The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-11-04
AT THE WORLDS FAIR
The White City and Midway Plat
safce Now Deserted.
While Outside the Gates. Where In
Vulnerable Fakirs Long Held SWAY,
TO Rent" Is Seen on All Sides.

CHICAGO. Nov. 3--Confusion holds sway
at the fair grounds now. Dust is free to
whirl around the corners and be buneted
through the peristyle, TO rest in Lake
Michigan. Wagons laden with heavy ma
chinery keep UP a horrible roar as they
head for the gates. Freight vehicles OF
every description so heller SHELTER through
the broad avenues Thousands Of men
at work with hammers and sIedges add 10
the din. The heretofore spotiess interiors
of the palatial buildings are dust-begrimed.
The Midway is being torn down. IN few
more days it will be a mass OF debris. In
a couple of weeks there VIII be nothing re-
naming TO remind one OF its existence.
Within the same period those exhibits that
are not reserved for the Columbian Mu-
scum will be gone. and the main buildings
will be deserted.
Desolation reigns Immediately outside the
gates. The territory for blocks about the
fair Grounds looks like deserted village,
fast crumbling into ruin. Only the sub
stantial merchants remain The fakirs,
cheap restaurants and keepers Of impro-
vised hotels have moved and left their
tents unfolded. ''To Rent signs are all
the time before the eye. The permanent
structures that were used for hotels dur
ing the exposition are being turned into
apartment houses and flats, though some
of the better hostelries are yet running On
the old system, with cheaper bill of fare,
ana their price OF lodging divided by four.
Most of the gates az the White City are
closed up. Only about half a dozen gate
keepers are employed, and visitors at the
pay gate so scarce that the gatekeeper
is surprised each time a paid ticket s
handed him. Outside of the Detroit news
boys few persons visited the grounds to-
day. The Columbian guards are the only
employees of the exposition that need not
worry about the immediate future. There
are 1,5S7 of them, and they are all to be re-
tanned until Dec. 1, and the majority OF
them will hold on until spring. when the
exposition company will relinquish control
of the grounds.
1t is not yet decided what is to be done
with the buildings. The committee on de-
molition is not disposed To be in hurry,
regarding il to the interest of the expo
sition company to give all bidders a chance.
1t is probable that most OF the buildings
will stand until spring. The national COM
mission is yet holding daily sessions. but
is unable TO clear up its business because
of the absence of a quorum. An effort was
made to-day to whip in number of alb
sentees known to be in the city, but with
out success. The question as TO whether
the agricultural machines which did not 20
into the field for a test are to be examined
is, meanwhile, being held in allegiance. The
commission will meet again tomorrow
For a minute to-day il seemed as IL the
old days of the exposition had returned.
The workmen suddenly heard shouts OF
laughter and all kinds of merry noises
proceeding from the terminal station The
place was full Of boys. n band began TO
play and procession of youngsters start
ed across the plaza. Six hundred newsboyS
arrived from Detroit. They came in
special train of twelve coaches over the
Michigan Central as the guests of Gen.
Russell A. Alger, OF Detroit. The boys
furnished the few spectators with sight
OF the first parade given the grounds
since the close of the fair; 1t brought
back visions of childrenS week at the fair.
A happier crowd has seldom been seen
entrances to Midway were thrown open
and the urchins trooped through the half
dismantled mimic Orient. A truce was de-
clared for the day in the Ferris wheel
fight and all the small visitors were given
a ride in the big machine. When ii came
as many that have been prepared in the
White City, but few have been better APP
preeiated sandwehes and hd milk WAS the
Many of the foreigners and Midway show
men are preparing to return home or go to
California At the office of Cooks Tourist
Agency the Orientals came in such numbers
supply of French and English gold. Near
ly every one of these Orientals wants his
money in French or English gold pieces.
said the cashier. Each of the Turks have
girls have made more money. and Will ay-
crage SEQ apiece. The donkey boys in
Cairo have been the most prosperous of any
OF the Orientals. One OF them has nearly
81 600 saved up. Each of these bows will
be well-to-do when he gets home. That is,
he will be able TO buy a camel or several
dCnkeys and establish himself in a paying
business At the First National Bank the
foreign exchange window has been doing a
heavy business for several days. Drafts
have been issued on banks an all parts of the
world. The business resulting from the eK-
position has been so heavy that in spite OF
the depression in international trade the
fer gn exchange for the year will reach
the usual figure of So, 000 900.
Local physicians say that there is nothing
dangerous in the new complaint that has
been designated the worlds fair grip"
al G which is not only very prevalent here,
have been
ried home by worlds fair visitors from diff
ferent parts of the country. general
languor severe construction OF the base OF
the nose and hacking cough are the prin-
cipal symptoms. Some physicians regard il
a merely modified form of the old grip
and say that ii presents no features that
are new to medical science.
The paid admissions at the fair to-day
were $3.50.