The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-21
THE GREAT FAIRAT CHICAGO
How to Reach the Grounds from the
City, and the Cost of Transportation.
The Exercise Of Common Sense Will Prevent
All Extortion as TO Food and Lodging
Present Condition of the Exhibits.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

been said about the worlds fair. so many
questions are being asked about means
of transportation to and from Chica-
go to the grounds about the cost
OF admission TO the fair proper
and to the various independent ex-
hibits inside that the experience of a repre-
sentative of the Journal may be of inter-
est. There are three ways Of reaching
jackson Park from down town-by the
South-side cable line, by the trains of the
elevated road and by the Illinois Central
railway. The fare by cable Is cents. and.
starting from the downtown business dis
tSict. the trip takes an hour. By the elevated
road the fare each way is also 5 cents.
and the time about forty minutes. This
road runs through alleywa nearly the
entire distance and affords q comprehensive
but hardly inspiring view of Chicago back
yards. AS the trains approach Sixty-third
street. the terminal station. the elevation
is SO high that passengers are afforded
glimpse into the Midway Plsisance and q
full view of Buffalo Bills camp and amphi-
theater, with Rocky-mountain scenery in
the background, among which red blank
eted Indians are strOlling, and. If one spec-
ulative strangers surmise Is correct, pick
ing up gold dust. The time consumed In
travelling by either of these lines is an OBJ
lection. and as the low rate of fare will in
sure them plenty of patronage. there is the
disagreeable prospect of being compelled
to stand and hang to strap the entire dis
taDce. The most rapid transit Is by what
the Illinois Central railroad. but which
are known to an irreyeront public
as cattle trains" This latter title origi-
mates from the fact that the cars used are
freight cars with the sides cut out and
seats put in. after the style of open street
cars. Some genius has facetiously dubbed
them the human box cars" These cars
have no springs. aud loud and long howl,
which has not yet subsidized, went mp from
the throats of Chicagoans who were afraid
they would be jOlted more than was agree
able. lnasmuch as Chicago people endure
the iolting of the cable cars without muir
muir, this complaint seems unreasonable.
At all events, ii they are not the most
luxurious vehicles In the world, they have
the advantage of affording seat TO each
and every passenger. as there is positively
no standing room. and of making the trip
from NanBuren-street station In fifteen, or
at most. twenty minutes. The fare is 10
cents. The facilities of the road are such
that when the traffic justiiies it. trains can
be run every three minutes. The track 10
clear and no stops are made before reach
ing the station at Sixtieth street. Passen-
gers ct intermediate stations depend upon
the regular suburban trains.
THE FAIR IN GENERAL
The fair ltselfis all that its most extrava-
CANT enlogists have painted 1T. If the al
ways hurrying American has but an hour to
spend there. il 10 worth his while to 20
merely for the sake of the general scenic
effect. even though he does not enter o
building. The combination of white pal
aces. picturesque lagoons. winding road
waysa and green grass. with Lake Michigan
as foreground-if q lake can properly be
called q ground" of any sort-ls one that
must satisfy, the most aesthetic taste and
remain In the memory q dream of beauty
forever. How, in this unsatisfactory
world, an association of men whose spar.
ring, and wrangling and general cater
wauling have occupied SO considerable @
years, ever succeeded in evolv-
ing and carrying out this com.
plete and wholly beautiful plan
is one of the mysteries. That 1t did
succeed should be remembered to Its ever
lasting credit. Probably no man, woman
or child in Chicago OF OUr Is able to dis
tInguish one from another the various COM
missions directories and other bodies that
mako up the management of the fair, or to
define their special duties, but among them
they have accomplished all that was ex-
pected of them, and more. Descriptions
convey no adequate idea of the beautiful
results of their work. Only those who see
for themselves can know.
After the first sight of the buildings and
their setting as whole. the Impressions
of the visitor speedily become confused, so
much presses upon the attention. If the
time allowed for sightseeing Is short the
felt should at once be sought out and the
eyes be closed to all else. for the tenn pta-
tions are so numerous on every hand that
the frmest determination is In danger of
wavering and the hours are consumed with
out having attained what was most desired.
Whether the stay be long or short, a guide
book, or at least q map of the grounds,
will be found OF great use. The books on
sale within the grounds cost 25 cents each,
but another, Just as servlceable, can be
bought outside for 10 cents. study of
the map and an understanding of the loca-
ton OF the buildings IS essential In order
to economic strength. for the distances
that one may travel are great, and the saw
ing of steps soon becomes an important
consideration. This can only be accom-
plished by making q Systematic tour and
by avoiding aimless wanderings. A CLASH.
fed catalogue of the exhibits costs Is cents
for each building, but most visitors will
hardly need more than one or two of these,
as. for instance. that for the Art Gallery
and for the Manufactures and Liberal Arts
Building IE several of the buildings not
half the exhibits are yet In order, o wilder
ness of packing boxes being on every hand.
The work of arranging them goes rapidly
on. but it will be weeks yet before all is
com pleted. Mean lille there is enough to
see " hichever way one turns, and after o
day or two spent there the visitor is con-
scious of feeling OF relief that the pack
ing cases are not all open and of an entire
indifference to their contents.
The United States government building
is in comp lete order. and the exhibit from
the Smithsonian Institution the Patent OF
flee. PostOffice and other departments at
tract much attention from visitors who
have never seen them in Washington. The
Fisheries Building also in good order,
and the magnificent display made there by
the United States Fish Commission Will be
one of the great attractions of the fair.
The pictures have not all been hung in the
Art Building. but enough rooms have their
walls filled to occupy weeks In examining
IL one had the time ct command. This is q
display such as has never been known in
this country before. and is worth q long
pilgrimage to the artistIcally inclined. Tho
Transportation Building includes exhibits
of every means of conveyance from q
Japanese jinrickisha to an ocean STEAMSHIP d;
the mines and mining display of the riches
of the earth's interior from all quarters Of
the globe; electricity, an exhibit of all the
modern improvements that have been made
possible through the use OF that force.
The names of agricultural. horticultural
and manufacturing buildings indicate the
character of their respective exhibits, but
only an actual tour can give an idea of the
variety and extent OF the products of
nature and OF mans handlwork there coll
lected. The Manufactures Building,
which is the largest on the grounds. Is q
Afn fAs