The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-06-02
MANKAro FREE PRESS.
FRIDAY JUNE 2, 1898.
AT THE WORLDS FAIR.


tors at the Worlds Fair, and in his
paper last week gives an extended
write up of his trip, his impression of
the great show, his idea of the best
time to go, how to live, what TO see
and how to see it, which is so clear
and to the point that we clip and con-
dense therefrom for the benefit of our
readers. He says he is thoroughly
satisfied with the information acQuir-
ed in the expenditure of a weeks
time. After short description as to
the best route to take, and the time
which various trains will land you in
Chicago, he refers to the time to go,
and says:
"When is the best time to attend
the fair? According to yOnr circum-
stance, and means, just whenever you
are ready. 1t is true all the details of
the fair are not quite completed; two
or three buildings want few days or
possibly Two or three weeks for COM
pleGion, and few exhibits are not in
in place. But nothing lacking now,
will be missed by the sight seer, ow-
ing to the magnitude of the great
Worlds Exposition. Todelay attend
ing on this account would be like
hesitating to visit New York City be-
cause of the information that little
later two or three stores and couple
of residences would be added to the
realty. The great buildings are COM
plete and occupied with all the great
foreign and domestic exhibits, and
that which is lacking is no more than
pebble cast upon mountain OF
boulders. From past experience and
present indications the weather will
be agreeable, or not excessively warm
August hot weather may be anticipa-
ed, while on to November one may eX-
pect most agreeable atmospheric con-
ditions. Aside from climatic influ-
ences, the question of economy is
about the only consideration regulat-
ing the time to visit the fair, for in
so vast an exhibit the question of
crowds cut but little figure, for wheth
er the attendance upon the grounds
is 10000 or 40. 900 one will know little
of the difference except by consulting
the official published report of at
tendance the following morning. In
any of the mammoth structures
from 5000 to 10000 people may COM
fortablY move about, and $4,000 stroll
lers would not jostle one another in
the broad avenues, bOulevards, parks
and water ways within the GAO acres
frontage, while an overflow of another
$4,000 might wander among the
strange, novel, grotesque, grewsome,
and instructive features of the Mid
way Plaisance with the greatest de-
gree of comfort so far as space is con-
cerned.
But to the economist, through habit
or necessity, we would say be in no
hurry to visit Chicago, but wait and
watch the signs of the times, which
already significantly point to greatly
reduced railroad and hotel rates. The
railroads have involved great money
in increased transportation facilities,
and are amazed that not even their
former facilities are in full use. A
gigantic loss stares them in the face,
and they already see that only large
reduction in rates will stimulate the
exodus to Chicago which they fondly
expected at the start. The reduction
is bound to come and must come
quickly"
There has been great deal said in
relation TO high prices at the fair,
which will preclude any but the veal
thy from attending. Upon this point
he says:
"Of course there are high prices, and
innumerable places where large
amounts of money may be quickly ex-
pended, and such always exist in a
large city. But there are low prices
with every necessary comfort and adj
vantage, and eager landlords and res
taurant managers make the task of
finding such places much easier than
it is to find the more expensive re-
sorts. To secure locations ia advance
is well enough, but not necessary, and
to advance money to secure accommo-
dations is absolutely unnecessary, and
very unwise, because in most cases
locations So secured would be unsatis-
factory upon personal inspection. Chi
cagO has been transformed into city
of great hOstelries, and for a mile
about the fair grounds, distant some
seven miles down town nearly every
other building is hotel or boarding
house, while at present but few of
these are only partially occupied"
The city hotels, he says, have not
raised their prices, and have plenty
of room. The hotels in the vicinity
of the Exposition grounds, he says,
''are desirable resorts. Eating houses
abound everywhere, with prices to