Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-03
The Pittsburg Exposition Once More
Throws Wide Its Doors to an
Admiring Public.
WONDERS OF A PROSPEROUS CITY
Displayed in Finest Form Prove Great
Drawing Cards for the First y
Night of the Season. -
MUCH BETTER THAN IN FORMER TEARS.
Only Few Circumstances to Mar the Perfection Of
the Great Fair.

Nn6r6 are any uOuDtS Ol IItlSDuTB SUPER
ority in an industrial and mercantile way "a,
well as in the higher crafts and callings o.
men, they will find eloquent and refuting
arguments at the Exposition. When the
turnstiles at the entrance began to register
last evening it was clearly manifest that hun.
dreds had been awaiting the first opportunity
TO inspect the big fair. For an hour and 6
half the rotary gates clicked in regular
time until their figures were among the
thousands and the ticket-takers' arms
ached. Whether or not there were any
doubters in those long lines of people is an
unanswerable problem, but there scarcely
could have been any passing through the
exits later.
The crowd last night was strictly a city
one. Excursionists from nearby towns and
country districts do not attend the opening
night, or even the first week, in great num-
bers. At least this has been the case in
former years There are enough people in
the twin cities who delight in the achieve
ments of their fellows minds and muscle to
more than fill the great buildings during the
first six days.
IT WAS A PURELY CITY CROWD.
Those who attended the opening were
chiefly of the more intellectual and appre-
ciative sort, observant and critical Some
doubtless took the first night to avoid the
restless rush of later exhibits. In this they
were disappointed. Even the proprietor
of ''the greatest show on earth" could
scarcely hope to see his attractions better
patronized. Half an hour after the gates
were opened the buildings were just as full
as they could be with any comfort to the
visitors.
As for the Exposition, it is just such as a
Pittsburger would expect in his own city.
There undoubtedly could be improvements,
but whether they could add much to the
general appearance of completeness is
doubtful. There is no questioning the fact
that the displays are considerably superior
to those of other seasons. Many of last
years minor defects have disappeared,
while scores of new features tend to make
the visitors wonder whether they
ever attended the Pittsburg Exposi-
tiOn before. While abundant credit is
due and doubtless given to the management,
there can be no setting aside the fact that
the individuals and firms represented are
more than all responsible for this years
success.
There is little in the way of attractive
designs, brilliant effects of lights and
shadows and masterpieces of human in
genuity and taste which the genius of
the local manufacturer or merchant
has not brought into play. Pretty
oddities of all trades, all the fads
and fashions of dress and decoration,
furnishings of palatial homes, dainties for
the palate and eye, the ofsprings of great
artists minds, ponderous engines and ma
chimes of intricate mechanism, pounding,
rolling and grinding out the work of a thou
sand hands are there. They are arrayed
elaborately before the eye of the spectator
who turns from one surprise to face a
greater.
ONE SEA OF BRILLIANT LIGHT.
The separate collections and displays are
worthy of a days careful attention
Grouped and clustered about the walls and
balconies they form a grand combination of
art and science almost dazzling. Standing
at the eastern end of the balcony in the main
building one can look the whole length of
light. Thousands of electric sparks hang
from the ceiling, cluster about posts and
pillars or peep out from nests of many
ColOred fabrics. The bright costumes of the
women look doubly beautiful in the glare.
The perfect effect is not by any means
lessened by the waves of harmony from the
band stand. In fact, it is generally con-
ceded that the music is one of the heavy
drawing attractions. All evening the seats
opposite the musicians were filled with
listeners.
Macba Dica1 1,aI ,,euo 1I1- ROT m +-o,,
age from the crowds. The custom was not
altered last evening. Few who attended
failed 10 inspect the array of machines
These things have had largely TO do with
Pitc|burg's Advancement and the people ap-
preciate that fact. Several exhibits in this
department well one or two in the
main building, have not yet been completed,
and day two will produce considerable
change for the better. Some of the ma
chinery already in place was not running
last evening.
SOME VERY MARKED CHANGES.
The improvements over bst year along
the river bank are decidedly acceptable to
the public. The promenade is well lighted
with electricity, and proves an agreeable re-
sort for those who have spent an hour inside
The air in the main building is hot and stiff
ling, and few of the many electric fans
bnzzing for looks alone in the mechanical
department would not be out of place in the
other structure In the main building there
is every facility for handling the crowds
III,
If the weather Shculd become warmer il
would be almost uubearable.
The crowds last night were orderly as a
rule. Plenty of police were present both in
uniform and Otherwise SUPERINTENDENT
Weir detailed a force OF detectives to circu-
late among the people and keep n n eye open
for long fingers. Inspector McAleese was
there also. Last year system of keeping
the crowds in line was enforced to
good effect. keep. to the right was
the order from all sides. There was none
of this last night. Along every aisle and pas-
sage people were moving in both directions.
As a result there was considerable jostiing
and prominent elbows were everywhere
Only in the art gallery was tue rule ofevery-
body moving in the same direction put in
force.
GRAND CLOSE OF THE FIRST NIGHT.
At 10 o'clock when the big whistle in
Mechanical Hall blew down brakes as a
signal for the exhibit to close the buildings
were still crowded. There was a united
movement for the gates and then the only
blunder of the evening occurred Three
minutes after the whistle sounded the cleo
sputtered and died out The great
crowd swarInin1 through the gate
was left in total darkness. People
were pushed against the iron fence stum-s
bled on the loose walk, bumped unceremoni-
Ousy against each other and everybody
grumbled- To make matters worse the |
lights in the rear of the crowd in the space |
between the two buildings went out a mo- 1
ment later Shortly after somebody evil |
IDENTIFY saw the mistake and turned them /
on again, but the one at the gate shined no |
more. Inspector McAleese, who stood near |
the entrance, remarked tllat pickpockets
could work in such darkness without fear |
OF detection. Lights In the buildings were |
also extinguised before ali the people were |
out.
As often happens in large public gather
iURs the masher was EVERYWHERE nresent |