Telegram-herald., 1889-12-27
DARK SIDE or A FAIR.
Scms Of Phl4dslphis's SAD Les
sons Prom the Centennial
Taszs4nds sf ueli2rs HsFs AosS "A
seAeaass for the sateEtAlnuasnt-Ab
Glebz heuel >Esca callsllen-A
WAraLaz - 0Ehsr Clttes.


may sl5zeos q tss FrvsI clues Eh.t sr-
claluaz1-ss for rs Woxlcs t2T exp
that 4 thsy -ecsre the exposition for
runes Val - pssurlful AID tlas wealth Il
every clnEs1 a. ugI1<nEec ~ lie mrtux
Of visitors. BuE they soslt ID vel 10
profit by the expera1troe 0f PslAaaeiphla
Ia TIE mast and be- cautious how they in-
vest their hard earned money in a. en-
1eavgu 70 enrich themselves. y hlle 40
dcubt The Ceussunlal exposition " 1879
uas profitable u thls cry and rs In
hzbitants generally. and especially Ia
tbe Starring up " hich makes Phlladel-
phiA today less sleepy aud more enter
pusing than II once was, yet thousands
q dollars were iest Ia ylsiouzry schemes
for the rapid enrichment ~ the individ-
ual clti zen. There were but few citizens
who did not have their minds nlied with
marniacent dreanas Of the riches which
millions Of foreign strangers would
pour into their lsps, and great prepsra-
ti0ns were made 10 provide food, cloth
luxury and necessity of life which they
were willing - exchange for foreign
coin. But the fuldllmen; of these gold
IN dreams was the exception rather than
the rule.
The most famous Of the gulfs in which
Philadelphia capital was swallowed was
the Giobe hotel, which is well known 10
every one who visited the centennial.
MANY prominent Philadelphiansw were in
terestcd IN the company formed, of which
Gen. H. II Bingham. the father Of con
gressional postal legislation, was presi-
dent Other men Of more than local
fawo vino were interested were IIamil-
tom DisstOn and David II. Lane. the local
political magnates; Peter a. B. Widener
and w. l. Elkins. the street car men:
Ex-Governor William M. Bum. Charles
II. Gross, the late attorney general,
Lewis c. Cassidy, Samuel Josephs and
Thomas J. Barger. The amounts sub
scribed by the men ranged from $50 ,OO0
70 $50. 900, and the ideas held as to the
result of the speculation were enormous
" extravagant The lowest estimate of
The profits made by the enthusiastic
stockholders placed them az not less than
TWO millions.
Some idea Of the extravagant views
held on the subject may be gained from
the fact that when the ordinance, grant
ing the company permission 10 build the
hotel, was presented in councils, it Is au-
tentatively stated that the ring which
az that time controlled the city fathers
demanded $3.50, 600 "a their share of the
cxpected plunder. The passage OF this
ordinance was necessary because of a
law which forbids the erection of frame
buildings within the city limits, as pre-
caution against fire, and the hotel was to
be constructed of lath and plaster. This
blackmailing scheme was thwarted, how
ever, by the members of the company
making personal appeals 10 the editors
Of the local newspapers 10 arouse public
sentiment against this high handed out
rage. The newspapers, headed by The
Ledger, frightened the ring from enforc-
ing its demands, and saved the capital
lists that much of their money.
The ordinance once passed, the erec-
ton of a building to accommodate 500
guests began. This was thought but a
small estimate of the number who would
be clanOring for admission to the hos
telry, but then there were a host of
other hotels to be built, and the stock
holders did not wish to seem grasping
and decided that they would be content
with profit of three or four millions Of
dollars. As an example of the lavish
ness and regardless Of expense" way in
which they went about the construction
of the hotel it may be said that the at
torney who drew up the contract for the
erection of the hotel was paid s., 800 for
his services, and it was not considered
an extOrtonate price.
The botel cost $2JO, 900. OF this, SIP
500 was paid the Pennsylvania railroad
for six months lease of part of the
ground upon which the hotel was to
stand, and .he same amount of money 10
the centennial commissioners for a small
plot that was within the limits of the
park and 50, 900 for the rent of min
eral fountain, which happened to be at
the farthest end OF the lstter strip. As
fitting director for so vast an enterprise,
John A. Rice, OF the fremont house.
Chicago. was secured 1T = salary Of
81 900 a month, after James BresIin. Of
the Gilsey house, New York. had refused
$50, 900 70 desert his interests in that
city 10 take charge Of the Globe hotel
for the limited time for which it existed.
But If it cost a good round sum TO build
the hotel, the privileges were sold at cor
responding rates. Sam Josephs and an
other stockhoider paid So, 900 for the
night 70 scil liquor. The baTroom was
hal 100 by 10 feet.
II spite of all these elaborate prepara-
lions the building was a failure fnan-
ciaHy. Twas not completed IN time for
the opening of the exposition. and this,
beside bang a source Of embarrassment.
was a source q loss Not only this. bus
with the Unsuitable greed FOR visitors
money which was Characteristic n many
Philadelphians st that time. on the day
when the doors q fbe new botei were
thrown open the thousand OF more en-
pi0ves struck fer an increase of pay only
half an hour before she time nKe-i for
serving tie fret dinner. As refusal
meant otter rum q the hotel. p compro-
mise ~as effected sn1 the dinner served
sfter ouiv a sight delay The most dis
astr7us blow tast s-r1-k taa hotel was
the decision 0f t1e centennial GONNA is-
Tcners to keep the exposition closed OF
Sundays
Unreasonable ~ nos il must - admit
t..l te.. ..-,----- La-n - -. H..