Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-05-28
In THE" WHITE CITY"
AwEek's EXPERIENCE OF A VIRGINIA
VISITOR IN CHICAGO.
Exaggerated Reports Regarding Exor-
bitant CharGes-Expenses Absolutely
Necsssary-Sundsy Closing.
Written for the Dispatch.1

To spend a week in the White City" IS
O realization hoped for by many millions
OF our countrymen to-day. To be pos
sessed with the unbounded satisfaction OF
having enjoyed this privilege Is an event
in ones history never to be forgotten.
When perambuIating the magnificent
avenues in the White City and gazing
with wondrous eyes at the transplen-
dainty beautiful structures. whose walls
OF every manner OF man and from every
cline in this known sphere. was filled
with an inspiration 10 write few lines
about my visit here, and to submit 1t to
the DISPATCH for the benefit of its many
readers.
There are, know. thousands of people
who would like to make q visit TO the great
Worlds Columbian Exposition. but are in
O measure deferred from so doing on ac-
count Of the widespread report OF the ex-
orbitant charges levied on guests by land
lords, hotel men. and, in fact. the managers
of the exposition themselves.
FIFTY CENTS THE FEE.
That these reports were exaggerations
was one OF the first things | discovered
after my arrival at Chicago. While tits
luut III eTeht lu-touOto VA
orbitant prices are charged for accommo-
dations. there is no necessity in patroniz-
ing these institutions. As to the report
that IL will require On expenditure OF
$3.50 to visit all the different buildings
of the Worlds Fair. 1t ls without any
foundation whatever. Fifty cents Is
the general admission tee. For this
amount you are entitled to admission
TO each and every building of the Worlds
Columbian Exposition. which are; Manu-
facturers' and Liberal Arts. Transports
ton. Agricultural, Electrical. Mining,
Horticultural. Fisheries, Woman's. Ma
chinery. United States Governments Build
ing, Art Palace. Forestry, Administration
buildings, together with their annexes,. be-
sides numerous smaller buildings and all
the State buildings. Each of these build
ings was visited. but space will not permit
me describe what IL to be seen.
/ arrived at Chicago on the morning OF
the 18th instant at 7:30 o'clock. and before
entering tho city the train was boarded by
an agent of the Worlds Fair Hotel and
Boarding Bureau, of which | have made
Investigations and found it thorough
ly reliable. told the agent | was from
hotel where ! could meet with people
from the same State. The agent referred
to his book and informed me where
could find the Virginia headquarters.
THE RIGHT PLACE.
asked the agent the rates and was told
that / could get first-class accommoda-
tions for $3.50 day on the American plan.
At the depot boarded q cable car, and in
SIX minutes from that time | was in the
magnificent lobby of the hotel. | found
that had settled on the right house, for
sitting in the lobby and in the reading
room, and in fact behind the desk, | no.
ticed familiar faces. After breakfast |
asked the best route TO the exposition and
was informed that the elevated road,
which is but a half block distant, was de-
cidedly the best. II was a ride of twenty
minutes from the station where boarded
the train 70 the Administration station IN
Jackson Park. The fare 10 cents, and
the elevated road is the only means OF
trans portation that carries passengers i'm
mediately inside the xpostion-grornds.
In order 10 do justice to the great show
il was necessary that should spend most
Of tho day in the park, and hence was
compelled to take my lunch inside the
grounds. as il You leave you will have to
pay another fifty cents to enter again.
REASONABLE CHARGE.
Instead of paying 1915 for o lunch, as all
the newspapers. stated, | got a very nice
and excellently served lunch for 40
cents.
BY the aid of nv Z" Only Official Guide
TO the Exposition" which | purchased on
entering, | was able to systematically visit
the different buildings. For the first
several days confined myself to the main
buildings in Jackson Park, and my last
day was devoted wholly to visiting exhi-
bits in Midway Plaisance.
PRIVATE EXHIBITS.
All exhibits in this part of the exposi-
ton are placed by private individuals,
who pay large prices for privileges. and
hence charge for their respective enter
tainmcnts.
In Midway PlaIsance you can spend from
81 to SIC day if you are so inclined. but
what is shown here is in nowise connected
With the great Worlds Fair. | have seen
numerous tables showing what IT will cost
to spend a week at the Worlds Far.
NECESSARY Expenses.
here present table showing all the me-
cessary expenses incurred for q trip 10 the
Worlds Fair. except the railroad fare:
One weeks board Observation-Disclosures. %
car fare both ways days............... 20
Guide 10 expostion. ................:..... 10
Lunch at exposition daye........e..... 90
Midway PlaisGnce exhibits, other inciden-
tails, ETC.. III w