The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-06-16

to the public, and must be protected and
watched. There are thirteen main exposi-
ton buildings and some eighty smaller
ones. Two hundred and fifty guards are
needed in the great Manufactures building
alone, during the day; and 100 are sta
toned there at night. In the day time 100
are assigned to the Art palace. Besides
the buildings and their exhibits the walks
and all other parts of the grounds must be
patrolled.
Study the situation as l have done and
You will see that 1900 is none too large a
number Of guards Tor the White City.
You must not forget that vast crowds of
people come here every day, and that it
would be simple madness to leave them
without police projections. As long as
everything goes well perhaps there is not
much needbof the presence of the guards.
But suppose fire breaks ont, or there is
panic from any cause? These are the
things the management has had to think
Of. Though the fault-linders may be
t~houghtless the men who are responsible
for the conduct Of this great enterprise
cannot afford to be. And l must say they
appear to have thought of everything.
1t would require many columns to ex-
pose all the lies l have seen in eastern
papers concerning the Worlds fair. Life
is too short to devote much of it to this
purpose. There are too many things here
to admire and praise. But | wish to re-
assure my readers on a few points. The
fair is now finished. 1t is complete and
perpect. If an exhibit here and there is
not just as its owners or managers desire
t. have it, probably it will be by the time
this reaches your eye; and at any rate, all
these exhibits together do not amount to
a drop in the great bucket. The fair is
clean and orderly, as l have shown you.
So much attention has been paid to the
comfort of visitors that every one is aston
ished at the completeness of the arrange
ments.
There are seats within the buildings and
without. The toilet rooms and lavatOries
are everywhere-free. There are rest
rooms in various buildings. If one is
taken i'll or overcome by heat an ambul-
ance service attends and Il good hospital
awaits. Drinking w&tsy-free and good
may he had ~ every turn. There is no ex-
tortion within the grounds. Those restau-
rant keepers and other providers who
started out to gain riches quickly have
found they were on the wrong road. The
transportation facilities to and from the
~ Slotiilio L UNIV DCllCCl. M DIt-
vious exposition was so we'll served in this
respect. On the days of greatest attend
auce there is 10 uncomfortable crowding.
Let me give you u little personal eXper-
fence that you may judge of the conditions
existing in Chicago and at the fair. l
board at the Grand Pacific hotel, where |
pay only regular rates, as every one else
does-the same rates asked last year and
every year. This is true of nearly all the
hotels. One large hotel served notice in
the latter part of April it would double its
rates May /. The guests didn't complain.
They did not go to the office and growl.
They simply said to themselves: "This
landlord has the right to charge what he
pleases. That is his business" But on
the morning of May l there weren't a
dozen guests left in the house. A vast
hotel was empty, cavernous. Cafe, bar,
barbershop, bell boys, cigar stand, cashier,
room clerk, everything and everybody had
a holiday. The next day was no better. 1t
was even worse, for only half a dozen
guests remained. Then the proprietor
c~apitulated. He came down to his old
of prices. Gradually his guests re-
but even yet the house is suffering
the effects of that mistake. 1t cost that
10000 to learn the people will
be robbed. THIS is the lesson which
a great many people have learned in Chi
Well, a five minute walk takes me to the
Illinois Central station. In two or three
minutes an express train starts for the
fair. 1t makes the journey in fifteen min
utes, without stopping. The fare is 10
cents and the cars are comfortable. In
two minutes walk to the fair gates. Dur
ing five or six hours in the exposition my
expenses may be something like this:
Ride on an electric launch from one end Of
grounds to the other, - cents. Two Cata-
30 cents. One E!H>- OF mineral
spring water, | cent. Luncheon, from 30
cents to - cents. One pretty souvenir, -
rents. Admission t. wusidcShOwS on the
Midway plaisnucr, - cents. One glass of
water, 10 cents. RIdc To top Of big
building, - cents. One ride on clcS
road, 10 cents. Ftrc back 10 Chi
10 cents. Total, S9.iI. Md see how
much l have had for my money.
WALTER WEILMAN.