Daily Texarkana Democrat., 1893-10-17
THE WORLDS FAIR.
Another Weeks Events at the Great
Expo" Interestingly Re-
counted.


Special to the Democrat.
When the gates of the Worlds Fair
close on the night of Oct. 81 Treasurer
Seeberger will have a surplus of at
least $2,O0O,O0O in bank, and probably
much more. This represents almost
40 per cent of that part OF the capital
stock of the exposition furnished by
the popular subscriptions of citizens.
How much of the $2,0O0,00O or more,
if any, will be distributed among the
stockholders, is a question that is NOW
being discussed by the officials. The
feeling is general that with anything
like economical management $1,0OO,-
600 can be paid back to the stock
holders. Treasurer Seeberger is in
favor of setting that sum aside on the
morning of November l, and COM
pelling those in charge to wind up the
affairs of the exposition on what re-
mains in the form of cash assets and
salvage.
If that policy obtains stockholders
will get back little more than $780,
900, or about 10 per cent of the
amount they subscribed. The remain
der would go to the city of Chicago,
which, under the terms of the issue OF
SIS, 100000 in bonds in aid of the ex-
position, comes In on the same footing
as original subscribers to the Worlds
Fair fund.
Several important questions are
naturally presented in connection
with this proposed payment of the
10000 stockholders in the exposition.
One is the probable sum that will be
received from salvage and the other
is the revenue from gate receipts after
Oct. 81. Both are now receiving
some attention from the managers.
There is little doubt that the expo
sition will not be torn down by the
men who built it. In fact, an early
disbandment is by no means improba-
BILE. With the exception Of several
superintendent who may make them
selves valuable in disposing of salvage,
the entire organization is likely to be
swept away, and the contract for tear
ing the buildings down given to
wrecking firms who will buy the
buildings as they stand, remove every
thing of value and leave the rubbish
in Jackson Park to be disposed of by
the torch. President Higinbotham
favors that plan and Auditor Acker-
man, whose record as an economist
gives weight to anything he says in
dorses it.
The probable revenue from gate re-
ceipts after Nov. has not been esti-
| mated. That the fair will be open
for few days after a fashion, has nev-
er been denied, nor has it been ques-
toned for a moment that the work of
destruction would commence at once.
Visitors will lie allowed to come in
after Nov. just as they were before
the opening on May l, but they will
not see the exposition in perfect
state. They will see thousands Of
busy workmen taking down pictures,
packing statuary, removing rare pot
terry from show cases and tearing
| down pavilions that few days before
were jammed with displays. They
will see the fair as it was late in April,
not as it appeared on Chicago day.
"The exposition will run several
weeks in spite of ITSELF" said Presi-
dent Higinbotham. "We could not
bring it to close if we. wanted to-,
without offending thousands of visit
ors who have not seen enough of it,
but the gates will be formally closed
on Oct. 81"
Considering the phenomenal attend
ance of the last few days, the immense
revenues from concessions in conse-
quence of the big crowds, the sum
that might be realized from salvage if
| Auditor Ackermans suggestions were
adopted and the gate receipts after
Nov. /, the prospects for a dividend
to the stockholders are exceedingly
flattering There is every reason to
believe that the attendance during the
closing days of October will be even
larger than any Of the officials have
| dared TO predict, Director General
Davis made an estimate early in Sep
tember that the average eaily atten-
dance during October would be 200,-
600. The guess was considered Wild
ly extravagsnt at the time, but his
predictions have been more than justi-
fed. 1t would not be surpris5 Ng now
| if the daily attendance would be near
100000 than 100000 and the increased
revenues from concessions, If that rate
were maintained, above any estimates