The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-05-11
Centennial Letter.

SO't W LtofHy- WHCTC VfSNOsS can
get their Regular "Hdsh" and Leave
heir P1cket-books-A Large Clock
Beer on no Beer, Thdfsthe Question.
From our Regular cosrc-p~ndem.l
The tenth of May was approaching fast,
AS through Quaker village passed
A youth who bore, for gOodly price.
"A banner with the proud device,
Centennial"
A week has made little change in
the aspect of Centennial affairs,
though a very large quantity of ex-
hibitors' stock has arrived during
that time. The work ofunpackiug
and arranging is going forward with
rapidity, while a good deal lies
around loose in boxes on the grounds
and in the buildings. But, anyhow,
it is here, and gives encouraging
evidence that there is going to be
something to see after all. At one
time there was almost n complete
blockade in the unloading of cars,
but better system is now observed,
and the work goes on more smooth
ly. There is some talk of putting
on a double force all round, exhib-
itors and all, and working night and
day to hasten the unpacking and
arranging process, and unless this
is decided upon the situation May
10th will be about as indicated in
my last letter. l notice that
great many "things" forwarded for
exhibition arc considerably dam
aged in transportation. So far,
more than twO-thirds of the articles
in the building arc from foreign ex-
hibitors. The interest manifested
by foreign countries and foreign
enterprise is really astonishing, and
will not be fully realized except by
those who witness it.
A complete resume of the display
to be made by the different States
cannot well be given for few days,
as | find few of the separate State
buildings are ready. Some of them
appear to have acted upon the old
maxim of "better late than never"
But there is no end of really inter-
esting things to write about in a
general way, and l cannot begin to
give your readers the details they
will want in one, or in half dozen
letters. The question of expense
is the all important one to most peo-
pie who contemplate seeing the
show. Besides the item of railroad
fare, referred to last week, there is
the matter of living while here.
Both these items of expense arc
going to be too high for the major
ity of people unless they take
tumble, though the cost of living
promises to be less cxtortionatc
than the cost of getting here. The
leading hotels have put their prices
at So per day, averaging 81 more
than their ordinary prices. This
is, Of course, an outrage, yet there
is no way to prevent it and they
justify themselves on the ground
that they will be "chock full'' with
people who can afford to pay high |
rates. The more modest hotels will |
charge from So to 81 per day, |
prices which they could not get ut
any other time.
But they all expect to be full,
and more than full, and arc provid-
ing themselves with extra cots for
use in their parlors and anterooms.
10 them, as to business people of
Every class here, "hope tells a fiat
cring talc," and We will not wish
hem any disappointment. The
Philadelphia merchant whose cof-
ers the dull times have lately de.
,letcd tells his importunate credit
II to wait till after the Centennial
and he waits.
But aside from the hotels there
$ the everlasting boarding house,
more numerous here at this time
han in any other city on earth ex-
cpt Washington. In these people
an live at Il little less than hotel
atcs, although in proportion to the
accommodations and Injuries Of
cred their charges arc the highest.
about two dollars per day is the
ommon price among them, and
rom that to three dollars. l had
plain conversation with woman
tho runs one of them a day or two
ince, just after she had shown me
little corner room about seven by
inc, scantily furnished, in which
he proposed to put two persons at
So dollars per day each. In ordi-
AIRY times she would have hard
ork to rent it to one person ut
ight dollars or nine dollars per
eek with board, but she said the
entcnnial Lodging and Boarding
louise Association had established
lesc rates and recommended PEG.
lie to maintain them. There is no I
,ason why the people of Philadel- ,
lila should plumber visitors to the G
ty by means of unusual and I'M Q
'asonablc charges, but they look !
'rward to it as their harvest, and G
ltend to make the most of il. u
hey present this view of the case d
pcnly and freely, and argue that
'crcascd demand justifics Increased
rice. There are plenty of patri-
,ic people here whose interest in
lc Centennial is entirely apart
ON any motives of gain, but they :,
&C neither the tradcsmcn nor keep "
s of caravanseries. The rates =