New-York tribune., 1907-12-01

to Congress. which was not overfriendly when
the exposition company was seeking its loan
There are several causes that led TO the COM
plete failure Of the show from financial point
of view On the opening day the visiting news
paper men were left to shift for themselves:
MANY notable men who were the guests of the
coupanv were unattended; there were too many
heads in the exposition company; the funds
were mismanaged and general incompetency
prevailed II is true that the government was
tardy in making its loan: the weather was bad
three months prior to the opening; labor and
material were scarce, and wages high. These
obstacles resulted IN the fair being three months
from completion when President Roosevelt, his
Cabinet and the foreign representatives arrived
on the opening day. only to find piles Of rubbish
and other unsightly conditions. The show was
advertised as the greatest exposition that ever
was held The great government piers were
featured. vet Il was September Il before they
were dedicated There Were perhaps fifteen
thousand visitors present, and when the last one
arrived home il was 1 o'clock in the morning
This gives some idea of the transportation facil
flies
II tire fair had been complete on the opening
day, the Norfolk and Portsmouth Traction Com
ranv was in no position to handle the estimated
euenoSnCe or llDuSdnu d Ods- lif t'iii-
pany controlled the trolley lines. There was one
line that ran around Ocean View, and on il Is
cents was charged as a straight fare. The other
nne was called the Terminal. and the straight
fare to the grounds was 10 cents on the
cheaper line poor service was given, so that
traffic would be thrown to the line upon which
an extra nickel was charged The company
erninently successful. for many thousands
Preferred being mucted TO remaining at the
grounds for an indefinite time. The extra
steamer lines ran at intervals. Their patronage
poor, and they quit early their hackers
losing heavily
There were internal dissensions among the
officials Of the company, and toward the last
Of summer il looked though the fair would
close. The local banks came TO the relief with
$685. 900 and the railways centring here added
$4,000 and this tided the company over The
expenses running 5000 day and thc
gate receipts were miserably small as compared
with this amount.
Local support disappointing. North Caro-
lima carried off the palm for attendance and
Georgia had more people on her day than did
the Old Dominion. Fifty thousand was great
attendance. and these days were few and far
between. Many days there not
thousand visitors present
the action Of the hotel, restaurant and lodging
house keepers. Rates were raised on everything,
and the early coners carried the news home
Then rates dropped. but It was too late; the
carnage had been done. Hosts in Norfolk and
portsmouth under the impression that
they were going to make fortune. The local
Papers fearful lest the crowds could not
be taken care of. To-day auction sales are
going and the promoters of lodging houses
are glad to sell at any price. The Victoria and
Lgnnhaven hotels. fine hostieries, are in the
hands Of receivers. and many local investors in
amusment enterprises are bemoaning the loss
OF their money.
There were too many managers of the James
'own fair. There cumbersome board Of
governors and everybody wanted to be head
ihings got TO such a stage that James NJ Barr
was asked TO become director general with
salary. Mr.. Barr. who formerly president
VI The Seaboard Air Line. accepted and said
mat he must be the whole head or nothing
Ihe board Of governors dispensed with and
.ne lat salaries were chopped. Mr.. Barr hadn't
Deen In Office long before he delegated c. w
Aonisaat 10 represent him each time a foreign
" hative cigntary the guest of the fair
marry ST. George Tucker, the president of the
sOnipahy. had been performing this duty. and
-'e declined TO give way to Kohlsaat and there
as Z social war Mr. Barr resigned. He was
Aeo 10 reconsider. but declined His resigna-
~s' was accepted, and Alvah II. Martin sue
leu Mn Mr. Martin is a Norfolk County
eeaacaan end holds the ofsaco OF County Clerk.