The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-11-13
Slimly Attended Illuminated
Fete Marked the End.
BUILDINGS ALL IN BAD CONDITION
Could Not Withstand Winter Storms and
All Are TO BE Demolished mt Once-Oyer
50.680, 900 People saw the sights Dur
ins Year-Paris Well Il epaid for Expenai-
fnres-The Closing scenes Baiiins seize
Sideshows-shipping Home Treasures.

Paris. Nov. 12-The booming OF a can
non from the first story of the Eiffel Tow
er tonight announced that the exposition
OF 1890 had ceased to exist. II ended IN a
blaze Of illumination. the final evening be-
ing celebrated by a night fete The at
tendance, however, was small, visitors be-
ing kept away by cold, drizzling rain
fall
The wisdom of the authorities in refus-
ing to prolong the exposition further. as
was warmly urged in many quarters a
little time ago. was Yindicated by an ex-
animation to-day OF the buildings. Many
were found in a Iamentable condition,
even the official structures lacking much
CT the original stCcco and paint, while
several foreign paVili0ns, chiefly of plas-
ter construction. demonstrate the fiimsy
character of work that is unequal 10 bat
Ting with autumn winds and humidity. TO
say nothing. of winter storms The idea
OF their permanent retention is absurd.
Official statistics show that the ExDosi-
tion was gigantic success from the point
of view of attendance. which was double
that of the Exposition of 1859. when 25.-
1El9s5 passed the gates When the gates
of the Exposition of 1900 closed this even
ing more than 100000 persons had passed
through. The British and Belgians head
ed the list in 1889 in point of numbers: but
this year the Germans were first and the
Belgians second. with the British far be-
hind. Americans also formed very no.
ticeable contingent. Indeed they were i'm
measurably more numerous than at the
previous Exposition. The record paying
day this year brought out more than Co.,
600 visitors, as compared with a maximum
Of 3S5,3T in 1850
STREET Ticket Hawkers Iucen.ed.
This evening tickets which had brought
a sou in the afternoon were sold at the
rate OF five for a sou. A curious scene
was witnessed at the exposition gates
shortly before 6 o'clock. when the author
lied ticket bureau, which earlier In the
day had been selling tickets for two sous,
reduced the price to one. The street
hawkers. indignant at this. attached cards
to their coats inscribed, "Give you a tick
Ell for nothing" For time cz5fTIsfCS= be-
tween the street hawkers and the en-
ployes OF the exposition seemed likely to
result, but the police interyened and
averted trouble NJ Hanotaux, former
minister of foreign affairs, in an article
entitled "The Balance Sheet of the Ex-
position" says:
France expended two or three hundred
millions of francs to erect the Exposi-
ton. She has recovered them easily in
the Increase of the treasury receipts,
which for this year alone Is nearly 10o, ,0O0,-
0OG francs; In the surplus of Partisan oe-
troi duties. In the monuments remaining
to the state or the city, and in the quays,
bridges, and improved transportation ia
cilities bequeathed by the Exposition
Moreover, there has been a general toilet
or the city, which has contributed to its
brilliance and beauty
Art Palaces Only 70 Remain.
The work OF removing the exhibits be-
gan after midnight. No vestige Will be
left of the great exposition except the
immense hothouses on the north hank
of the Seine and the art palaces. The
prefect of the Seine submitted to the
municipal council today a scheme TO de-
molish all the buildings on the Champs
de Mars and Trocadero. The center of
the grounds will be maintained in the
form Of gardens for the establishment
of the city, while the wide border Will be
sold for building lots for the erection of
mansions and hotels The state is asked
to abandon its right to use the site for
future expositions.
The closing days Of the exposition have
been marked by wholesale bailiff seizures
OF the properties of a number Of conces-
sion holders, chiefly restaurant-keepers
and proprietors of sideshOws. who have
failed TO meet their financial obligations.
shipping Home Exhibits.
The exposition authorities contract for
the demolition of the American pavilion
provides for its disappearance at an early
period Work will be begun almost i'm
mediately. and Commissioner General
Peck has arranged with the railroad com
rany 10 provide for the rapid transporta-
ton 10 Havre OF the national exhibits for
shipping en- board the United States auxil-
iary cruiser Prairie, which Is expected 10
arrive there shortly
The railroad company will place several
cars at the United States commissions
disposal. All the fittings, &C.. of the
American constructions will be sold at
auction as soon as possible. Low prices
will be realized. The handsome faesdes
which cost large sums originally. will
fetch very little money. The bids thus
far received are Insignificant. The Amer
lean building of the machinery annex, at
Vincennes, built through the generosity
OF a few American exhibitors. has been
sold, with its power plant, to a Man
chester firm.
AVN. nnA~E <.E.AN