Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-12
ESPECIAL rrL1enAn TO THE DrsrArcH., ,


WASHINGTON, October 11.-Much has
been said in sneering manner in regard to
the inability of Washington to accommo-
date the crowd which will attend the ex-
position of 1892, as based on reports more or
less exaggerated in regard to the over
crowding of the hotels by the Knights
TemDlar. Papers whose local interests are
opposed to Washington as the place for the
exposition argue that the scenes attending
the meeting Of the conclavs show conclu-
sively the absurdity of Washington's
assumption that it can lodge and feed the
vast crowds that come to see that affair.
As Willard's was probably the most over
crowded Of all the hotels, Chief Clerk Null
ford, a gentleman of wide experience in
hotel life, was asked his opinion of the ca
pacity of Washington for entertainment.
washington, said Mr.. Mulford, 'scan
accommodate without difficulty the largest
crowd that will attend the exposition. Of
course the conclave overcrowded us, That
was expected. 1t was an affair of short
duration. 1t would not pay to 20 to the
same expense to provide for people
FOR FEW DAYS
as if the house was to be filed for ten
months or year. Besides, the com
manderies, many Of them, insisted on stay
ing together and that compelled us to take
more than the hotel could well hold. The
visitors were not distributed over the city as
they would have been had they sought ac-
commodations in couples, or by the family.
I'm the case of the exposition every house
capable of entertaining guests will be pre-
pared, which, in the present instance,
changes or additions of furniture for two or
three days would not have paid for the
trouble. Further than this, temporary
hotels to hold any number will doubtless be
built when the time comes. There is not
the least doubt that Washington can enter
tain all corners.
Mr.. George W. Leach, q clerk of long ex-
perience in Washington, at the Riggs
House, expressed very similar opinion.
washington" he said, 'can entertain
more visitors than any other city of its popu-
lation in the world, not only because it is
more accustomed to packing people in
hotels, but because almost every dwelling is
turned into boarding house on such occa-
sions. had seven visitors at my house
during the conclaye. Ny next neighbor
had II, and so it goes. As Washington is
peopled from every part of the country,
nearly everybody has friends or relatives
here, and 1t is customary thing to have q
house full Of visitors. Hundreds Of thou
sands who come will be cared lfbf1in that
way. I do not look, however, for
so GREAT A RUSH
to the exposition except near its. close. It
will last nearly year, and this fact, with
the limits of railroad transportation, will
tend to make the ebb and flow of the crowd
regular. But no matter what the crowd is,
there is not the least question that everyone
can be comfortably housed"
Similar opinions were expressed by Mr.. |
Roessle, of the Arlington, MI. Willard, of |
the Ebbitt House, and the proprietors of |
other hotels. Secretary Anderson, of the |
SIT is perfectly absurd to talk of Washing |
ton as not being able to entertain the crowds |
which will come to the exposition. The |
conclave people all piled into few hotels,
and no wonder they were packed close to- |
gether. They wanted entertainment as |
and the ecommanderies wanted |
to be as near each other as possible If |
250, 900 people were to come every day from |
the beginning to the end of the exposition, |
we could easily be prepared for that num-
ber''
One of the most interesting gentlemen to /
converse with on the subject is Mr.. Charles |
Kinkel, the architect who has prepared |
plans for an iron tower 900 feet in height, |
on q plan which varies very materially |
from that of the Eiffel tower. Mr.. Kinkel
said: "Why there is no city in the country |
Or the world so well suited as Washington
for such an affair. For
PASSING TO AND FRO
we have the finest streets in the world,
broad, smooth, well shaded, with fine lawns
and numerous parks. For lodging and
feeding there will be due additions to the
present capacity. I am already under
to submit plans for vast tenn
porary hotels, which will be made comfort
able in all respects, whose erection will be
begun the moment Congress puts the seal of
its approval on Washington as the place for
he Exposition. Not only will hotels be
erected. but theaters and gardens for the
of any number of visitors.
"You will see Washington transformed
n night into new world with doors
open for the welcome of double the popula-
ion it now has. Everything now lacking
which can contribute to the comfort and
pleasure of the vast crowds of visitors will
spring up as though by magic. Certainly
here is no doubt on this point, and it would
be national shame to hold the exposition
elsewhere. At any other place it would
imply be q grasping after the money the /
,rowd would spend. Here it would have |
he sioni6cance of national affair for | ,