The morning call., 1893-10-17
LESSONS AT CHICAGO.

A special correspondent OF the London
Chronicle says enough about the Worlds
Fair in Chicago to induce Europeans forth
with to make journey to America for the
purpose, If for no other, of seeing the
White City. His eulogies, however, come
trifle too late to be of any service either
to Europe or Chicago. In few weeks
the fair closes its gates. The corTespon-
dent in question is familiar with exhibit
tions. He passed six weeks continuously
at the Paris Exhibition of 1889. and he
says deliberately that the Paris show
cannot be compared with the superb col
lection of buildings and exhibits to be seen
in jackson Park" 1t is not, therefore
exaggeration to say that there never has
been an exhibition on such scale as this
since these displays began in 1851, and
m any years will probs bly elapse before
there is its equal. Chicago has set pace
which other cities and countries must find
it difficult to follow.
Three principal reasons are assigned
why financial success at Chicago has
not been realized. 1t is said in the first
place that Europe has not been in posi-
tion to spend money on travel across the
Atlantic. 1t has been year so critical in
trade that large numbers of people who
are usually in easy circumstances have not
been able TO leave their business cares, or
to indulge in their normal expenditure on
holiday enjoyments Furthermore, a very
large number of Europeans are densely
ignorant about the facilities and the safety
of travel in the United States and have
their minds filled with all manner Of bogv
or hobgOblin stories of the perils of Jour
ney through the wilderness to the metropo-
lis of the West. This is perhaps TO an
extent accountable for the small number
of Europeans who have visited the fair.
A second reason alleged is the policy of
the railroads in not offering liberal induce
ments to travel to the fair from the CON-
mencement. All the concessions lately
given are too late TO be of avail to millions
who would have risked their savings in
weeks visit had it been possible to make
The journey cheaply. The companies
knew that there must be a considerable
increase of travel no matter whether they
reduced rates or not. and they refused to
alter their general policy. The railroads
said in self-defense that as Chicago was
going to earn all it could out of the fair
they would do the same. As a matter of
fact, the famine prices of Chicago pre-
dicted at first never did prevail 1t al
ways was easy to find hotel-roOms and
board at reasonable rates. Had the rail
roads lowered their rates by one-half the
extra traffic would have compensated them,
but they chose to pursue very narrow
policy. Chicago should have made terms
in advance with the companies before a
single brick was laid.
Another reason given for failure in the
financial sense is the high charge for ad-
mission. This is point which concerns
our own Midwinter Fair as we'll as Chi
cago. Is half dollar admission not too
much TO induce frequent visits by the same
individuals? Perhaps Europe is no critic
rion, but in London, save only one day a
week. the admission never was above one
shilling, and in Paris 1t was franc, and
toward the end of the 1889 exhibition the
admission fell TO half a franc. 1t is obv-
Gus that workingmen cannot afford 10 take
their families often to an exhibition which
costs 80 cents per head. But at 25 cents
there are many who would not hesitate
about paying frequent visits The sue
cess of a fair depends upon the mum bers
of the masses, not upon the patronage of
the select and wealthy. There should be
N eff m NJ hath