Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-05-02
IN TIE FIR GROUNDS
Smaller Crowds Attend on the
Scco-d Day.
TRANSPORTING or THE e1opLt


CHICAGO. May 2.-The crowds at the Elk
position this morning are of course no.
where near SO large as those of yesterday,
which were estimated to -bs anywhere
from 200. 900 to 800, 900 However, the
Fair i3 4. new thing to the people of this
city, and they must of course become
somewhat acquainted with it while it is
yet new. Many, too, kept away yesterday
on account of the BIZ: jam.
1t is the general verdict that things
passed OFF very well yesterday, but by far
the most satisfactory part Of the
days proceedings from a feminine stand
point was the formal dedication of the
Woman's Building. Women who stood in
the great throng at the Administration
Bailding, indifferent to the eloquence of the
Chief Magistrate, breathlessly fought
their way through the masses to reach
their own Mecca.
Women from every corner of the land
crowded into the building, endeavoring to
adjust their torn dresses and crushed bon
nets while waiting fer the cerenr onies, set
for $50, to begin. When the hands of
the clock ncared the point of 2:45 they be-
gan to grow impatient. but contented
themselves with woman's usual solace.-
gossipiug.
Shortly after this the ceremonies COM
mittee began TO gather on the platform and
soon from behind the curtain of palms and
flowers sweet strains of music arose, the
grand march by Jean Ingeborg Won
RyonsarP. Weimar. Germany, followed by
prayer by Miss Ida Mullin, Miss Frances
Ellicott, of London, England. favored the
assembled women with a dramatic over
ture, after which Mrs Potter Palmer
arose and delivered the address.
Eating on the Grounds.
The inner wants of the guests then de-
manded consideration, and the party pro-
ceeded to the third floor of the Admins
tration building, where covers had been
laid for 20 guests.
When the dinner was over the party,
with President Cleveland and Director
General Davis in the lead, was conducted
from the Administration building and was
'iriven around the grounds. At the Man
ufactures building. which was the first
place reached, the Presidential party
alighted at the main entrance and walked
from one end of the monstrous edifice to
the other. From here they drove to the
north end of the grounds, among the
State buildings, and back along the main
drive past the Horticultural building to
the south side Of the grounds. After hav-
ing thoroughly inspected the whole city,
iriven to Grand crossing, where they took
lie train for Washington.
How They Transferred the Crowds
The transportation facilities to and from
the Exposition grounds were given their
first trial. At the time of the dedication
exercises last October none of these were in
complete operation. The Illinois Central
ran a large number of extra suburban
trains, and the cable lines did their ut
most but they were not sufficient to meet
the demand upon them. Yesterday, how
ever, they were prepared, and thousands
Of people, who started for the Fair between
8 and 1850 o'clock, reached their destina-
tion promptly and in comfort.
The bulk of the down town traffic came
upon the Illinois Central which all day
long ran trains of eight cars each at in
tervals of three minutes. This was snffi-
Gent to handle the million people who rode
from it's Van Buren, street station every
hour. At this point the Illinois Central
has erected 12 ticket offices, six of them
being on one long platform and six CD
another.
From each platform trains are to go
during the Exposition at three minute in
tervals making one train every 90 seconds.
This schedule will be increased by addi-
tional trains whenever occasion demands
Yesterday the rush was all upon one plat
form, the other not being quite completed.
The excellent manner in which the road
handled 1000 people an hour with but
half its terminal system is strong evidence
that it will, when things are once settled
in a regular routine, be able to handle
with ease almost three times as many pas
sengers as it did yesterday.
The Cottage Grove avenue cable line
carried about 5000 people an hour, and
that with cars not too badly crowded.
They were full, and he who got seat was
lucky, but there was no suffocating rush
or rib breaking jam. Gable cars, with two
or three trailers, ran out to Jackson park
every two minutes.
The elevated road was not so fortunate.
Its terminal system at Congress street is
not yet ready and it was swamped. 1t ran
trains every three minutes. The stairs
and platform were packed to q fearful de-
gree and many people who had passed the
ticket chopper were unable to reach the
trains for the best portion of an hour. The
road carried about 1000 an hour, and
could have collected fare from about three
times that number If they could have
found room for them in the trains.
The boats ran at about three minute in
tervals but the day was too cold and the
lake too rough for that route to be popular.
It carried several thousand people, how
ever.
In addition to these means of reaching
the park were the Illinois Central regular
suburban service, which carried fully TO-
00G people to the park during the day;
the electric road and the State and Third
street cable lines each took about half that
number.
Considering the day as heavier than the
average, and taking it as a criterion, it is
safe to say that the transportation to the
park from down town will be ample for all
demands made upon it.
Appearance at Night.
The splendors of night outshone the glo-
r1es of the day. That potent factor, cleo
tricity, was displayed in all its brilliancy
and rivalled for supremacy the only CLEAN
OF MONDAY sun that graced the opening
ceremonies. The centre of attraction was
as during the day, the Administration
building and it's court of honor and thither
the masses hocked in multitudes.
President Cleveland's departure from
the Administration building shortly after
3 o'clock was the signal for the days crowd
to leave and the grounds bore deserted
appearance until nearly half past six.
Notwithstanding the chill air which set
tied over the grounds as the evening grew.