The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-03-27
GREAT EXPECTATIONS.
Foreign Visitors Counted on for Not
Less Than $500, 100000.

Foreign Visitors Counted on for Not
Less Than $500, 100000.
Boston Transcript.
The total amount of money which foreign
visitors to the Worlds Columbian Fxposi-
ton will spend in the United States will
doubtless be great but hardly as great as
some enthusiastic calculators imagine One
optimist, now long since, placed the amount
to be brought to this country by the fair at
S3O0.OO0O00, in addition to 500. coo coo to be
spent by Americans who would remain at
nome this summer instead of going abroad.
Both these estimates seem to US to be ex-
cessiYely high, and based upon Incorrect as
symptoms. 1t is not likely that the aver
age visitor TO Chicago. either American or
foreign, will spend over 500 in that city,
and relatively few foreigners will spend
over $500 elsewhere in the coun-
try. We also doubt if over 500, 900
foreigners will be brought to the
United States by the fair alone; that is to
say, 100000 who would not come were it
not for the fair. At $500 apiece this would
give result of $50, coo. 600 as ths amount
expended in this country by foreigners
brought here by the exposition. Some. it is
true, alter coming great distance, would
probably speI d several weeks here, but, on
the other hand large numbers Will come
under the guidance of tourist agencies ETC.,
or in clubs. The latter plan is already
being adopted to some extent. especially in
England. These will spend relatively little
money in the United States. AS to the in
tiuence Of another cholera outbreak while
1t would Of course diminish travel all the
world over, 1t would tend to send what
travel there was to this continent, II we
keep free from the epidemic as last year.
AS for the amount that Americans who
would otherwise have gone abroad Will
spend, very thoughtleSs error seems to
have been made by the calculators. They
have adopted the apparently re liable esti-
mate. made some years ago, that $780,
100000 was annually left abroad by
our globe trotting countrymen, and by
adding $50, 000, 900 as the increase in late
years. have assumed that SO. GOO 600 will
be retained in the United States owing to the
reduction during the Columbian year in the
annual exodus to Europe. But herein lies a
serious error. 1t seems to be forgotten that
both the exposition visit and the European
trip may be accomplished with ease in the
same year. Comparatively few of the travel
ing Americans will spend month or even
two weeks in Chicago during the fair and
their European outing will thus not be seri-
ously lnterfered with. We doubt ifthere will
be a reduction of more than 10 per cent in
the number of Americans who usually go
abroad.
On the whole we think that S200, 000 COO is
q much more reasonable estimate Of the
amount of cash which will be brought to or
retained in this country owing TO he expo
siton than double that Amount. which the
enthusiasts claim. Two hundred millions of
dollars, however, in hard cash Will be great
addition TO our ready wealth. and, even
emitting the untold indirect additions which
Will follow, 1t Will make the exposition
aSSuTedly paying investment