Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-04-22
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
Upsoard Tendency of Prices in Nsso York
SHARP Practice on tho Importsrs-Tns
Great Fair Contributions from lssoa-
etc., etc.
New YORK April IA, 1864.
Everything is on the rise in this city, cx-
cept rain, which has been on the fall, more or
less, every day have been here. have
thought our Western spring rains and mud
were as disagreeable as they could be, but
they were more than equalled by the drizzle,
snow and slush Of yesterday.
But I started out to speak of the rise in
prices. Even the ragged little boot-blacks,
who ply their avocation SO industriously
about the City Hall, have advanced their
rates one hundred per cent. The principal
omnibus lines on Broadway have just raised
the price of ride to ten cents, having for
merly charged six. BARRIERS charge fifteen
cents for a shave, and so it goes through the
whole catalogue Of minor expenses. But the
increase in hotel charges is what the stranger
feels the most. First-class houses. which
few years since charged $3.50 per day, now
charge $3.50. Those conducted on the Eu-
ropean plan, where the guest pays for his
meals BY the dish, charge rs cents instead of
so cents for lodging This is, after all, the
most economical, besides most convenient,
giving you an opportunity to take your meals
at . restaurant in any part of the city with
out being charged =. your hotel with meals
Of which you did not parsake. Some Of these
furnish refreshments equal to the
best hotels. Such is Delmonico's, the resort
of the stock brokers, near Exchange Place {;
also, Berry's, on Broad street. patronizad by
the bankers and insurance officers. But the
most sumptuous Of all is Taylor's, on Broad
way, the splendor and msgni6cence OF which
must be seen to be realized. Prices at these
restaurants rarge from dollar for chicken
to FIVE cents for piece CT bread. A substan-
tial dinner, however, can be had for from SO
to IS cents, whereas frst-class hotels charge
$3.50 for dinner.
To-day I passed through the Treasury
building, on Wall street, and saw long line
Of men waiting their "turns" to purchase
gold certificates with which to pay import
duties, according to recent regulation of the
Treasury Department. Most of them had
provided themselves with newspapers or
books to while away the tedious hours of
their waiting. Great indignation has been
caused by the practice of boys and shysters
of larger growth taking their places in the
line for no other purpose than to sell out
their chances when they get near the window.
In some cases $40, 1875, and even as high as
$50, have been paid by the importers for
these chances. The police have been trying
to remedy the evil by thrusting out of the
lines those who do not give good evidence Of
bona fde intentions, but still the artful dodg-
ers in many cases have managed to deceive
the officers by presenting bogus applications,
or by shaking greenbacks in their faces, said
grsenbacks being considered presumptive
proof Of the holders intention to purchase
gold certificates.
have had time at last, Notwithstanding
my pressing business engagements, to attend
the great Fair, called by way Of distinction
from many other great affairs of the kind in
many parts of the country recently, "the
Metropolitan Fair Its held in two immense
temporary buildings erected for the purpose
one on Union Square, and the other on
Fourteenth street, near Sixth Avenue. 1t far
excels in magnitude anything of the kind
ever held on this continent, or perhaps in
the world, furnishing gratifying evidence Of
the deep and pervading interest felt by the
people of New York and the country gener-
ally, Qor nearly every Northern State is rep
by contributions,) in the welfare Of
our soldiers. The main exhibition room is
about seven times as large as fremont Hall,
and is brilliant with festoons and decorations
and with Thousands of fancy articles on sale.
1t has been crowded daily, although the price
of admission has been, until to-day, dollar
for each person, with 25 cents extra to get
into the art gallery, another % cents to the
old curiosity shop, and rs cents to see the
Indian exhibition. The admission was re-
duced to-day to 80 cents. There are other
sights for the relief of the visitors wallet
such as ten cents for looking through a
brick at pretty girl, ten cents to have your
fortune told, ten cents to see the Knicksr-
booker Kitchen, ETC., etc., ad h6itun, or till
your funds give out.
An exciting feature of the Fair is the vct-
ing for the General who shall receive the
splendid sword presented 10 the Fair by Tiff
fanny & Co., the we'll known jewellers Of New
York. Each voter must pay dollar, and
be can cast as many votes A. he pays dollars
Up to this time Mcclellan has received 3,6l6
votes, and Grant 3,444. The Mcclellan men
appear to have had the longest purses SO far,
but am in hopes Grant will come out ahead
yet.
looked in vain for some appropriate con-
from Iowa as evidence of her inter-
est in the gigantic enterprise of the metropo'
lis. The only articles received from our
State were six boxes of neurological speci-
mems sent from Dubuque, through the agency
of Mrs. D. N. Cooley. Rev. John Reyna'd,
Of shullsburg. Wis. superintendent Of the
geological department Of tho Fair. kindly
pointed out TO me the Iowa contributions.
Il Of s4ala