The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-27
VISITORS FLOCK TO TOWN.
A MI6HTY CROWD COLLECTS At THE
GRAND CENTRAL STATION


Moro People There Yesterday Than at Any
Other Day Since the Washington Gem
tennial Ceiebratlon-Price OF Seats in
Stands Going Up-Arch Nearly Finished.
More people got here yesterday than on any
day since the city began to fill up with strangers
AT the Grand Central Depot more people were
collected than on any other day since the Wash
ington Centennial celebration. Every train that
arrived was loaded with people who came from
cities and towns and villages nearby and far away.
Many who had made no provision for getting
accommodations after reaching here applied TO tho
ticket agents and the policemen stationed about the
depot for information concerning boarding houses
and hotels They wanted to know where they
could get quarters for three days and in many
instances insisted upon knowing where they could
find boarding houses with windows overlooking
streets through which the land parade will pass
When told that boarding houses on the limo Of
march would furnish accommodations at the rate
of twenty dollars a day. they seemed to think the
persons giving this information were not telling
the truth One policeman told woman that he
knew OF boarding house on Fifth avenue where
she could get parlor floor for $3.50 for Friday and
Saturday. She became indignant and threatened
to report the policeman for having insulted her
Hotel managers railroad men and restaurant
prOprle' OTS SAID mat ihcS expected a bigger
crowd TO day and tomorrow for he reason that
they had received thousands Of letters from peo-
pie living out Of town who desired Accommodations
during the Dewey celebration Some of ,hcse
letters contained stories Of hard luck in which
the writers told the hotel proprietors that they
only had small amount Of money 10 spend in
New York, and for that reason would like 10 have
rooms at reasonable rates. One man wro'e 10
the proprietor Of hotel stating that he wanted
say for him the best room in the house for 81
Although many Of the big buildings in the
nta., Ia
of the big business houses had made no arrange
ments 10 decorate unil Thursday, believing
tn sha ssy eq hSys Of Adm fs s
When they heard the news that Dewey had
rived. they Immediately employed men 10 begin
result OF this was that every professional deco
rator in the city was at work yesterday employ
ing every available man in the business.
In many instances men who had not done man.
ual labor for years got out Yesterday and worked
fI ten h2H tsn Snd a Ass deus Sms
far decorated presented fine appearance.
An inspector Of HE Building Department est,
mi's had been issued for The erection Of enough
av.rage price Of ,icke for seats on these stands
is SIS. Seats sold yesterday at some Of them for
sums as high as sig and $50 one man who Sc
Fifth avenue started in 10 sell seats at So each
After selling the frs four rows he learned that
there was such demand for seats that he raised
the price of the back seats TO $40 Even at that
price he sold large number Of tickets. and said
would Certainly b. s2o The propre!or Of ia sand
erected in Central Park West. near Sixty MN
street said that his expenses were 81 200, but he
expected To make a profit on The investment He
said that the lease Of the ground for three days
cost him 81 900 and that his print ing and cost of
building the stand would certainly amount 10
$500 more Still. he said, he would be able to
make profit by selling iicke.s for SIS The man
IN charge OF the big stand on Riverside Drive said
that he hoped 10 make barrel of money because
he could sell seats on Friday as well as Saturday.
He added that he could sell iicke.s for the fire
works display, and that would swell his receipts,
Along Fifth avenue many property owners
or 6ude the fedenGe
Helen Gould wErkme men started to build stand
dents Of Fifth avenue intend to follow Miss Goulds
example.
gathered in Madison square for the purpose Of
watching the progre 81 of the work on the Dewey
de o e ey MGu n the
ceiling Of the arch and the top cornice above the
figures of the naval heroes were finished. The
dIels in position went along smoothly yesterday,
Phillip Phi asr,ini,s group, ~Ihe Cail to Arms"
other % so Ss tho Of the piers T nns
already in position The contractor having charge
Of the work said that all Of the scaIolding would be
removed by six o'clock tomorrow night, and by
that time the arch would be completed
Yesterday morning gang of twenty eight
motto on the Brooklyn Bridge. They had taken
the places Of the striking electricians The con.
tractor said that he expected no further trouble
and that his men would work under police pro.
lection until the big motto was completed. The
workmen put up number OF incandeScent globes
To take the places OF the globes that had been
destroyed by the storm yesterday morning and
by the high winds Of Sunday The contrac-
tor said that he would certainly have the work
completed before noon tomorrow.
The majority Of the merchants Of this city are
going 10 observe the Dewey celebration by closing
their places OF business on Saturday. There are
only few big stores in this city that will be
open on that day.