The record-union., 1893-07-29
HAD CUTIE A JAUNT.
Joseph Steffens Relates His Expert
enCeS in the East.
What He Thinks of Yellowstone Park
and the Great Show at Chi
cago-Other Sights.

Joseph Steffens, who has just returned
with his wife from a three months tour
of the great American continent. has beeu
holding his Sutter Club friends spell
bound with new stories, tales of advent
ure and descriptive dissertations since
his return.
"Oh, it would take a book foot thick
to hold yarn about all the things we
saw" said Mr.. Stetfens last night, when
cornered by RECoRD-UNIoN man who
wanted to know something about the
trip. 1--WE went every place." he con-
tinued, land saw everything that was
worth seeing. The Worlds Fair? Well,
l guess so-and saw it thoroughly, too.
Oh, that's wonderful show, to be sure.
But l will speak of that later.
II attended the big silver convention at
Ogden, and also the convention of Re
publican clubs at Louisville. Saw lots of
big bugs at both gatherings. | took i'll
Cincinnati, Washington, New York,
Buffalo, Canada, Chicago st. Paul and
Yellowstone Park, and on the way home
Portland, Seattle and Tacoma. Yellow
stone Park is even grander than | eX-
pected-and | tell you my expectations
had been work ed up to high pitch from
what [ had heard and read of the great
National park. We took the regular
sIX-DAY TOUR
| Through the park. 1t costs $50 for per-
son To go through the park, and that iu-
cludes hotels, railroad fare, staging and
everything. While | have no fault to find
with the natural attractions OF the park,
l was not altogether delighted with the
method of its management 1ou see the
park, while it is owned and is in charge
of the Government, is really in the hands
l'of private parties who run the stages,
hotels, etc. Now this is where | think
the mistake is. These hotels, stages and
other accommodations are all tirst-claSs,
but L don't think there are enough of
them, and, then, the whole thing should
be run by the Government. The park is
the property of the American people, and
| they should be given every possible adj
vantage in seeing it. 1t would be an easy
matter to find good man who is quail
fled in every way to manage the park for
the Government, and every charge
should be reduced to such an extent as to
provide for actual running expenses
only. This would make great differ
ence, l assure you, and would give thou
sands of people chance to see the won
ders of the park. who cannot now view
them. The parties who run the hotels
and stages are, l understand, endeavor-
ing now to get a new and long lease, and I
think something should be done soon.
Congress should be called upon.
The geysers in the upper basin are
the principal wonders of the park, yet
there is no hotel there, and the tourists
are hurried back before they really have
time to see all they would like to.
THE GREAT FAIR.
Now 1 suppose" continued Mr.. Stef-
fens, you won't let go of me until I tell
you something about the great show at
Chicago. Well, here goes then. First,
let me say that | consider all the trans
portation arrangements good. Now, as
tar as the expense Of living in Chicago is
concerned, | make the assertion that any
body who is ION to himselt,' as the saying
goes, can live just as cheaply there as
they can in San Francisco. The city is
full OF good restaurants and hotels where
the rates are reasonable. OF course, in
the fair grounds the restaurants and cafes
are high-priced, but this is not surpris-
ing when it is known that the keepers Of
these places bad TO pay steep prices to
the management and still have to pay
stiff percentages.
but as to the fair itself. Let me say
again that it is a grand success, and has
been from the start-and will 60 into
| history as such. 1t will live down all the
criticisms of all the ink-slingers now liV-
ing, or yet to be incubated. The arrange
! ment of the grounds, the buildings
erected thereon, the lagoons united and
deepened and the permanent bridges
that cross them here and there make
view pleasing and instructive, as we'll as
credltable to all who in a material
way contributed to the designing and the
completion of the undertaking. Some Of
the State buildings are monument of
money spent and of little use now, or,
are barely allowable; New York State
building for instance. a magnificent
structure, beautifulIrooms for Iounpers
nf IN
people, etc. One room, cleared of its fur
niture and filled with stock board in
full blast, would give some character to
the building and make visitor feel at
home.
CALIFoRNIA's SHOW.
I'VE will pass the transportation. cleo
trio, mining, art and mechanics and
liberal arts buildings, the contents of
any one OF which will amply repay one to
VISIT even if he is required to come from
any portion of North America You
/ have no doubt read kick after kick re-
garding the California building, and if an
abundance of testimony proves ANYTHING.
the story is well told and established in
history that our State has failed in its
Worlds Fair exhibit. l would like some
one to tell me what State has succeeded if
we have failed.
California has made one grand fail
ure, in that there has been wrangle
in the camp ever since it became neces-
sary to select a Commissioner, and it
seems necessity to some to have the
racket kept up to the end. The building
Is all right, and it is very well filled with
samples OF the States products. The ex-
hibits as whole are good, and while we
were South and East also in Canada and
among strangers in the city of Chicago,
and everywhere on the cars has this re-
mark come to our cars: Don't fail to
visit the California building and exhibit