Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-03


since that time it has been cloudy, damp or
rainy, with slices of sunshine thrown in at in
tervals. Sunday we had heavy rain, but yes.
terdsy and to-day only clouds and dampness
in the morning have troubled us, and kept peo-
pie unsettled as to whether or not it was pru-
dent to venture out to the Exposition
For this reason there has been no crowd but
q small attendance since Governors Day" on
Thursday. when the largest crowd was gath
cred on the grounds. 1t was a most delightful
day, and everybody seemed to be charmed
with the attractions OF the occasion. The ex-
hibitors did their best to put their displays in
good order the Fifth Artillery Band discoursed
sweet music, the speeches In Judges Hall were
lively, and in all respects it was grand day
for the Exposition and Atlanta.
But, alas! such days are rare. The Exposi-
tion opened on the 5th of October, and yet it
has had only two days worthy Of such an i'm
mense and expensive enterprise. The opening
day brought in less than $4,000 and Governors
Day. less than 80 600 at the gates. To make
the Exposition pay its expenses and keep out
of debt, the gate fees ought not to be less than
$4,000 per day during the entire season. This
would require an attendance of four thousand
people daily. do not think that a smaller at
tendance. ought to be anticipated. because the
vast proportions and diversified character Of
the Exposition appeal to the people of the en-
tire country.
How to get the people here in crowds is now
the vexed problem. Before the Exposition
opened the people of Atlanta were roundly
censured for not preparing for immense
crowds. Havisg prepared for them, and the
crowds not appearing, we are told that the
railroads are keeping them away. Give cheap
rates and the crowds will come from all direc-
t1ons. Evidently somebody has miscalculated,
for extensive preparations were made to enter
tain thousands of visitors. and yet at no time
not even on Governors DaY'-have our city
hotels been overhowed, while the Exposition
and camp hotels have remained almost desert
ed. SO much was said about the grand rush of
visitors before the Exposition opened that
vast number of people have staid away in
order to avoid the expected jam.
Now that sleeping halls, eating houses and
hotels prepared for the occasion are empty and
losing money, the persons who unwiSely
sounded the alarm of mighty rush of visitors
that would flood the city, are equally Jealous
in their efforts to ''blame it all'' on the rail-
roads centering in Atlanta, and making the
most earnest appeals to Col. Wadley and Capt.
Raoul for cent a mile rate for round trip
tickets. But these appealers forget that re-
duction is demanded nearer home. That the
people living in aud around Atlanta who desire
to patronize the Exposition are asking for
round trip fare out to the Exposition Of ten
cents instead of twenty, as now charged, and
an admission fee of twenty five instead of fifty
cents When these reductions shall have been
made the crowds will increase daily, the exhibi-
t RS wear more smiling faces, and the treasury
of the Exposition show a healthier balance
sheet This done, promptly and effectually,
and guarantee that Col Wadley and Capt
Raoul will cheerfullY make similar reduction
OF rates over all the railroads controlled by
them. At present. however, the attendance
from Atlanta and vicinity is equally as back
ward, in comparison, as from all other parts
of the State.
MAGNIFICENT EXHIBITION
What have written above is not to be taken
In depreciation of the value Of the Exposition
to visitors. honestly believe that no thinking
intelligent man. woman or child, who can ap-
preciate such grand collection of industrial
and agricultural and art exhibits, would make
poor Investment to pay an admission fee of
two dollars. But human nature can't be
brought up to this standard of appreciation,
On Monday of last week over 10000 people
visited Forepaugh's circus in this city, and
more than 10, 900 paid over one dollar and the
balance over seventy-1ve cents admission.
And yet trains ran to the Exposition with
hardly five passengers to a car, and proba-
bly, less than 600 people paid fifty cents to
see an exhibition worth more to any man,
woman or child than all the circuses that ever
visited Georgia. Can we, then, hope to change
human nature even by cheaper rates on rail
roads and lower admission fee at the gates9
Are the people ripe for such movementY
C!rcuSeS sweep through our State and gather
the people. from fifty miles around, and five
dollars is not too large sum to spend to see
the show. But here in Atlanta, easy of access,
and to be seen a magnificent display of the
worlds inventive genius, industry and pro-
ducts, which taking out exhibitors and officials
is almost alone in its glory
And why should this be the case? Some GEN
tlemen OF experience say the original object
q Cotton Expostion-should not have been de-
waited from in any direction. That such an
affair would not have required crowd Of Wis
itors daily. but would have been sure of bring
ing here all classes of people interested in cot
ton culture, cotton manufacturing and cotton
machinery The expenses of such an exhibit
tion would have been small and its financial
success hardly questionable. Be this as it may,
the time is past to consider such an argument |
Whether wisely or not-I think unWisely-the
Exposition has blossomed out into grand dis
play OF everything that could be got to-
gether-even to flying horse and long haired
women side shows-from all parts of the earth. |
New building after new building has been add
ed. until Oglethorps Park looks like small
manufacturing town, and a small army of |
uniformed officials created to look after the |
affairs of the mammoth concern. The Expo
sition," said wealthy manufacturer from the |
West, has evidently outgrown the men who
inaugurated it, and the city in which it was
located" Adam Forepaugh, after looking
over the grounds, said the success Of the Expo |
sltlon was killed by opening it a month before |
1t was ready. give these as samples of the |
comment that is made by gentlemen of ripe |
experience. But, despite these criticisms
every true Georgian should now come to the
support Of the Exposition, and say, with all
thy faults love thee still. Only one thing is
now needed to crown il a glorious success
big rush OF visitors daily during the next two |
months.
HON. EDWARD ATKINSON.
This distinguished writer on cotton manufac-
lures and questions Of public interest is now |
in Atlanta, accompanied by several large mill |
owners or cotton factory officials, their pur- |