Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-12
A SUGGESTION.

The value TO the business interests OF
n city OF attractions which will draw
large numbers Of visitors, was forcibly
illustrated by the financial results OF
the centennial celebration in New
York. It is said that event was the
means of saving more than one firm
from failure, and not few Of the hotel
men, whose bank accounts we're over
drawn, have been placed in a position
Of comparative independence and rem
dered able to silence the clamors OF
creditors. 1t is estimated that the vast
army OF visitors to the metropolis left
not less than twelve million dollars
as the price OF their sightseeing. And
this estimate is rather below than above
the amount expended. Evere retail in
terest was benefited. Everybody who
had anything to sell which a visiting
crowd would naturally want, found an
active demand at a good round profit.
For days the great city contained double
its normal population, and tens OF
thousands Of the visitors went there to
unite business with pleasure. Never
before in an equal period did the mer-
camille, hotel and other business inter-
ests Of New York do so great and pro-
iitable trade as during the week
of the centennial celebration. Chi
cago also prolited largely by its
celebration, and every city that COM
memorated the centennial on an at
tractive scale was gamer by it.
or course, that was an exceptional
event, MAXI ng a special appeal to the
patriotic interest Of the people. Yet OF
the hundreds of thousands who went to
| the various cities that celebrated, the
| majority were actuated more by the de-
sire for pleasure than by any other
| motive. The masses of the American
| people do not have sufficient recreation,
| although the people of no other ountry
| better know how to enjoy them
selves when the occasion offers, nor
are any other people more gem
erous in paying for their enjoy
ment. In every populous portion Of
the country the larger cities could find
hardly any better investment than to
| provide at least twice year genuine
and adequate attractions which would
| ulaW DOoPiO VI ohS ohi
country to them and be mutually
advantageous. A few cities do
this, greatly to the benefit
of their prosperity. Cincinnati and
ST. Louis have profitted largely by their
liberal policy in this respect, and we do
not know of any city where the plan has
been judiciously tried without result
ing benefcially. The failures have
been due either to unwise management
or to unfavorable conditions which
could not be provided against
We need hardly say that these sug-
gestions are intended to have local
application. Omaha is the metropolis
of territory having perhaps two mill
lions of people, and it would seem to be
by no means an impossible thing to an
nually draw to this city say five per
fractions worthy of their atten-
ton. Nor can it be otherwise
than obvious that if this we're
done the results would be greatly to the
city's advantage. Omaha is steadily
advancing. In any event, the city will
continue to grow, because the condi-
tions are such as to assure its progress
and they will not be changed. But it
may advance slowly or rapidly, accord
ing to the degree of enterprise and en-
ergy which its people exert; it may
simply await the natural operation OF
the conditions that have made it what
it is, and move forward leisurely and
surely, or it may stimulate the opera.
tion of these conditions and obtain g
more vigorous and equally safe pro-
gress. The latter would seem to be
manifestly the true policy, and it should
not be postponed to some future year
but put into effect this year. Some
thing is wanting to give impetus and
vigor to Omaha's advance. The intel
ligent men who control it's financial and
business affairs ought to be able to de.
termine what it is that's wanted ant
proceed without delay to provide it.
|