The Rock Island Argus., 1884-12-23
THE WORLDS EXPOSITION.
Capt. C. W. Durham's Experience in
New Orleans Some Valuable
Pointers for Persons who In
tend Visiting the Cres-
cent City.

Capt. q. W. Durham has returned
from his trip to New Orleans, where he
witnessed the opening of the worlds fair.
The captain was member of Gov. Ham
ilton's party of twenty
"How did the big fair open ups asked
reporter in conversation with Capt.
Durham last evening.
"Well, there were about 10000 people
present, but the buildings were not in
proper shape In fact very little was in
order. Carpenters were at work in diff
ferent buildings pounding away and get
ting the departments into order. The
managers have experienced great trouble
in getting carpenters and other workmen
to do the work.
ave were in New Orleans four days
and it rained more or less all the time we
were there We only got out to the ex-
position grounds the first day. You see
the grounds arc several miles from the
city and the arrangements for getting
to them are miserable. They have
only two little street railway lines. 1t
is impossible to drive out with car
riage, and the walks are very bad |
think the managers will build railroad
out to the grounds and run steam cars.
They could build a road in week. The
trouble is the exposition was gotten up
and dedicated in too much of a hurry.
Dakota and Minnesota have a pretty fair
showing, but as general rule everything
is vet in confusion. The Mexican exhibit,
which is generally expected to be the
finest in the exposition, had not even
been landed when was there. There
was some trouble with custom house Off
GERS. The government exhibit is very
nice, and what there is on exhibition is
very nice indeed, but box after box oi
stuff remains unopened in the building
Cannot the exposition grounds bt
reached by water?"
"Yes, We went down on boat-th,
Fred Blank. The grounds run righ
down to the river, but the buildings ar,
quite a ways back The day after we ha(
gone down to the exposition on this boat
it collided with another boat and sank
being a total loss. 1t was larger boa
than any you see on the upper Mississippi
river. That catastrophe has scared peo
pie about the river route TO get to the cx
position"
How is the climate in New Orleans?
Last Wednesday it was very hot. W
all sweat like good fellows, and on Thurs
day that cold wave reached US and W
nearly froze l didn't freeze. but ther
was raw chilly wind"
care the hotel accommodations good?
Pretty fair, but the proprietors al
making the most of their time already an
charge S4 to $5 per day. In our party c
twenty it cost us 81 per day each
, The captain says the reception of Gov
Hamilton and party was hearty, and tn
r managers of the exposition and citizen
generally did all in their power to max
; the visitors comfortable and their visi
2 pleasant. They were rendered two {
1 three receptions during their stay. whiel
in point of elegance, could not be ex
; celled.
One afternoon the party went out on
E man Of war ship and witnessed an exhibi
7 ton of the way a man of war is prepare
for action. The officers gave the com
mands just the same as though they wer
in the midst of battle, and the me
e jsmped around getting the guns in posi-
tion and they were fired at the imaginar
foe. 1t was very interesting sight.
The captain is of the opinion that thos
= who contemplate a visit to New Orlcar
? would do well to wait until March b
e that time everything about the vast buil(
+ ings on the exposition grounds will be
: order, and tie streets will likely be pas
e able again. Capt Durham expects
0 visit the exposition again in March II
. wants TO see the grand exhibit at its bes