Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-06-23
Travel to and Mt Chicago.

by the creek that they call the river; on
the east by the Lake; and it is about eight
miles from the business centre to Jackson
Park or the Worlds Fair which is located
along the Lake, almost due South.
The main arteries Of travel between the
depot district and the Fair are four ~
number, viz Illinois Central railroad,
elevated railway, cable cars and lake
steamers. Each route possesses features OF
interest exclusively its own, and lew
words description may not prove unpront-
able to intending visitors.
For many years the Illinois Central mas
enjoyed the largest suburban business OF
any road in this country, and TO proVlae
for the natural increase in It's regular
travel was of itself no small problem.
But all difficulties are solved oy an eA-
penditure of $1,000, 900, which has pro
yided eight tracks raised to cross no streets
or other tracks at grade, the installation
of the block system and the construction
of new depots and equipments. These
tracks closely border the waters edge al
most the entire distance to the grounds,
and, protected from invasion on the city
side by big wall of masonry, broken only
At stations. afford clear strech along
which trains may travel at high speed IN
perfect safety. To provide for local resi-
dents and visitors along the line. 3lo trains
are now in daily operation, running at IN
tervals of five minutes and having seat
ing capacity of 200, 900 passengers But
the bulk of the travel TO the grounds Will
be carried on two special tracks laid near
est the lake, and built exclusively Tor TINS
business. On these tracks is being operst-
ed a truly remarkable service. Startln
from the foot Of Van Buren street, directly
in front of the Auditorium, an express
train of ten cars leaves every two minutes
and without any stop, runs through 10 the
main entrance of the Worlds FAIR as
tance of eight miles, in fifteen minutes;
The cars composing these trains are al
new. having been built for this work; are
semi-open. but can be quickly closed in
stormy weather by windows and curtains
zach of these Garland there are 300 OF
them-seats SO persons, making the seat
inp capacity of every ten-car train, 9oO
neonle. The seats extend across the en-
tire width of the car, with an exit gate at
both ends of every seat. Upon reaching
the terminus, the gates, which are Kept
shut during the trip, are simultaneous
onened on cne side OF the entire length oil
the train by q guard who rides on the rooi.
so perfect are the facilities for handling
nassengers the average time required 10
unload a train of 1000 persons is only
thirty seconds, while it frequently has
been accomplished in twenty-five seconds.
The cars emptied, gates are shut and those
on the other side opened to receive = fresh
load-fur the arriving and departing pas
sengers have each a separate platform. In
thirty seconds the train is again tlied ana
ready for the return trip, as only thirty
seven seconds are necessary TO cut on TOE
locomotive and attach another to what a
moment ago was the rear car. Tnere Is
no confusion; everything Is accom- pllshed
with military precision, and In view oi the
foregoing wonder is scarcely occasiohed
BY the statement that the facilltie5 aggre-
gate 600 cars per hour, seatlng o'ooo
Passengers. or over 1000, 900 per day.
Fare is 10 cents each way. The down
town terminus is reached by q wide VIA
duct and steel bridge. which spans Inc
network of tracks. Admission tickets 10
the fair can also be purchased here. fas-
senpers pay fare before entering the tram,
and are thus left free to enjsy the refresh
ing breeze from the lake, and to watch It's
sparkling blue waters, pictured with SAL
and steam craft and stretching away pc
yond the range of vision, or tossed hign
into the air as Q strong wind hurls the
mighty pillows against the shore.
The South Side rapid transit company
elevated railway has been IN operation
one wear. and opened its branch to the
Worlds Fair on May l. 1t starts Ut Con,
gress street, between State street ana
Wabash avenue, one block from the Aud.
itorium, and is built upon its own right OF
way, purchased by condemnation, Inc
line runs directly south 10 oi1ty tniiu
street, where it turns east and lands pas
sengers within the gates. ADMISSION
tickets can be purchased at the head oi
the broad stairway by which the vlsitoI
descends to the grounds. The elevated
affords many interesting views OF tne
South Side and is pleasant trip Fare,
S cents each way; distance, eight miles;
Iiobted with gas at night and run at ln-
teryals of two minutes. Capacity $4,000
passengers per hour.
Chicaeo,s famous system of cable roads
affords choice Of two rontes to the Far
grounds: State street, extending IN straight
line eight miles to Sixty-frst street, where
passengers are transferred to the electric
line of the same company and landed at
the main enterance, and the wabash Ave
line, which runs south on that and Cottage
Grove Ave. to Fifty-fifth street, where II
turns east and makes loop at Fifty seventh
the northern entrance to the grounds
The Wabash line is one block from and
parallel to Michigan Ave. boulevard, which
II crosses in turning on to Cottage Grove,
and on the latter avenue the line crosses
Oakwood and Drexel boulevards and runs
alongside Washington Park for halfa mile.
This line affords better view OF the
avenues and some of the finer residences
than either of the other routes described.
Fare on cable cars, cents each way, time
forty minutes. Trains OF three or four
cars are run at intervals of one minute
and the carrying capacity of the two
cable lines is SC, 900 per hour.
The Worlds Fair steamship line have
ine feet of fourteen feet steamers, which
,ail at intervals of fifteen minutes The
downtown dock is at the foot of Van Bur-
an street, directly in front of the Auditor
um. The dock is 300 feet wide and 1000
reet long. The trip by water is eight
niles, and vessels follow tAe shore line at
he distance of one mile out. The sail is
delightful one, affording all the way psn-
,ramic scene of the South Side, while the
yiew of the White City from the lake is
me of m atchless beauty. AT night the
hore lights form golden chain unkroken
or l3 miles; q sort of stationary pyrotech-
lics specially pleasing The landing at
he grounds is at dock extending 1000 |
eet out into the lake, and on this dock |
he movable sidewalk is i'll operation. |
steamer fare, 25 cents tor the round trip; |
ims 80 minutes each way. Total capac- |
ty of steamer, 25,00O per hour.
The Columbian Coach company is OF err
tied by an English concern, who have i'm
ported drivers and buglers The tally hos,
AZ nj hn
pg hotels and leave the business district |
very 80 minutes, following tn, boulevards
md parks all the way to the grounds Dis
ance, 8 miles; time 80 minutes, fare, ST. |
zach way In addition To the above, sew
,ral of the trunk lines of tho railroads run |
rains from their depots tn the grounds, |
IN the arrival of their through trains The !
able car accommodations from the bust |
less centre to all parts Of the west ard |
lorth sides arc very complete; the Trains |
n each direction leave every minute
Per day of
Per hour Is hours
Illiuois Central Express 81 900 l,O56, 500 |
Local Ia, 900 270, 900
Elevated road 900 600. 900
cable cars 80, 900 900, 600
lake Steamers------ "a, 600 $50, 900
TOTAL ~, ,oUO 3,o0O, ,SOO
The daily business travel of city riders is
n an opposite direction, both morning and
,vening, to that travelled by the Worlds
Fair visitors, but even could the combined
ravel be turned in one direction only, it
will ge seen there is a large margin to
pare
Having thus brought the reader by some
of the routes mentioned to the goal toward
which he has been journeyiny, the ques-
ton properly arises as to how he is to GOV
Or the 108 miles of streets and walks, in