New-York tribune., 1900-08-06
EXPOSITION STATISTICS.
PROSPECTS OF AN APPARENT DEFICIT
NJ. PIcARDs CONFIDENCE.
Paris. July %,

Paris. July %.
Decidedy the Exposition is unfortunate
t1pened too soon, before anything was ready, or
even had the appearance Of being ready, stran-
gers and provincials were kept from coming by
che news that little would be seen in finished
e+ate Even at the present time visitors to the
rxposition can for themselves how tardy it
has been in almost every department. 1t was
onlv the day before yesterday that the French
Indian pavilion was opened 20 the public. Some
excuse could perhaps be found for foreign ma
lions being somewhat late in the field with their
exhibits. especially those which had to bring
them from a great distance. yet these were the
ersf in the field. The United States for in
stance was the first to be ready in almost every
section. and it can be affirmed that it was the
onlv nation that had one section perfectly ready
for examination at the opening, on April II last
7amely the United States Mines and Metal llurgi-
cal Department
While its unpreparedness kept people away
during the late spring and early summer with
the corresponding deficit in the anticipated re-
oeipts the excessive heat is now producing the
same result. 1t must be admitted that the oour-
age and fabled immunity from fire of the sala-
nander would be necessary TO make one brave
the intoerabe heat which reigns every
where, but more particularly in the Exposition
EalleTies and grounds It be safely stated that
there is only one cool place, relatively, in the
whole Exposition. and that is in the inner court
and under the peristyle of the Petit PaIais. The
amount Of glass which enters into the construc-
ZION Of the different buildings especially for
roofing. makes the galleries veritabe hothouses;
while for shade in the grounds, there is
practically none TO be found. But the most
deadly place of all is undoubtedly the trottoir
roulant, or rolling platform. The absence of all
hA Ev6i of
ings and the reflection Of heat are sufficient TO
.ause most serious sickness. especially among
crowd OF visitors already overtired, overheated,
and consequently predisposed to sunstroke.
Needless TO say that the financial condition of
the rolling platform is far from 1ourishing. and.
as last straw. it appears that the city of Paris
IS bringing an action against the platform COM
pany (for it is a private speculation) for the
uagatelle sum of $4,000 francs. or $4,000, for
contravening the Public Conveyances Act.
What the result will be is difficult to foretell,
but the companys shares shrinking to al
most nothing.
The falling of in the anticipated attendance
has the natural result of reducing the price of
entrance tickets which to-day at So CEN
times, or seven cents each: and. obedient TO the
law Of supply and demand, there is no reason
why one should not see before the end Of the
Exposition entrance tickets being sold officially
for 10 centimes, or two cents each.
Il must not be forgotten that 65.O00,O00 tickets
have been issued-a1 immense number If we
coasdlt former Expositions it is found that there
were 100000 visitors in 1850. 100000 in
1867. 100000 in 1878 and 100000 in 1889.
The number of tickets issued for this year is,
therefore. more than double that Of the last Ex
position-a seemingly rash increase when every
thing is considered.
These 65,000,000 tickets represent average
Of 561 900 entrances i day, since the Exposition
is to remain open for six months; but this aver
age has been greatly increased by the fact that
the Exposition will remain open twenty days
longer; that is. 10 November ), and that the
average attendance up TO the present has fallen
far short of the average required. The
IhOTities evidently hope TO force the sale of
tickets by requiring five for entrance TO the fetes
De mutt. Even allowing for the latter, the falling
off in attendance IS far too considerable to al
low all the tickets TO be used UP. Indeed, it is
calculated that the average of over 100000
paying admissions a day would be necessary to
exhaust the supply Of tickets. whereas the total
admissions 10y ticket on July "a were only
11530l
II is true that on Sundays and certain festivals
the number Of visitors has been over 100000,
but these are exceptional cases, and, happening
not more frequently than one day in seven, can
not possibly bring the number up to the average
required.
At the same time 1t must be confessed that
Paris is a wonderful city in the amount Of at
traction it exercises over all peoples. and. hope
Jess the statistical reasoning appears, il is
always possible by some mysterious freak Of
fortune or popularity that Paris may yet jugge
successfully with her entrance tickets in one
hand and the paying admissions in the other.
Although undoubtedly in a state of decadence,
Paris is still the capital Of the civilized world,
the sanctuary Of art and beauty, to whose shrine
very one dreams Of making a pilgrimage and
the mysterious city, in which human imagtna
ton has concreted all the JOY of existence. One
wishes. not as it used 10 be said Of Naples.
'see Naples and die" but to see Paris in order
% get more out Of life and to endeavor to dis
cover the wonderful secret that prevents Paris
and France from consUmmating that decay,
physical moral artistic and commercial, which
is so evident discerning mind; but Paris still
retains sufficient vitality TO charm the crowd.
In this connection the following figures, en-
hracing z period Of half a century, inter-
esting. as giving the comparative results Of the
great Ex2ositions which have attracted inter
rational curiosity:
Expenses Deficit.
Year Francs. visitors. Francs.