Morning journal and courier., 1881-05-27
Friday Morning, May %, 1881.
A WORLDS FAIR IN BOSTON.

"a /" OAAADS . AN bOSAONs
A large number of the enterprising and
''solid" men of Boston seem to be really in
terested in the plan to hold worlds fair IN
that city in 1885. At meeting held We'd
nesday evening to consider the matter there
was large attendance and spirit was mani
tested which promises we'll for the scheme.
General G. B. Norton. who has been active
in advocating the project, presented some
facts and arguments which make it plain
that Boston can enter upon the work of pre-
pairing for worlds fair with a good pros
pect of success. In the first place the loca-
tion talked of is very favorable one. There
is large tract of land, Centrally located y
which would be at once available for build
ing purposes. It is level and would require
no work upon it. The grading and filling in
of the grounds at Fairmount Park. Philadel-
phia, cost five or six hundred thousand dol.
lars. This item would be saved in Boston.
The grounds suggested are within mod
crate walk of any part of Boston, which
would be great advantage in the event of a
pressure upon transportation facilities. Visi-
tors would be landed directly in the building
from any part of the United States. Anoth-
er very important advantage is the fact that
two large and commodious buildings are al
ready in process of erection, which, through
the courtesy of those in charge, could doubt
less be utilized for the purposes of the exhi-
bition. Taking advantage of these buildings,
the proposed edifce designed for the worlds
fair would be built in segmental form, and
would cover about sixty acres, or a space
nearly one-fourth larger than Boston Com
mon. The means of transportation to and
from and in the city would be adequate, land it
is proposed to have an elevated railroad inside
the exhibition building, the cars to be moved
by electricity.
The cost of the fair at Philadelphia was
So, ,S23, ,31O.17. Of this amount about $780,
900 was spent in preparing the grounds Gan
item which would be saved in Boston, and
nearly $4,000 600 were expended by the
State of Pennsylvania and the city of Phila-
delphia for the Memorial and Horticultural
halls and the Machinery building. General
Norton believes that $4,000, 600 would pay
the expenses of the proposed fair in Boston.
He estimates that there would be 5000, 900
paid admissions Cthere were 100000 at
Philadelphia) which would bring in So, ,500,-
900. He believes that $500, 600 could be
raised from concessions and privileges and
that the old materials would bring 800, 900,
thus showing profit.
There are several plans to raise the funds
needed. First, positive guaranty fund, the
parties advancing the money as a finance
board to control the receipts this board to
be secured by the Introduction of a popular
loan, to be known as the worlds fair loan, in
shares of ten dollars, redeemable in five
years, at par, no interest. Gen eral Wilson, of
the New York and New England railroad, has
suggested that these shares be made to rep
resent twenty tickets of admission, so that
the parties could utilize them in that way,
and thus secure the absorption of large
portion of this stock. Still another plan is
to make application to the State of Massa-
chusetts for an appropriation and to supple
ment this by similar application to the
other New England States.
There will be another meeting June 1st,
when a committee appointed to find out
what can be done will report. There seems
now to be no reason why q worlds fair can
not be held in Boston, even if the plan was a
failure in New York. AS soon as it gets a
good start much interest will of course be
taken in it throughout New England