayor Moores responsible for death of GAE. Nothing but condemnation for "Rule or Ruin" gang...accuse Rosewater of deliberately and maliciously wrecking the Exposition... Nov. 8, 1899 Exposition employees divided...retain attorney... Nov. 9, 1899 A.J. Dockerty has been selected to make and present the medals and diplomas. Several hundred bronze and silver medals will be issued. Pg. 5 Exposition liquidates debt to some employees as suppliers to Indians Congress and Hospital force paid in full... Pg. 8 George Gaines, Superintendent of the Indian Congress, will go to Buffalo, N.Y. to discuss holding one there... Nov. 10, 1899 Wholesale looters of metal at grounds caught...were openly stealing lead pipe and plumbing material... Demolition of buildings will begin next week...compromise reached where they can tear down buildings, but not haul material away... On Midway one-half of buildings in process of demolition... Seesaw will go to Coney Island...Chutes will be sold as old lumber and worked into corn cribs...Merry-go-round being stored at Courtland Beach, with the expectation something will breakout next summer...thieves abound... Nov. 11, 1899 Letter charges Rosewater with having been the cause of Republican defeats in latest elections... Nov. 12, 1899 Creditors may privately release buildings to wreckers... Nov. 14, 1899 Men sent away, no work now...legal tying up of wrecking company causing hardships. Big structures remain standing, staff is falling off buildings in places, increasing danger of fire... Nov. 15, 1899 Exposition faces bankruptcy...95 employees seek application...allege acts of favoritism by GAE management... Nov. 19, 1899 Tackle buildings tomorrow...Chicago Wrecking Company expects to begin pulling them down, but restrained from paying any amount to GAE company... Nov. 20, 1899 Demise of White City...demolition and replacing grounds will require six months. Agriculture Building will go first...everything to be saved except staff. Somebody on a local paper had a dream that staff could be converted into fertilizer, but CWC has no disposition in view other than to fill excavations. Most of the material wrecked is already sold...Two lively places on Midway yet... Schlitz and German Village serving beer and meals... Shattered fabric of a dream...brick walks torn up, trenches open, Gondolas and launches float idly on lagoon, minarets and domes roll about the grounds... Scenic Railway and Seesaw only undisturbed moving attractions on the West Midway...Chutes being unbuilt...Bluffs tract little touched... Nov. 22, 1899 In the fading White City...a dreary place in the rain, 150 wreckers in buildings. Only sounds coming from Agriculture and International Hall, where workmen at work ripping up floors, tearing out the insides. Plumbing in all buildings taken out and shipped to warehouses in Chicago... Nov. 25, 1899 Sunshine at Gray City...third large building attacked. Work on Mines and Colonial Buildings will begin at noon, will be crews on all buildings by end of next week... Nov. 29, 1899 They oppose bankruptcy...New GAE attorney admits company is insolvent, and insolvent at time it made deal that allowed it to stay open until October 31. Nov. 30, 1899 Mr. Kitchen's Generous Offer..."employees have claims totaling $18,000. If everyone of the gentlemen who voted to remove me from the Exposition management will put up $800 for the purpose of paying these employees, I will put up $1600... I suggest to the gentlemen who were so anxious to make the Exposition a success last July, come to the front now with their cash"...J.B. Kitchen Dec. 3, 1899 Work on Exposition buildings moving along steadily. Manufacturers Building latest to show effects, workers hope Indian summer continues... Dec. 9, 1899 Will transform street lighting. New dynamo being placed, alternate current replacing direct current. Hartford Globes, just like those used on Midway and Main court, replace old lights and will do away with the shadows and flickering... Dec. 12, 1899 Creditors of Expo...hearing put off on bankruptcy proceedings. Dec. 17, 1899 No trace of Midway...CWC proceeding at a steady pace. Midway has been destroyed. Electricity and Agriculture Buildings have been razed to the ground and other buildings have lost their symmetry. Lagoon still intact. On east tract powerhouse no longer to be seen. Machinery taken apart and removed from grounds. Officials for CWC say will probably finish in April. Pg. 32 World Herald photo of what’s left of Agriculture Building... Dec. 18, 1899 Appeal from an Exposition Employee: ... There have been gross errors by GAE management. They depended too much on receipts of last few weeks, an error in judgment, not intent. We do not wish charity, only what is right. Many of our children will get no Christmas presents this year... Dec. 24, 1899 Old Fort Omaha's frame structures fading from landscape, only brick buildings will remain... (Ed. note: Found it interesting that at the same time the GAE was being torn down, so was Fort Omaha.) Dec. 29, 1899 White Buildings vanish...hundreds of cars have borne away pillars and walls of the Exposition city. Manufacturers Building disappears, Mines and Agriculture Buildings only two wholly gone...Horticulture Building still bids defiance to wreckers...Government, Fine Arts and Liberal Arts Buildings not touched. Fraternal (Nebraska) Building inviolate, but fence around Bluffs Tract is down... Post Office calls in Omaha and Columbian stamps...local office complied a month ago, returned over $ 29,000 worth of Omaha stamps, all larger denominations. Special periodical stamps that were placed on sale some months ago for the special benefit of collectors, will be retired at end of year. Omaha office was sent 150 sets, about 50 left... Dec. 30, 1899 Employees will be paid first. Judge Munger adjudges Exposition was bankrupt and men owed wages are preferred creditors. He granted petition to declare it bankrupt. Dec. 31, 1899 Dismantling the Exposition...World Herald photos taken Dec. 22 of East Midway, showing German Village and Seesaw is all that's left. 1900 Jan 2, 1900 Over $ 1 Million increase in Real Estate transfers for 1899... 