Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-05-29
WIDE OPEN
Were the Worlds Fair Gates
at Chicago, Sunday,
And Thousands Of People Visited the
Greatest Show on Earth.
Ihs First Day d Sunday OpsaisS Proved Z
Decided Success.

CHicAso, May 2s.-The Worlds Fail
was open today.
One hundred and twenty-five thousant
people came to the Worlds Fair ground,
today, drank in the inspiring music ant
feasted their eyes upon the beauties of tn,
White City. while their minds we're i'm
proved by stud, ing the works of genius ant
industry. 1t WAS the first open SUNDAY ans
but two hours old when people began tl
come into the grounds. All modes of trans
portation brought their quotas, but che
masses did not begin to arrive until after
noon.
Beginning about 9, the multitudes flocket
into the grounds at every gate, and by
O'Clock 60,0o0 people were inside the en-
closure. The people kept on coming the
entire afternoon, and overfiowed into ths
Midway Plaisanee, whose every show wa.
crowded, After dark the grounds were
lighted up, and this attracted still more,
until a conservative estimate places the
total number at 1875 900. TWAS an orderly
well-dressed crowd.
The music during the day was Of an ele.
waiting character and the band stands were
surrounded BY crowds which were enthusi-
astic The music was continuous from II sc
until IL, being furnished by Sousa's, Chicago
and Cincinnati bands.
Sunday evening was frowned upon in the
north end of the park, where the American
state buildings are grouped. The multitude
of visitors did not throng the state circle,
and the few thousand who passed that way
were not disappointed apparently to find
many buildings closed. The great major
ity of state boards acted OH their own au-
thority in refusing admission to visitors.
Doors of Is state and territorial buildings
were locked, and visitors were generally in
formed to that effect by cards.
Missouri, Delaware, New York Virginia.
West Virginia. Pennsylvania, North Da,
kota, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New
Jersey, Connecticut, Mary land, and Massa-
chuset:s were among the buildings Of which
the people only obtained outside views.
The Maine commissioners had sign on
the building which read "Open to Maine
visitors and their friends only" but every
body who pleased entered, ignoring the at
tempt at exclusiveness without absolute
closing. The buildings erected by Great
Britain and her majesty's colonies were all
closed tight and person could even be seen
inside, which was not the case with the
case with the "closed" state buildings.
Machinery hall, under whose dome Sab
batharians, the acme of Sabbath, breaking
is sheltered. was remarkable quiet place.
Two or three high speed and one big engine
were all that ran during the day to furnish
the power necessary to run the Fair, and
their hum could be scarcely heard hun
dred feet away. The crowd in this build
ing was not very large, but every Other
d epaitmental structure was jammed.
Columbia avenue in Manufacturers AMI
Maine aisle, in Transportation and Fish
cries buildings, were crowded all day and
with much difficulty could the spectator
force a passage. Fine Arts building held
the greatest multitude. Every saloon was
was packed and the foyers were jammed by
quiet and orderly picture lovers. The gov
ernment buildings and battleship Illinois
were closed, men being stationed there to
keep people from breaking in.
"Old Glory" was hauled down from every
fagpole on the big domed buildings and
other structures which form a part of tn.
United States government exhibit ~er'
closed, visitors being stopped at the enter
ence TO the North pier by the annuncem. NJ
that the model battleship was closed.
Different Worlds Fair officials were nj
the grounds few hours in morning. 1r
the afternoon Director General Davis, ac
companied by Mrs. DAVIS, took a sail. Th,
saloons and bars down town were practical
ly deserted today.
The executive officers and commissioner
of the several states and territories have
issued an appeal to railroad and steamboa
corporations asking that fares on the differ
cnt lines to and from Chicago, be reduce
immediat ly, to encourage large atten
dance at the Worlds Fair.
The appeal a.ks tina, fares for single pas
sengers he reduced not to exceed a rcgula
fare one way from any point in the Unite
States TO Chicago; special inducements It
be extended to pupils, societies. etc, an
arrangements be made so that visitors Il
the Fair can reach Chicago by one roni'
and return by another.