Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-05-29
PUBLIC COMFORT
How Visitors Are Cared for at
Worlds Fair.
Plenty Of Waiting Rooms and Seats
Throughout the Grounds.
Free cesvsaisacss ies MI-Staie Buildisss q
Club Houses.

Free cesvsaisaess Isr AII-state Bsildisss .
Club Nessss.
WORLDS FAIR. May "a ISpeciaLl -
Now that the people are coming in large
numbers to See the great exposition we
have ample opportunity to test the
efficiency Of the arrangements made by
the management for the public comfort.
So far there are few complaints. Almost
everything that could have been done TO
secure the comfort of the visiting multi
tudes has been done, and in many in
stances on scale commensurate with the
magnitude and grandeur of the whole en-
terprise. 1t is true that some of the con-
veniences have been slowly put in shape,
and during the first two or three weeks
of the month there were some complaints,
but the managers have apparently done
.he best they could. The task of finishing
up the buildings and grounds was
gigantic one, and even these wonderful
chicago men cannot do all things at the
same time. Now that the provisions made
for the public comfort are practically com
plete it is timely to speak to them some
what in detail.
One first notices that ample arrange
ments have been made for carrying visitors
to and fro within the grounds. The ele-
waited electric cars, the wheel chairs, the
gondolas, electric and steam launches
carry people from one end TO the other OF
the vast enclosure and at reasonable
charges. Scattered throughout the
grounds are seats sufficient to accommo-
date 10000 people at once. If this should
prove insufficient the managers promise to
put in as many more as may be necessary.
| Except on the great days, when it is ex-
pected that half a million people will enter
the gates, a capacity of 10000 should be
enough, for a hundred thousand persons
within the enclosure probably not more
| than two or three thousand will care TO sit
| at any one time. There is so much to see,
| and visitors are SO eager to make the
grand rounds, that the vast majority of
people are constantly on the move
AT the luncheon hour many more seats
will be required than at any other part of
the day, but the restaurants are able to
care for 5000 persons at once Some of
these restaurants are mammoth affairs.
and while the charges are higher than
| most of US have been in the habit of paw
ing at home, except in few instances
they are not exorbtant, everything being
considered. One may avoid these expen-
sive places, and enter the smaller eating
places or lunch rooms, and do very nicely
at an expense of half dollar For in
stance, in the southern end of the main
building is Il snug little lunch room where
one may buy good sandwich for dime
and a cup OF coffee at the same price
| If one spends more money here than he
can afford to spend it is his own fault, for
the opportunity is given him to take his
choice of bills of fare and schedule of
prices. Visitors from the country who
come in by excursion trains will find that
splendid provision has been made for their
comfort. In the big terminal railway sta
ton. which cost with the tracks running
into it nearly half million dollars, are
spacious waiting rooms, lavatories, a
lunch room where regulation railway
lunch room prices prevail, and tables at
which tM people may spread out their
own lunches and buy cup of coffee or tea
from the cafe for warm drink. At various
places throughout the grounds visitors are
| permitted to spread their baskets and en-
| Joy little impromptd picni y, all their own
| Every day one sees thou,ands of people
| more than half of them from Chicago
| taking their luncheons in this way Nota
few take their baskets to the top of the
main building, 80 feet above the ground
and sit down there on the half-mile
promenade and enjoy their sandwiches
and pickles with one of the most ent ranc-
ing views ever beheld by the eyes Of man
spread out below them. 1t costs a quarter
to ride up here in the elevators, but the
trip is worth the money, and more too
There is free drinking water in every
nook and corner of the grounds In all 200
pretty fountains have been erected by the
management, and from them is drawn fl
tered water as pure as any water on earth
that has not been distilled by the chemist.
1t is water from Lake Michigan, filtered
through what is known as the Pasteur
filter, and carefully cooled without con-
tact with the ice. Visitors need not be
afraid to drink this water even in the hot
test weather. 1t is almost ideal water,
md it is free. OF course If you want min
,ral springs water that bubbled from the
sarth at Waukesha you may have it by
paying a cent a glass to one Of the hun
dred pretty girls who sit at neat little
fountains in all parts of the exposition.
| There are plenty Of waiting rooms. In
addition to those in the terminal station
number of buildings have been erected at
various points in the grounds, and here
both men and women may find all con-
veniences. No charge is made. In addi-
ton to these there are toilet rooms for
both sexes in all the principal buildings.
These are free, also, and clean. 1t is true
there are many toilet rooms to which an
admission of cents is charged, and the
management has been savagely criticised
| for permitting these establishments to be
opened on the grounds. But when one
considers he need not enter the pay-closets
unless he wishes to do So and that wher-
ever there is a pay toilet room there is also
a free one that to all intents and purposes
is just as good, the criticism loses most of
its force If any criticism is justified it is
upon the manner in which the owners Of
the nickel toilet rooms have been per
mitted to take possession Of the most con-
| spicuons parts of the fooms set apart for
| this purpose. As one enters the door
| marked toilet room" be sees Immediately
| in front of him handsome lavatory, with
other conveniences, and turnstile beside
| which young man sits ready to receive
your nickel. He not only sits ready to re-
ceive the coin, but calls out to you, "this
way, please"
| Naturally the visitor who does not know
| the ropes thinks this the way to the toilet
room, and the only way there is. Many
are misled into entering the turnstile gate
at cost of 5 cents per entrance, whereas
if they would turn either to the Nght or
left Immediately after passing through
| the first door they would find folding
doors which admit to pleasant rooms
which are absolutely free There is no use
Of paying a nickel unless you go in for
luxury.
In the Children's building are all con-
| veniences for mothers and their little ones,
| and the latter may be left in charge of
careful nurses. where they will receive
good attention and be permitted to amnse
themselves in playroom on the roof with
all manner OF toys contributed by the na-
tions of the earth. at q small charge per
hour
The state buildings are sure to be great
| comfort to many thousands of visitors
With two or three exceptions, all the
| states and territories have handsome
buildings here, and AAly a small number
Of them are used for exhibits. They are
ell devoted to the entertainment of visi-
tors from the states. II you are from
Ohio, for instance, in the Buckeye build
ing you will find pleasant parlors, a check
room at which your parcels may be left
without cost, lavatories and toilet rooms,
a spacious piazza outside, letter-writing
conveniences, tables at which you may eat
your luncheon, messengers, postal boxes,
and above all the opportunity to meet
friends from your own state and neighbor-
/ hood Thee mr. 1xvsE In ftSk 10