, 1874-12-27

esting and instructive article to the 1lte7na-
tional Rerieao on stVienna and the Centen-
ninl," the purpose Of which is to furnish the
Philadelphia people with some valuable les
sons from the experience of Vienna in fair
holding A general resume of the Worlds
Fair business is certainly not very encour
aging to the Centennial managers, unless
they are wise enough to confne themselves
within limits which they may reasonably
hope to comprehend. Tho fact is that the
only Worlds Fairs that have been financial
successes were the two held in London; that
Of paris was almost self-supporting, but the
receipts still fell somewhat short OF the out
lay. AL the other attempts have been fail
ures. The general conclusion which Prof.
HART draws from his observation is that
world-exhibition can only be held to advan-
tsge in a world-centre. This seems to be fully
justified by the facts; and, though manifold
errors may DO traced in the preparations
and management of the Vienna Exposition, it
is not probable that any enterprise Of its
magnitude could have been o monetary sue
cess in city of the size and geographical
position Of Vienna. The number of paying
visitors at the Vienna Exposition is estimated
to have been 5000, 600, while there were
10,000,000 or twice as many, at the Paris
Exposition. Tho difference was partly owing
TO material decline in the interest Of the
European people in Worlds Fairs, but prin-
cipally owing to the lack Of facilities for
transportation and accommodation which
every city in Europe, except London and
Paris, has for so gigantic an undertaking.
Prof. Hart is of the opinion that the Phil
adelphia Centennial prospect has some de-
cided advantages over the Viennn Exposition,
which mny be enumerated in the order
of their Importance: The limitation Of
the general plan to the resources Of
tho occasion superior site for the loca-
ton of the buildings, involving less outlay
than at Vienna; central and favorable loca-
tion for the transportation of goods, and am-
p1o railroad facilities for that purpose; and
IN arrangement Of the buildings which is
better adapted to the purposes Of exhibition.
But there is one serious obstacle in the way
Of satisfactory and self-sustaining outcome
Of the project; and, unless Philadelphia pro-
ceeds ct once to provide solution of the
problem, the Centennial will be as great q
failure as was the Vienna Exposition.
. We refer now to the limited hotel accom-
modations of Philadelphia. Vienna began
to prepare for entertaining the guests at her
Exposition full three years before its open
ing. In 1871, the Grand Hotel was opened
with 800 rooms; in 1872 and 1878, the Aus
tria (150 roorns), the Donau (32o rooms), the
Britannia 190 rooms), the Netropolo (425
rooms), the Wimberger COCO rooms), the I'm
periel (15o rooms), and the Union and the Ho-
tel de France, both large houses, were thrown
open to the public. Besides these, mnss
of lodging houses, hotels garnis, restaurants,
and cafeswere constructed, and the old hotels
were remodcled and enlarged. It may be
safely estimated that $500 or 5000 apart
ments for the accommodation Of guests were
provided in addition to the hotels and lodg-
ing-houses that Vienna had before possessed.
In spite Of this enormous increase, it WIS
noised abroad TINT there would be lack Of
accommodations for strangers, and this i'm
preston gained ground to such an extent that
everybody remained away at first in order to
AFptA LuG IuSA VI tl6 ApCA4Ai{3s A1Obo H44O
went were Aeeced so outrageously that every
man who left Vienna warned lis friends and
acquaintances to whit until the Viennese came
down in their prices. The natural consc-
q,lenco Of this chain Of circumstances was,
that tho rush came at the last instead
Of the beginning and, during the
months of September and October,
the hotels, first and second class, and
the lodging houses were cramned with people.
inexperienced travellers who neglected to en-
gage their rooms in advance were obliged to
drive around for hours in search of apart
ments. Every place wns crowded and un-
comfortable; prices went mp to extortionate
rates; service Of servants was poor and inad-
equate, and tho inn-koepers i1npudent and
grasping
# Vienna had an experience Of this nature.
after all the preparations that were made for
housing the strangers, what must Philadel-
phia expect If it does nothing? The Centen-
NAL Exposition is foregone failure, unless
this problem OF taking cure OF the stranger is
solved beforehand ThereRre but three cities
in this country that have ehotel-accommodation
at all commensurate with the demands Of O