The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-05-25
AMERICAN Pluck ILLUSTRATED.


Thanks TO golden number of resolute
publc>spirited citizens, the men upon
whom the government laid the RESPONSE
bility and to when it intrusted the honor
and the privilege Of the undertaking, an
the doubts have now been resolved in
glorious realization of American patriotic
pluck and perseverance. The Commls-
sioners declared that the eXh oitloh
should open on the 10th of May, 1876.
On the 10th of May, 1876, it was opened.
The transformations effected on the
grounds and in the whole locality OF the
Exhibition in the short space OF Il year
! have been simply marvellous. To many
Philadclphians, e"en, who hayc not hao
the opportunity for months CT visiting
the scene of busy preparation, the sight
has been utterly astounding. strange
looking city OF magnificent buildings,
wide avenues and drives, has grown up
as if by magic under their very feet.
Richly freighted cargoes of exhibits have
come from all parts of the world, ana
been arranged in their places. 19o build
ings in all, many of them large and hand
some, all of them unique and ornamental
have been erected within the Exhibition
grounds, and hundreds of buildings out
side for the uses and purposes of the &C.
casicn. Whilst the finishing touches are
still to be put on here and there, and
some of the sections and spaces of cXhib-
itors are not quite filled, yet the whole is
in such state of completeness as not to
impair or abrdge in the least degree the
general effect, or rob the Inauguration OF
its simple and grand impulsivcness. In
fact, the Exhibition is in a greater state
of torwardrcss than were any of the
great Worlds Fairs that have yet been
held.
PHILADELPHIAs LODGING CAPACITY.
On another question good deal of
anxious speculation has been spent. 1t
had been asserted that the Centennial
City had not and could not provide, ac-
commodation for the floods of visitors
that would surely pour in upon her dur
ing the year. This question is now set
at rest beyond reasonable doubt. When
Philadelphia was chosen as the site OF
the proposed celebration her hotel capac
iiv did not it is true, exceed 10000 guests.
But public sentiment was aroused ON the
question, and capitalists saw their oppor-
tunity and engaged in projects that to-
day stand out in their completed proper
tons for the admiration of all who ap-
plaud well directed business energy and
enterprise.
FIGURES SPEAKING FOR THEMSELVES.
The Board of Finance have estimated,
upon the basis of the attendance AT the
the Vienna and Paris Expositions, that
there will be at least 10 600, 900 admis-
sions to the grounds during the Exhibi-
tion-an average of 65, 600 per day. This
average attendance can now be provided
for in the hotels alone! BY extending
old ones, and the erection of monster
| new ones, some of them accommodating
their 1000, 1000, and 1000 each. and with
the innumerable smaller houses opened
in the vicinity of the grounds capable of
entertaining their 100 to 400 guests each,
the number of $1,000 is reached. In it
| are included the hostelries erected on
the dwelling. house plan,-that is, rows
| of houses so constructed as to be readily
transformed into dwelling houses after
! the Exhibition is over.
"a CITY OF HOMES
It must be remembered, too, that Phila
dclphia is emphatically "a city of homes"
having her IA, 900 dwelling houses with
in her city limits Among these are
great number of quiet, respectable board
lighthouses, well organized to entertain
visitors, and give them accommodations
of room and table superior to many
GOOD hotel, and at rates ranging from 81
to So per day. Many private families,
too, have for the noncc arranged to keep
house for Centennial visitors at very
- 90 Hf "h.rrnc The Ccnten-
NAL Boarding. House Agency, having that
special sanction of the Board of Finance,
has already engaged accommodations
for 1000 visitors on very reasonable
terms and there are other responsible
and reliable agencies in the same work
The aggregate capacity of these accom-
modatons is estimated AT $4,000 guests
daily; and when we add the number of
private houses whose latch-String will
hang out for relatives and friends TO
whom the rare ld-fashoned Philadcl-
phia hospitality will be earthly dispensed
we may safely put the figures "f possible
accommodation at 10000 daily, with
still further capacity CT expansion upon
such emergency days as the Fourth of
July and other special great days of the
Exhibition.
TRANSPORTATION OF PASSENGERS.
In close connection with the lodging
question, is that of the transporta-
ton facilities to and from the grounds
from the surrounding towns and cities,
and from the central and remotcr parts
of the city itself. The means of rapid
transit for enormous numbers are be-
licved to be thoroughly ample and ade-
quate Opening day was severe test OF
these facilities, but they proved equal
to the strain. 1t must be borne in mind,
that Philadelphia streets are complete
network of horse-car railroads. At Wen
ma the access was practically by foot
passages and carriages only. There was
but one horse railway available and no
steam passenger railway leading near
the grounds. Philadelphia has five main
lines which pass directly to and into the
grounds, and by the system of exchanges,
these connect with almost every other
line in the city, thus bringing car with
in a stones throw of almost every dwell
ing-at cost of six to nine cents for
passage to the grounds. One of these !
lines carried between 10000 and $4,000 |
passengers on the first day of the Exhi- |