New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-08
VIENNA REVISITED.
THE EXPOSITION BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.

hi'D N''NSN'1'
THEIR PRESENT APPEARANcE-A STROLL THROUGH
THE DESERTED HALLs-THE AMERICAN SECTION
AND ITS CONDTTIOS-BUsINEss REVIviNa IN
yIENNA-THE LOSS TO THE AUSTRIAN GOVERN
MENT NINE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
tFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF rHB TRIBUSEI
VIENNA, July 15.-TO the many millions OIL
Americans who visited Vienna last year. on the occasion
OF the Great Exhibition this letter is Respectfully ded
Gated. To the few dozens or, may be, hundreos "no
remained homo It is not dedicated and shoun any vi
attempt its perusa trust that steps may DC taken
to prevent such rashness 1t happened to be my fae 70
spend several weeks in Vienna In the memorable year
OF the Welt Ausel,n0 and to become familiar with the
city and its surroundings After absence OF nearly
fen months am here again, and yesterday curious 10
known the condition Of the Exposition grounds and
buildings, / paid visit to the Prater ana ootaiheo
admission TO the familiar quarter.
Last year the Tramway Company extended its tracks
to the Exposition-one line running by way OF the
and terminating at the west end OF tine
Machine Hail. the other passing the other side OF the
Donau Canal until crossing that stream by the sonen
Bridge whence 1t continued to an indefinite ana almost
imaginary point in sight OF the South Portal ana 10
front OF the Great Dome. The other line had Ter
minus under a she'd and you knew when to leave the
cars but the Soften Bridge line seemed to have no end
or beginning You left the car wherever your rancy
impeed you to so, and matter where you LEFT IT,
you soon came to the conclusion that some other place
would have been better. You have no such perpexty
now, a the stops before the Sonen Bridge is
reached and you make the rest OF the journey on oot
unless you choose to hire carriage On the other line
the ears little beyond the Pratersern, and there
stop from point where they used TO turn out OF the
Alice near the Neue Wiener Orpheum, the track to the
Exposition grounds OF use. and portions OF IL have
been taken up The shed at the terminus still remains,
and when passed II there was not living being under
its roof Where all the thousands that stood there
last year. and puzzled their brains over the mysterious
WAYS in which the employees of the Tramway Company
perform their varied duties
Accom- panied by friend and sun umbrella went
to the Prater by way OF Soften Bridge and from the
present terminus Of the tramway took leisurely
pace In the direction OF the Dome The July sun came
ercely down, and not the protection OF the u-
brela could save the OF the party from its exces
siye warmth. IG quite az bad AZ last year, ana
am told that there been days little worse II pos
sibe than the early July days OF 49, At the crossing
of the elongated pool, which lies between the EXPOSE
ton entrance and the Soften Bridge. there was an OBJ
sruction in the shape picket fence which said as
plainly IA German policeman could nave told u.s.
EtntriH rer6ots" There a bridge long way 10
the lett and the day very warm. and so we risKed
an arrest and the acerati0n OF clothing and cucle
We managed TO pass the fence without much trouble
and in few reached the main entrance OF the
building The gded crown which surmounts the dome
was visible through the trees gliding has lost ITS
old-tme glitter and longer dazzes the eyes OF the
visitor. It's hue is trie coppery now and VIII doubt
less become more o as time rolls on
Instead of the crowds that were vending their
into the Exposition by the south gate year ago we
found only single PAIR of visitors, evidently rural Aus
trians preceding There used TO be "a long line OF
carriages dozens and OF tnem standing near this
gate there but two and these were OF ven
| cradle and time appearance that led me TO re-
gard this profitable c1rrage-sand as KIND OF aNt
resort for Vienna hacbmen. The turnses we're closed
ana the only visible entrance "a small gate guarded
by single policemen. happened to have in ny pocket
the ordinations karte by which used to gain admis-
sion last year. and for the sake OF jest walked up and
presented II az II I expected immediate admission The
policeman smiled at my yeriancy and explained that
the card was good at present He directed me TO
one OF the Offices where / could obtain ticket and
| there | was properly provided, with no delay ana
without any disbursement Of cash. But my jest Win
the old ticket OF entry turned out an awkward one for
u. a. the official at the ticket Office wished to destroy
| H. IeNplaiued that wished 10 retain the card as "a
| souvenir, bur the explanation had no weight,
and I only saved the relic by putting 1t In
NY pocket aud walking away. As passed
the policeman and exhibited my new ticket
he al.o demanded the surrender Of the old one, but
walked ON as if did not understand his demand Many
" the Offices In the long series OF long rows near
c entrance appear be occupied. or at all events
furniture SIN romans in them, and in several there
" re- desks where men were working over piles OF sta
to- ory The fountains Just Inside the entrance were
not paying and in the large pool where swans used to
spot'. the water remains. bat is entirely swanless
Tue tltuary that stood here is gone and the sprnkng
cart, that kept down the dust and ohed your clothes
are uu more. The only moving vehicles were rough
wagon, laden with hay, aud there were no, a dozen
per,ou on that open space where have ten thou
sand OF more a. once. Most Of the small buildings In
th, locality are SIN standing, bur the Winter rams
have dined the freshness OF their paint, and given
few Of a. appearance OF age The grass - green
aud fresh the PORTIONS Of the grlund reserved from
The tread boot. aud slbos and some of the plots had
been recct 'ly moved The sale OF hay from the TX
position gr Juni probably the main source OF present
r.yeuie f, the concern There used to be joke about
badly nat onz.d railway ia Massachusetts that the
directors ne cr made dyd nj except after they had
moved the .tck aud sold the hay
Tie great 4o1r Of the Exposition building is closed
and one b, l-od % seek admission through narrow
door Al the ,Ie III nrst thug entering is
bcggarly arri' OF empty packns-5oXes' lying against
the inside OF the great door tess steps aud we are
Al the .dss Of Ge space covered by h' dome, space
mat ook. twic a. large ~ formerly ly ratson VI it.
emptiness, solitary policeman guards ~ and Tor
several minute, the policeman and ourselves were tht
only persons ts vicinity. Tie fountain IN the center
has been remove, but he basin remains, though empI
We went To tlo c o the basin aud, while couvcrsns
near IT, made "a, discovery that thcrc Is an excellent
echo Ia tue dome ~ We talked IN an ordinary voice
every syllable was distinctly repeated, ani there wa
even a FAINT rosppGsc 20 a Whisper clap o.
The hand. was Answered ~ clearly as though
-omc one la The gallery had cont re
Spouse. Tie echo - quite ~ good as TIE
one IA the hall of the Ducal Palace at Venice, but not
canal 10 the very famous one ma the LitomA at syria
cus. nm sicily doubt the echo known last year
AS the hni-hiug touchc' OF the dome were made after
the floor had been covered with the exhibiting
stands and the fountain placed IA position. !
had hoped to be able 70 look from end 10