1897-$ 5,880,230 - 1898-$ 6,171,582 - 1899-$ 7,336,504 Jan. 7, 1900 Debris at White City...Horticulture Building only one not touched. Massive beams intermixed with lathing and staff cover a wide area on either side of lagoon. Only buildings left on Grand Court are Government, Fine Arts and Liberal Arts. All the rest have vanished. Wrecking company now devoting efforts to state buildings. Horticulture Building untouched, as it is only a shell,...not much of worth since it has little heavy timber. CWC has been very fortunate as to weather, now expect to finish by middle of March... Inquiries made about using staff as fertilizer. While the staff is useful for fertilizer, a little goes a long way. Therefore no demand made for it and no effort is being made to dispose (salvage) it... It is considered refuse, one of the things used in construction of the buildings, that cannot be turned into money... Jan. 17, 1900 Claimants against Exposition...Those with claims need to prove them up as soon as possible. One attorney thinks may be as much as $ 45,000 in sight...unpaid employees may get their money in full... Jan. 18, 1900 After Bluff Tract for a park...5th Ward taxpayers discuss methods of acquiring Exposition land...Grand Stand could be purchased for $50-$75... Jan. 28, 1900 5th Warders determined to have park...map of proposed park... Feb. 1, 1900 Whether to lease or purchase...North siders discuss questions but agree city should make Bluff tract a park... Feb. 4, 1900 700 creditors...Trustee will be appointed to sue on stock and concessionaire contracts... claims of $ 120,000... Feb. 10, 1900 Spanish sea coast cannon (6.6") turned over to Omaha... Will build Auditorium at Kountze Park...to seat 7500... Feb. 17, 1900 Estimated cost of auditorium $ 70,000...will cover half a block... March 21, 1900 Rosewater tries to prevent his being thrown out of G.O.P... March 22, 1900 An Echo of Exposition...suit filed for $ 25,000 for damages from arrest in 1899... March 26, 1900 Fiendish work of "Boxers" against missionaries... March 29, 1900 Bluff Park taking shape...stretch of land along ridge to be connected with Kountze Park by boulevard. Twenty acres included in narrow tract between Manderson and Wirt Streets... April 11, 1900 Great Structure down...fire destroys Transportation Building, which was filled with windows and lumber...Also leveled Philippine Village, killing the two water buffalo, and Chinese Village and Battle of Manila building...Apiary Building not touched... source of fire questioned... April 12, 1900 Wrecking Crew unlucky...had just paid off liens on Exposition Buildings day before fire. Could not tear down until liens of $ 1479 paid, were to begin demolition that morning. CWC had maintained a Fire company until just 6 weeks ago... April 13, 1900 GAE's new suit...Richard Hooten, trustee for the creditors of the GAE, filed a new suit against CWC bringing attachment and garnishment,...the allegation being they owe several thousand dollars to the Exposition... Pg. 7 Fire shortens wreckers stay...CWC expects to leave Expo grounds in about 30 days...about 55 men put out of work by the fire, with a loss of about $12,000 not covered by insurance...Park Board will fall back on the T/M people for $12,000 loss in the fire. The Board does not know the GAE Company and never recognized any transfer of the obligation from the T/M to the GAE; no matter what transfers owners of private property adjoining Expo grounds may have done. The trouble will begin when CWC turns over the park grounds to the Expo people... April 14, 1900 Have sold all material...CWC office force will stay open for two months to wind up...all sold but will require two months before it can be carted away. there is little more to be wrecked...Apiary Building being the largest piece left... April 15, 1900 Over half a million dollars invested in warehouses this year in Omaha... April 26, 1900 Liens on Exposition...steps to enjoin enforcing them... April 29, 1900 U.S. National Bank in Exposition mix-up over loan... May 6, 1900 Taking up Exposition track...MOPAC will begin taking up track penetrating grounds. CWC has all material removed from one track and on other two soon will be out of way... May 23, 1900 Park board reorganized...Northsiders again appear for Bluff Tract park proposal. Expo Company must soon fulfill pledge to restore grounds where White City stood. The Board decided not to take part in the merry war between different men who have claimed to have bought from CWC the piling and sheeting of the lagoon...only interested in seeing that they are pulled... May 25, 1900 Strike a sulfur spring at 13th and Manderson while boring for viaduct for MOPAC. New spring is 1/4 mile from old one... June 2, 1900 Omaha men at Buffalo...Henry Rustin has full charge of electrical work...also McConnell, with his Old Plantation. Nearly all of Midway concessionaires at Omaha are at Buffalo. Col. Ninci, Major Clarkson, John Wakefield...F.W. Taylor is in charge of concessions... June 3, 1900 Mrs. Bowswer...remains on grounds in her Sod House, rent free, until this spring... squatting on undeclared land part of T/M grounds... June 5, 1900 Mrs. Bowser gets notice to quit grounds in three days... June 14, 1900 Council Bluffs population 25,000 according to census... June 20, 1900 Omaha may show drop in population. Census report in 1890 was padded to show Omaha as metropolitan city...which requires a population of 100,000 |
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