The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-07-02
WILL BE A BIG DAY
The Glorious Fourth at the
Worlds Fair.
ALL RECORDS MAY BE SMASHED,

Elaborate Arrangements Made for Cele-
brating the Natal Day of Our Independ-
| ence-Old Liberty Bell To Be Repro
duced in Fireworks Figures on the
Probable Attendance at the Fair.
WORLDS FAIR, July l. [Special] -
Independence Day is to be one Of the great
est days of the exposition. Elaborate ar
engagements have been made for celebrat-
ing the immortal Fourth of July with a
pomp and shew and spirit never before
known in !this;couptry. It is expected by
the managers oftiis fair, and by every one
in Chicago. that the outpouring Of people
on that occasicn will exceed anything ever
before known in the history of Worlds
fairs. twill not only be holiday, but at
the fair grounds will be about all the at
fractions there are in and about Chicago
Tor the assembiage Of the masses of the
people. All ROADS will lead to the Worlds
fair on that day, and the best judges will
be disappointed if from four to five hum
ured. thousand people do not pass through
the gates. My own opinion is that the
crowd Will exceed half q million, if the
day be fair and not too hot. German day
at the fair two weeks ago brought out a
grand total of nearly 100000 visitors, and
if German day can do that much American
day should more than double the result
then reached. The Germans themselves,
who are as good Americans as any of US,
will be present in large numbers on our
independence anniversary.
An attendance of 400, 900 or more viii
beat ali records at international exposi-
tions. The greatest day at the Centennial
exposition Of 1876 had 251 900 visitors, and
the greatest at the Paris exposition of four
years ago showed about 3S5 600 persons
within the gates. There will be much dis
appointment in Chicago if July
does not beat the highest notch reached at
Paris. The Chicagoans not only have
much greater fair than the Parisians had,
but they are ambitious to Guido in point
OF attendance as grand total for the sea-
son as well as in the largest crowd present
on any Single day. The latter distinction
l think will be won by this exposition, if
not the former At Paris the exposition
was in the heart Of sthe city. Within ten
miles of twas population greater than
the population OF Chicago. Paris is one
Of the most attractive cities in the world,
and center Of tourist travel But the
greatest factorOf all in the large attend
ance at that show was the low price of ad- !
mission. The regular price of tickets was
only franc, about 20 cents, and On account
Of the manner in which blocks of tickets
were sold in advance to the holders of
coupons it was often possibleto buy an adj
mission card as lowsas 10 cents, or even 8
cents.
The total attendance at the Paris expo
sition, paid, was about 2eO00,000, but On
some occasions two or more tickets were |
demanded of each visitor, and it is believed |
the total number of persons passing |
through the gates, and paying their way,
was less thames, 100000. This is about the
mark which I expect to see the Chicago |
reach. It may fall little be-
low, but not mn.h. And it must be re-
membered that this exposition Is eight |
miles from the center Of the city of Chi |
cago, and that the admission fee is 30 |
cents, except to children under twelve |
years of age If under these circumstances
a grand total Of 25, 100000 be reached it
will be great triumph.
What are the chances of this being done?
1t is as yet too early to form very salts
factory opinion. The present indications
are that the attendance will exceed &c, 000,- t
900 during the summer, and it may go to
the coveted q, 100000 mark. Much will
depend upon the weather during this and
the next month. II they should be marked
by unusual heat and much sickness, peo- !
pie will remain at home. But with ordi-
narily comfortable weather. SO that the
great army Of vacation people will be
como to Chicago instead of go
ing to the seashors, the mountains and the
woods. l shall expect to see the grand