New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-17
REASONING ABOUT THE FAIR.

Chicago wants the Worlds Fair, and reasons
that visitors from Europe will see great deal
more If the country, get better idea OF its
growth and greatness and power and industrial
progress, and be more favorably impressed as
10 any possible business relations in future
whether as migrating capitalists, immgrating
laborers or foreign buyers Of American prod
nets. than they could be if they should see only
single American seaport. That is perfectly
true, and it may be frankly admitted. 1t may
even be granted for the sake Of argument that
the value of this favorable impression formed
by travel through the country to Chicago would
be worth. as compared with the impression if
New York only were visited, 81 against 81
for every visitor, or in like proportion There
is no evidence or reason to believe that the
difference would be worth so much to the coun-
try, or in any other definite proportion more
Int let it be supposed that for every dollar
which the country would gain, directly and IN
directly. through the favorable impressions OF
each foreign visitor if the Exposition should be
held here. it would gain about 80, if it should
be held at Chicago.
Rut the number of visitors from abroad would
differ as ten to one. or even more. The At
Fair were here, and all the unemployed vessels
of the whole world would be competing for the
cheap transportation of visitors. Excursion TIP
rates would make the cost OF travel little more
than the cost of living for two weeks at any
sort Of hotel or boarding house such as would
suit the taste or the purpose OF each visitor
In this city and the adjoining cities some mill
ions Of people have already hotels and lodging
houses and boarding accommodations 1Or mill
ions Of visitors, and accommodations OF all
sorts from the most economical 70 the most
extravagant. Every nationality would ma here
IFS own customs and language, at lodgings and
hotels in great number Along the Sound, at
Corev Island and beyond, on Staten Island, at
nlaces all along the Jersey coast, along the
Iudson on both sides for many miles, and along
the Sound on both shores for long distance
There are already accommodations for great
army of guests every summer. The numDer
accommodated at these resorts could be IN
creased by million without adding single
room.
Enormous competition here would keep down
charges for lodging. board or food. The GER
,ainty Of unlimited and cheap accommodation
hore and accommodation of all sorts and grades,
suted 10 every habit and nationality ana purse
could hiring a vast number of visitors to the
Fa;r il if were held here who would never race
The additional expenditure OF journey l,OOo
niles by r1il. with the uncermin cost OF accom-
rodation in a smaller interior city afterward.
rsnocially. the attractions Of a lodging by the
soaside during the summer heats would bnng
,ost multitude who would never face the
uncomfortable heat of Chicago in midsummer.
putting these influences together, one can safe
l., caIculate that al the leasi ten visitors would
come to the Fair from foreign counnes II 1t
nora m New York where one would come If II
va Of Chicago. Even if each visitor at Chi
coco should be worth - to the country the ten
,ie;tors AZ New-York would be worth Oh the
sunnoStion above al least $40, or five times
as much.
Several million visitors from Europe would
,,ol,e a difference in the value Of the Fair To
oxb;bitors. 4 free-trade lunatic recently la
,,,onted that this country would not be able tc
sccure customers for its products, however much
.hev might be admired by visitors, because ito
hicb tariff had made prices here so eXt'aya-
Dant The man had no idea what vast variety
81 American products already finds sale abroad
and in many different countries, and would fine
n,arv times as glsa a sale il the products were
i,noyn 70 the people of more foreign countries