The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-23
TRANSPORTATION
SERIOUS PROBLEM
Evident That at First 1t Will Be
Almost Impossible to Handle
Crowds.
TO BE FAR BETTER LATER ON
The Government Pier Will Be
TO BE FAR BETTER LATER ON
The Government Pier Will Be
Complete and Steamers Can Be
Used to Better Advantage.

safSIfH sTowS saT sofFs,?;1afni
GROUNDS. April 22.-Two questions
loom up big In Importance to the man
agement OF the exposition officials. al
ready overburdcned with multiple
ity OF affairs.
Tho first Is how to transport in SAFE
ty the immense crowd that is expect
ed to visit the exposition from Nor
folk and tho surrounding cities, and
the second is to fathom tho momentous
questions OF accommodation for this
hungry and sleepy horde OF visitors.
There are three methods of travel
from Norfolk to the exposition: by the
electric railway systems, by the rail-
road and by water. To these may be
added a motor car line and the odds
and ends OF vehicle service. not to be
seriously considered.
1t Is estimated that no less than
$4,000 persons Will journey to the
grounds each day from Norfolk alone,
and therefore the question of Transport
tation is a serious proposition, which
Is staring the management In the face
in & menacing manner.
Mr. r. Lancaster Williams, who con-
trolls the system of electric lines Il. this
vicinity. is authority for the statement
that his roads will be able to move
$4,000 people every hour. and that on
both roads. which run directly to the
grounds. cars will be operated every
two minutes.
If this schedule We're operated: II
there were no hitch of any sort: If
there were no breakdowns and no
accidents: If, indeed, this utopian
scheme could be realized--then the
question would be solved and the evil
"bOgie" spirit would be buried secure
ely in it's grave. but--there remains
these many misechivous ifs" which
have to be reckoned with.
The breakdown of a car, tho injury
to bridge, tho falling OF a wire.
the destruction OF q section OF track.
and operation would be at a standstill
and traffic held up.
Taking Every Precaution.
For these reasons every precaution
has been taken to secure by steam,
and water other routes to tho expo
sition.
Trains will be operated every few
minutes and fleet OF steamers will
leave the city for the grounds almost
without inter1nission from early MORN
ing to late at night.
1t is therefore possible for every
NlSltOl " COuuI pOSlbbNCIy vi SCSui AaS
comforta bic transportation to and from
the exposition at every hour Of the
day
The fare charged is reasonable: from
10 cents on the cars to so cents by
motor or horse conveyance.
New wharfs have been built both at
Norfolk and at the exposition, and
every possible arrangement has been
made to provide not only for the safe
ty, but the comfort. of travellers. Adj
ditional inspectors have been placed
on duty to prevent overcrowding the
steamers, so that there luay be no
revival OF excursion tragedies, white
the railroads have instituted sys
tom of loading which seggregates q
carload of people and prevents over
crowding Of trains.
Hotels Everywhere.
Regarding hotels there would seem
to be accommodation for the nations
OF the earth. for on every corner IN
Norfolk. in every town and village
that surrounds Hampton Roads. hotels
have sprung up like mushrooms, some
Of them stately and imposing struc-
lures, others llimsy and cheap. but All
with high sounding names and equal
ly high scale OF prices.
Nothing save an epidemic can Keep
the bonifaces and boarding-house keep
ers from reaping u harvest during the
next seven months, and woo betide the.
visitor who fares to these
parts with lean purse and ideas OF
expenses
The charges range from $50 day
for the use of room and bath to as
low as $3.50 far the use Of small
room, with no bath in sight; and In
no instance does this include food
Hero and there appear notices OF rooms
Mt cheaper rate. but alas! the rooms
arc always, 1t Is said, occupied, and
only those ntan higher price are found
vacant. Even the boarding-hou have
advanced their prices to more than
double. and the people who live and do
business III this neishborhood are in
the tolls of advanced charges, except
those who. like the wise virgins, trim
mod their lamps in time and made con-
tracts to sleep and eat beyond the pe-
riod of the exposition, Pathetic stories
are related OF boarding house keepers
who, months ago. made such contracts,