New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-20
THE ATTENDANCE At THE UORLDS F1Ih

There is now little doubt that the daily aver
age of visitors to the Worlds Fair Will not
fall far below the expectations of those VINO
were instrumental in having it held III Ohi-
capo. This will be gratifying news to all
natriotic citizens for the Fair belongs to the
whole country, whose prestige would be IhJure"
nv its failure. That the people of Chicago nave
done everything in their power to make inc
enterprise a success will be gladly acknowl-
edged by all candid observers. There Is nc
fault to be found with them, nor with the ar
itself. which in almost every respect far sur
masses all previous ExpOsitlons Never'heleSS'
the average daily attendance during the months
of Nav. June and Jr1y was very small The mum
her of paid admissions was in round NUMBERS
500. 900. or daily average of little more
than 70. OOO while the daily average OF PAD
admissions to the last Paris Exposition was
137.2S9 In answer to this it was SAID tha'
the greatly increased attendance during the
months Of September and October would MAKE
a better showing for the Columbia ar.
Doubtless this will be the case, ana III lac'
the attendance has already increased. though IL
is >omewha. doubtful if it will bring the aver &c
attendance much above that Of the Pans EX-
nosition. To compare favolably with the parls
Tvnositior the attendance ought to be much
GREATER for while the Paris Exposition repre-
scnted an OUTLAY Of something like 80 ooo'ooo'
the Chicago Fair represents an outlay OF over
$50 900, 900.
OF course there are many good reasons Tor
= smaller patronage of the Fair than was
expected BY enthusiasts. One is that inc
Ito frnm
World has been conspicuously small. IL
NAV not be hattcring to our vanity, BUT IL
is fact. nevertheless, that Europe does not
take nearly as much interest IN America as
America takes in Europe This has long been
indicated by the paucity of American news IN
the European press and it Is now forclbly
brought to our attention by the indifference
of Europe TO the greatest Exposition that mas
ever been held. The average European classes
the United States with Australia, Madagascar,
South Africa and other out-of-thc-way coln-
tries. whose doings can have no possible IN
tcrcSt for him. This being so, the wonder Is
not that there have been so few European
visitors 10 the Fair, but that any one IN thiS
country should have expected them u come.
Doubtless another reason Tor the small al
tendance NAV be found in the widespread be-
lief that the charges in Chicago are cxtortIon-
ate. This belief is grossly erroneous: but IN
spite OF every thing that has been said TO the
contrary. it is firmly held by many people who
might otherwise visit the Fair. or course. 1t
is needless 10 say that the present financial and
industrial crisi, will be an important factor IN
cutting down the attendance. AS is always the
case when times are hard many who have not
suffered any reverse of fortune will be affected
bv the general gloom and will forego the trip
to the Fair. even though they are abundantly
able 10 make IT.
Bnt in the last analysis. il is the question of
contiguous and accessible population that must
ALWAYS decide the success or failure Of an III
stitution depending on popular patronage. Ana
il is in no sense a disparagcmcnt of Chicago to
say that in this respect II compares untavor-
ably with Paris. II is simply a question OF
figures II a circle having a radius OF 800
miles were to be drawn with Paris as n centre,
it would inclOsc n population OF nearly 10
600 900 people 10 most OF whom Paris Is ac-
ccssibc. II a similar circle were drawn around
Chicago, it would inclosc a population Of little
more than 81. 600 600. to many of whom even
n Journey to Chicago is a serious matter. Under
these circumstances it is not strange that there
has been thus far smaller attendance at
Chicago than there was at Paris. We do not
say that no Exposition should be held in a
cit, which has not dense contiguous popnla-
ton hut il held in snch n city comparaivcly
smaller attendance ought not to surprise any
on On the whole, Chicago has good reason
TO be giatifed at the patronage of the Fair
thus far.
4 SERIOGS CHJRGE.
Ill intnIlinnnt nnnnln In lhn chulchna -