Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-05-11
THE Big FAIR.
Il Starts Out as a Very EX.
penSiYe Treat.
Fair in Many Respects Not Yet
Ready For Visitors.
(From our Special Correspondent.)
WoRLD's FAIR GROUND,
CHICAGO. MAYS. 1893

(From our Special Correspondent.)
WoRLD's FAIR GROUND,
CHICAGO. MAYS, 1898.
1t seems that the Presidents thumb did
not set the machinery in motion, after all.
The shafting in machinery hall was not
ready and President Cleveland's button only
started one of the engines. 1t was not until
four days after the supposed opening that
the shafiing was in place sufficiently to en-
able the machinery to be started in a moder-
ate way and even yet the work is very far
from being complete. As exhibits were un-
finished in every other building there was
no reason why machinery hall should have
been supposed to be ready. But it will 60
down into history that when the President
touched the button the machinery started on
its six months trip. A hundred years from
now, when the centennial OF this exposition
is held, the facts in the case will make no
more difference than it does to Us now to
know the actual facts concerning the career
of Columbus. 1t is not at all probable that
we have his history accurate, for history
making was very imperfect 400 years ago,
but so long as we do not know the difference
and errors can never be corrected, the story
is just as good one way as another.
Hence let it be recorded for the next gen.
Grafton that Clevelani's thumb did the busi-
ness
GETTING READY.
There are thousands of men at work, now
that the opening excitement is over, getting
the exposition in order. Two or three weeks
more of such work as has taken place since
the opening will see things fairly in shape
sufficiently SO to permit of an intelligent de-
scription. 1t is evident that the public does
not intend to come at present and the month
of May is bound to be Disappointing. The
turnstiles only show about fifteen thousand
daily visitors thus far. A good many fear
that the disappointment in attendancewill
continue after the Exposition is in full read
mess if the business situation of the country
does not improve.
THE coNCEssIoNAIRE.
There are sufficient number of visitors
already to register loud protests against
some of the Expenses" The toilet closet
concession to Sanitation company, where
you are taxed five cents for admission, give
rise to much grumbling The company hav-
ing the concession was to put as many free
as pay closets in each building, but they have
not done so. In the Fine Arts and Fisher
les buildings they could not find room for
any free closets, but you may be sure that
there was room for the ones where nickle
makes the turn stiles go around. Signs are
conspicuous directing the visitor to the pay
toilet rooms, but you need search warrant
to find the free ones. The Sanitation COM
pany was to take care of both free and pay
stations but as matter of fact they only |
care for the latter, purposely making the
free ones repulsive.
The concession was an idea borrowed from
the Paris exposition but IN doing so the
price was doubled. French customs (of this |
description at least) are not destined to be
popular in this country, but as matter of
personal comfort you had better keep stray |
nickel in your pocket after you get in the
grounds.
IT COSTS TO EAT.
There is also a loud outcry against restau-
rant charges at the Park and unless there is
an improvement, you will want to get your
breakfast and dinner on the outside and
bring your lunch in your inside pocket.
City restaurants have not advanced prices
but at the Exposition the concessionaires
have evidently been coached by reading the
life of Robert Kidd-pirate. The imported
English bar maids at White Horse Inn bare
ly allow the visitor to escape with his life.
Everything on his person will be required to
settle the bill if he orders drink.
A AFrench restauranter evidently supposes
we are all Ward McAllisters and handle our
food with our fingers, as he charges ten
cents extra for knife, fork and plate. The
plate is cold at that, but the people who pay
the ten cents are hot enough to equalize
things when they discover the charge. But
the price of pie-twenty five cents cut-is
the last hair. The Columbian guard demands
an advance in wages or reduction in the
price of pie, Meantime the newspapers ad-
wise the people to bring their luncheons and
sit on the steps of the restaurants to scatter
the crumbs when they eat.
But after all / do not blame the conces-
sionaire as much as the fair managers. He
had to pay high prize to come into the
game and one-fourth of his gross receipts go
to the fair besides. He must be robber so !
that he can permit the fair to rob him. Nice
game, is it not?
CHAIRS FOR RENT.
A concessionaire will rent you little fold
ing chair for ten cents day. To make the !
chair concession more valuable you are not
allowed to bring a chair of any description !
through the gate. Even cripples who come
in rolling chairs of their own are turned
back. unless they change their own for one !
furnished by concessionaire. One large /
exhibitor met with just that experience to-
day. Y
The public sentiment is most powerful :
regulator. The fair managers are wincing
under the criticisme and declare that they !
will STOP extortions or cancel the conces-
sions. They can stop it very easily by re- !
laxing their own grip on the concessionaire 1
sufficiently to allow him to be reasonably !
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