New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-10
GREED IN THE FAIR CITY.
PAINFUL DISPLAY OF AvARICE IN CHICAGO,

Chicago. April 7.-On the principle that our
friends can, with greater pr0prlcty than our enc.
miles, tell US Of our faults, The Tribune should be
permitted, without suspicion OF unfairness, 70
critcise. through the medumship Of special cor
rcspondencc from this centre. the attitude OF Chi.
| cago as represented by the spirit developed among
her citizens toward those from the outside whose
patronage is relied upon to insure the success Of
| the Worlds Fair. Chicago having been selected,
through the representatives Of the people in Con-
gress, as the site for the Columbian Exposition,
and tho rcoT!e having through the same agency
responded to calls for succor in the promotion Of
the work. they ought not to he considered fas-
tidous or eAacting if they should simply ask for
reasonable and fair treatment when they come
| up out OF their distant homes TO enjoy the sea-
| son Of instruction. entertainment and relaxation
| which tho great educational display is expected
| 10 afford.
But c~cry Iow and then, as one moves around
in the circles Of trade, he hears the plea set up
| that 50 this tliin5," by which term the Exposition
| is frequently referred 70, has cost 80 much that
| the citizens must charge excessive rates in order
| TO get even once more with the world. These
| advocates Of high, and eXtortiOnate, rates
| for the accommodation of the people from tho
outside are exceedingly frank in the avowal Of the
motives dominating their actions At the same
|
motion Of the Worlds Fair had been dependent
upon the energies .he cxeitions and the contribu-
tions Of this class of citizens jackson Park would
not now be the Mecca OF the world.
Against the great Chicago as a whole, " the giant
of the West" Matthew Arnold styled her ten
| years ago, it does not seem altogether just to
| ling aspersions of constitutional mcanness and
greed. She was not responsible for the budding
and the bossominy of Anarchy, but she was credit
ably and honoraby responsible for the crushing
out of that dreaded force in the economy Of re-
publican government. Indeed, it Is an injustice
| TO the better elements of this city to class them
among those who are to-day itching with im-
patience to begin their work Of extortion But
there is a vast herd in the community, previously
existing or attracted hithcr whose main object
| is 10 score the maximum profits from the general
result. This element is first of all recognized
among those who have rooms for rent Tba
keepers Of the principal hotels proclaim that there
will ha 10 advance in rates. This is lust Con-
tracts for rooms are constantly being made Yet
there will be many ways by which the hotel
Keepers VIII discover opportunities for lettering
their condition. Indeed there is gentle sug-
gestiveness Of pfOfuse franlness in some of the
| announcements that posted In hotel corridors
These skilled bonifaces know perfectly we'll whero
| 20 draw the line and announce their houses a.
Elled Alter that remain the rooms for packing
| individuals together in mass, at SO much head.
| ms scheme VIII be far more profitable than the
pursuit of the contract system The same instinct
| for packing has extended TO the superintendents
of apartment houses Here is an illustration
drawn from the experience OF your correspondent.
Application made in response 10 an advertise
| ment in Chicago morning newspaper for two
rooms on the fifth floor of one of these houses
| located about n mile and half from tho Fair
grounds 1t was really a tlird-class house:
What is the rent per month97 was asked
The reply was "Thrty-fve dolIlis7
"WOnld you make any reduction "a a con-
| tract for occupancy until November ?" WIS
the next inquiry.
oh. no. was the quick reioinder. we would
only rent on those terms till the first of May.
After that the rate will be So day"
That is a big difference" was remarked
We'll" said the agent we calculate on
'rackin'' six people in that loom from the OPEN
ing to the closing of the Fair. at 81 a head and
that means So day and $3.50 month"
And do you really expect to get such q
return for such an apartment?' was asked
You bet We do; that's what We are here
for"
This man spoke the TRUTH sweetly and re-
freshngly. That is what he is there for. ex.
actly: and he represents a type of desperadoes
and freeb0oter who are giving bad name
to Chicago which she does not deserve
visit TO another house in another locality,
but about the same distance from the Fair
grounds. furnished another revelation. The
building was of Frame two stories high. The
lower floor rooms were not Yet offered for rent:
| two rooms above had been advertised TO let.
A peasan-faced little woman responded to the
CALL and a spark of expectation kindled In her
eye as the visitor entered the vestibule
Would you mind showing the rooms you de-
sire 70 let ?' asked.
Certainly not VIII you walk into the par
lor ?" and the parlor was walked into
The rooms are not quite in a condition to he
looked at" said the little woman with the spark
of expectation in her eye but they are Just SINH
lar to these.
One was about 1jN2O feet. the other about Ok
30 feet
What is your price, say for six months. for
tbc two rooms on the second floor, corresponding
to thesc?'
We'll" replied the little woman, with the spark
of expectation glowing still more brightly in her
cye Oh a six months contract ] would be willing
TO let 'em 90 at $50 month
The correspondent departed as early as he could
without bctraying undue confusion, and as he
entered his carriage at the curbstone he cast a
sidelong glance at the little woman standing IN
the doorway. and in whose eyes the spark OF eA.
pectation was glowing more brightly than before.
These are only two incidents of hundreds OF
others of similar character occurring daily in con-
ncctjon with the labor of house and room hunt
inc in Chicago The South Side being the lo-
cality of the Fair grounds, i, the principal one
sought by visitors making arrangements for ac-
commodations later on. Naturally. therefore,
houscholders there who on the lookout for
profits have taken advantage of their position 80
int nsc has been the al around for gain that
owners of houses, tie leases nwhich expired Mayl.
demanded such increases III rentals that the keep
ers of lodging houses either obliged TO retro
themselves from the occupancy Of the premises or
continuing in possession. they have been COM
PEELED 10 advance Eeayily their rates for rooms
AS TO drive people who have made these places