The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-02-28
Expected That Fifteen Per Cent
More Will Come Over This
Year Than Usual on Ac-
count of Worlds Fair.
OUTGOING TRAVEL LIGHTER.
Majority of Agents Believe st.
Louis Attraction Will Keep
Many Americans at Home
Who Otherwise Would
Go Abroad.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
New York. Feb. 27.-The attraction of
the St. Louis Worlds Fair Is already be-
ginning to make itself felt In the large
increase in the number OF advauc book
ings of passages from the other side this
summer, over similar figures at this time
last year.
Inquiries at the offices Of all the large
steamship companies to-day brought out
the fact that there will in all probability
be a greater influx of visitors from abroad
during the coming spring and summer
months than ever before.
Nj. Rene Grignon. the Paris agent of
the French Line. who was over here last
week, reported an extraordinary interest
in the Exposition throughout France, and
said that from 10 to 10 per cent more peo-
pie would come over here this year than
usual.
Hundreds of Frenchmen have bought
their tickets already" said NJ. Treyvoux
this morning, and it Is too soon yet for
the rush to begin. Our Paris office has
been kept busy for the last month an
swering the letters which have come pour
Ing in asking questions about the EXPOSE
ton, and we have found it necessary to
print descriptive circulars to send out.
The fact that Franc owned the ter
ritory comprised in the Louisiana Pur-
chase. n the historical significance at
taching to the Worlds Fair, will attract
a good many people. OF course. there are
some to whom the Fair supplies merely
an added inducement to visit this country,
and many others who are curious to see
how the Exposition at St. Louis will COM
pare with the one at Paris in 1900"
SPECIAL RATES FROM GERMANY.
The NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. line has made
special prices for round-trip tickets from
all the large German cities to St. Louis
and is advertising these rates very ex-
tensively at the home offices. The Of
ficials are expecting a big increase in
their passenger lists westward during May,
June and July.
Germans are keenly interested in the
mechanical and Industrial exhibits, which
will form SO large a part of the Fair"
said a prominent official of the company,
a representatives of all the large Ger
man manufacturing houses will come over
to pick I'D new ideas in their respective
lines Of business"
"a great deal of pride is felt in the
splendid exhibit which Germany Is send
ing to the Exposition. and q very natural
interest to see how 1t with those
from other countries. Many Of my coun-
trymen, too. will take this occasion to
visit their friends and relatives over
here"
Mr.. Gustav Schwab. agent of the North
German Lloyd, thought it was much too
early at present to make any predictions
as to the outlook for the summer. There
will undoubtedly be some increase in pas
senger traffic this way. due to the Fair"
he said. but Just how large that will
be, I should not venture to say. We have
not received as yet any word from our
representatives abroad concerning the
matter. end I don't look for the spring
rush for bookings to begin for another
month. I should say, however, that from
10 to Is per cent increase over the normal
amount would be about correct
OUTGOING TRAVEL LIGHTER.
Concerning the outgoing travel it ap-
pears from present indications that it will
not be SO large this summer as for the
past years. The collapse of Wall street
values n the general slump in all sorts
Of securities Is one reason for this. and
the Exposition itself is another.
Its a poor rule that will not work both
ways" as one official Of tha White Star
Line put it. What brings people over
here from abroad is very likely to keep
those here at home. This is especially true
in the case of those who nave to count
the cost pretty carefully before they make