The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-15
THE WORLDS FAIR.

THE WORLDS FAIR.
The opening Of the great Columbian ex-
position 10 less than three weeks Distant On
February "a. 1890. congress voted to hold
. fair at Chicago in commemoration OF the
400th anniversary Of the discovery Of the
Western world by Columbus, and May I,
1888. was fixed upon q the date Of OPEN
ing. The great Paris exhibition Of 1850
was 30 magnificent q success that our Chi
cago fair will be severely tested By this
standard Of comparison, but it IL safe to
say today that the American viii surpass
the Paris exhibition. The railroads Of the
country are severely criticised BY the lead
ing journals Of the country for their fail
ure to respond to the public sentiment
which desires to place the benefits Of the
fair within the reach Of - many people 40
possible. With the fair less than three weeks
distant. no well digssted plan for passen-
ger rates has been agreed upon. The two
thirds rate for round trip tickets recently
arranged BY the joint railroad committee
II described BY the Philadelphia Press as
truce rather than . final decision. It 10
have consented to this plan are already
prepared to ''cut" rates and bid for pas
ssnger traffic at the lowest profitable fare.
The Eastern press holds that the railroads
ought In Justice to the great American
public to have settled upon some radical
reduction Of rates and maintained II to
the end. Had this been done. the public
desiring to visit the fair could have made
their plans with intelligence and con.
6dence.
While the railroads have left the public
in . state Of uncertainty the public can at
least b comforted with the knowledge
that exorbitant rates will not be charged
for rooms and board. The Chicago news
papers agree in the assurance that there
win b no trouble for people Of moderate
means to get the accommodations they
want in excellent localities and convenient
TO the fair grounds for q price they can
afford to pay. 1t is entirely safe to believe
thus statement. for any policy Of over
charging would be folly on the part Of
Chicago, As the reports of the early visitors
would be sure to finally AZ the decision of
Thousands Of people whether to 60 to the
fair or not. If the reports are favorable
. vast number viii make their plans to
visit the fair. but II the impression once
gets abroad that the American Hog is to
b major domo OF Chicago during the fair
the exhibition will not b . financial sue
cess, ~ tho rank ana file of the people will
not attend.
As TO the figures Of the cost Of visit to
the fair. one of tho leading Chicago news
papers asserts that plenty Of clean, light
rooms can be rented within easy riding
distance of the fair for 81 . week, and at
little distance further of. but within an
hours ride Of the gates. just as good rooms
can DO obtained for s. and S q week.
With rooms at these prices and the rea-
sonable charge for meals that il also as.
sured, the daily cost Of . stay in Chicago.
including admission to the grounds, can
be kept within - Chicago claims to have
made ample preparations for caring for
10000 strangers every day. The average
attendance at the Philadelphia Centennial
exhibition was g., 1888. the largest being
2749 At Paris in 1850 the average At
tendance was l3o. 900. and the largest was
10000.
These facts and figures are given for the
information and benefit Of the plain peo.
pie: the thrifty workingmen and other
persons Of moderate means, to whom
visit to the fair will be of more lasting
benefit than it can possibly be to the rich.
who can so where they will every season,
and who will go to the fair for amusement
and excitement. while the plain peopIe
will find not only recreation but ins.ruc-
ton and food for valuable thought. The
plain people who cannot afford to
''do" Europe. the Orient and the Oc-
cidcnt Of Asia and Africa every season
will learn more Of the world thew
have never seen and never expect TO see
form the stream of American tourists in
the Old World. The plain people Of Amer.
lea viii view the fair with q practical eve
of thoughtful artisans, mechanics and
farmers; not with the eyes of rich day.
dreamers. or languid travellers who climb
Vesuvius every year. look into its crater
and come away vowing with Sir Charles
Ccidstresm tina; ''there's nothing in H."
The rich who intend to visit the fair
have long ago taken care of themselve. bv
hiring fine houses In Chicago at $1,000 a
month for the shelter OF themselves and
their friends. To such people the fair il
worth little more than an international
yacht race or Geld day at the races. They
60 to be amused. TO see the crowd. 70 be in
the swim, TO kill time, to make good thu
saying that the fast lie of . sporting man
or woman, ''thougn some tines heoue-ss
lie never dull" Ii these rich people pevs-
saw the fair they would be Jus, as we'll off.
for they visit it with small serious purpose
they do not expect instruction. do not, in
fact. care primarily TO add to their stock OF
sound information that to sober, reflective
minds is always food for valuable thought.
II Is the plain people of America who will
study the exhibits with care. whose minds
will be eros9ened and cultivated BY visit
ing the fair. and who will gain the great
est benefit from il.
The nost dangerous political disorders
in thu Tuttss Sratss 70 th.,s> IA a "a, e..