Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-05


IsrIcs- rHos. Q. rLArr AND DAVID .. Hu.L
AND WHAT THEY ARE DorNo.
Special Correspondence Of THE Evrrrro srAR.
NEW YORK. Oct. ga skater in starting out
from shore often has to pass over Q strip of
thin Toe, and with this analogy in view shall
begin by touching on the worlds fair Of 1897
The average New Yorker feels upon the dis
puted question Of location somewhat like this:
He admits abstractly that the fair should be
held in Washington, and he feels that, a. .
matter OF fact, it will be held ct Chicago. But
he hopes that somehow his own city will
manage to get the prize away from both.
The situation in regard to the worlds fair
II you will allow the violent assumption that IL
Will be held in New York at all-is that the site
has been hxed along the Bloomingdale plateau,
IN the two precipitous parks adjoining and in
the stretch OF dat land north of the park. The
committee is now hard at work trying to 6nd
out how the owners Of property in this location
feel about Its sale or lease, and, . rule, they
meet with very decent spirit The most con-
trary persons now are the trustees Of the large
tracts on the heights owned by the Episcopal
cathedral and the Bloomingdale insane asylum.
Rather 70 the surprise and disgust Of the COM
mittee, these large bodies move slowly in
granting consent to the use Of their lands. A
few OF the smaller proprietors are stubborn
also, but as Pooh Bah observed, don't say
but what they can be squared.
NOTHING DEFINITE.
Having settled on site the next thing IL to
pay for it, and after that TO decide how to use
it. In both Of these particulars the managers
are very backward. We hear rumors of fnan-
cial plans which are to set the fair on its legs,
but as yet nothing definite. But it has been
determined practically to ask no money from
the appeal would be fruitless. The prevailing
opinion is that when the plan is matured It
will not differ much from the ordinary lines.
mere will be corporation issuing stock aud
the public will be invited to step up and invest
AS TO THE BUILDINGS,
all that can be said is that they will none Of
them be set in the park. Various plans have
been suggested for their arrangement, but
nothing is settled. The general idea IL to cover
about eighty acres with the structures, not
counting the refreshment booths and other
small fry.
FOLLOWING IN THE Bur.
To judge from the present look Of things the
worlds fair is following In the familiar rut Of
New York's enterprises; first rowdy how d.
do; then general inquiry where the cash is to
come from to pay for the fun and glory; next
double-leaded editorial appeals in the news
maintain painful indifference; then COM
plants and quarrels and sarcasm, and, finally,
Q collapse and a turning to some new sensa-
tlon. Possibly the present enterprise may
prove an exception, but the outlook 10 dis
couraginY.
1t isn't that New York is lacking in liberality.
The city's record in crises that stir the latent
well known to require a eulogy. But it is hope
lessly deficient In public spirit A few days
ago, to cite an illustration, one of the new
cruisers was christened Philadelphia. And
what did the Quakers do? Why, they met in
solemn conclave, the mayor, the editors and
the millionaires, and resolved that in recogni-
ton OF this compliment to their city they
would furnish their nautical godchild with
a nice library. Now, imagine May or Grant
and the New York editors and the Four Hun
dred assembling in the city hall, tickled to
death because new man-of-wsr had been
called the New York and voting to show their
appreciation Of this distinction BY giving it q
library! Its very provincial, it may be, but
rather like the Philadelphia style, though it may
seem absurd, for it is just that intense love of
home and town and native land that has made
human annals glorious. And in this spirit OF
local pride, which we won't laugh at If we
study the history of Athens and Florence and
Boston and many other grand cities, ancient
and modern, New York is fatally lacking. The
public be ID; where do come in?" should
be the city's motto.
DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN.
One OF our most distinguished citizens Just
now il Thos c. Plat. It is Q hard thing to
live down disgrace and harder still, perhaps,
to live down q nickname, but Mr. Plat has
done both. His scrape at Albany is mentioned
no more and people have ceased even to call
him Me Too" Today he il unquestionably
the boss" Of the republican party In New
York state If ho Initial tot
OF the recent convention at Sara
toga was marvellous. The ticket may be
rather weak, but it SO, it is because he
wishes it to be. The whole convention was
q specimen Of the grand strategy az distin-
guished from the peanut" politics Of leaders
who are simply smart In reviewing the situa-
ton one democratic paper went SO far as to
compare Platt to Martin Van Buren, and pre-
dict for him as great career. One charming
feature OF the convention was the pile-driving
way in which it sat down on the Johnnie
o Brien gang in the tough eighth ward Of this
city. The pert and fresh" telegram which
the ousted rowdies sent to President Harrison
fifty ends their career as republicans for reve-
nue. only. or course they will now call them
selves democrats. but their views ON the tariff,
on internal improvements, Capitalization of
power and strict construction will largely de-
pend, as hitherto, on which party has the more
copious supply Of five dollar bills.
He WANTS TO LIVE IN WASHINGTON.
II you do not have Mr.. David B. Hill Is q res
ident Of Washington for four years it will not
be from any lack Of scheming on his part.
Gov. Hill is1very anxious to live in Washing
ton. But he is particular in his requirements
for a house. He wants the dwelling now occu-
pied by Mr.. Harrison, and he is using all his
wits to acquire the lease. His negotiations at
Syracuse this week have been wonderfully
smart, and his praises are in the mouth Of all
the hack D0ifffcfanS of hOth narfioo Hta
mining Of Cleveland in the state committee
was a master-stroke in political intrigue and for
the moment certainly has made him the uudis-
puted boss Of the party in the state. Now if he
could only win over the mugwumps be would
be able to 60 before the country in '92 Is a ia
vorite son in place of Mr.. Grover Cleveland.
Would it not be singular if the tickets in ~
were headed respectively by Tom Plst,'' and
Dave Hill?" There are politicians who think
that such a conjunction is not incredible. What
q high old campaign that would be for the boys
ANEW CABLE ROAD.
After q stubborn fight the Third avenue
street railroad has got the consent Of the rail-
road commissioners to change their motive
power from horses to cable. The com pany can
be obstructed still further, but probably 1t will
now be allowed to do as it pleases. MANY are
skeptical as to tine practical workings Of the
cable system over such long line and such
crowded one. But it certainly cannot be worse
than the present system and probably it ushers
in great improvement. The Third ave-
nue. line rs now conducted is vile,
slow and abhorrent in the extreme. The cars
are moving chambers OF horrors In place of
these filthy bins dragged at such poor,
dying rate by skinny beasts. we are promised a
clean and rapid service with cars that will be
the fness OF their kind in existence. Electric
lans look on the change with doubtful faces,
as would naturally be the case Rut with the