New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-01
4 MANIA ron SHOTS.

The Director OF Works at the Worlds Fair
is credited with an original device for dis
posing of the white palaces after the close Of
the Exhibition season. He recommends the use
Of the torch lie recognizes the fact that
salvage will be a poor compensation for Nhc
expense of tearing down the buildings and re-
moving the material. Hence he considers that
wholesale destruction will be economical. IT
the buildings are set on fire. the outer walls
Of staff will crunbIc and melt away and leave
the steel framework uninjurcd and in a con-
dirian TO be easily knocked To pieces.
= is possible that Mr.. Durham has not
offered this suggestion seriously, but meant
that it should be taken onl, As grim pleas
antiy. II has appealed however. very strongly
to the practical instincts OF the Chicago public.
The sugg, StOn is at once elaborated into Il
scheme for drawing enormous crowds in mid
winter. Imaginative journalists are alive 90
the chance OF having series Of the biggest
spcctaclcS since the destruction Of 5odom. They
find recreation in charging upon the Schcme.
The buildings, they explain can be burned one
at time 80 as to furnish "a series Of wonderful
night shows, for which a double admission fee
NAV be charged complete schedule of dates
is suggested, 50 that spectators can arrange
their plans and be enabled to witness the de-
,truc.ion of their favcrtc buildings. Excur-
i'm ira rs. it i assumed, will be run from half
a dozen States and vast throngS of sight ScelS
carried 10 Chicago for each Of the "W orld' :
Fair C0nlagrat.on nights. Seats in the Ferris
wheel can be sold at 500 each. and the re-
cciptS at the gates will be greater than during
the best weeks of the Exhibition. Chicago
mathcmaticians are fairly beside themselves
when they attempt TO estimate the gate re-
CENTS on the night Of the burning Of the
Manufactures aud Liberal Arts Building.
Probably it was not until Director Burnham
had been asked for the thousandth time
What is TO be done with the buildings when
the show is ovcr?" that. wcaricd ont with inn
pmtunty. he exclaimed: Bum them and be
done with it," But Chicago has not been hav-
ing the Worlds Fair all these months without
developing a ruling passion for big shows. The
bare suggestion of the torch inspires imagi
native icres in which excursion trains, special
concessions and enormous gate receipts play a
conspicuous part. The thought OF a common
place termination of the Exhibition season and
the gradual removal Of structures and clearance
of Jackson lark II bdlfcl anu disappointing.
The town welcomes the proposal for winding
M the show with series If phenomenal ard
spectacular bonlircs as Characteristic and worthy
of IFS own genius The white palaces might
be burned one by one, the Manufactures and
Liberal Arts being reserved for the final per-
Torrance: but it is doubtful if Chicagos am
bn,on ,lr beating all creation on town shows
would be satisfied. One can easily imagine Il
gr,up of enthusiasts discussing on the last
night the possibility of burning the entire town
ard estimating whether the show could be
made to pay, if properly advertised and with
cheap railway trains from every State in the