The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-09-29

New York, Sept. 29-No city ever has
INDUCED in holidaying on such an
elaborate scale as has New York dur
ing the past week in celebrating the
memory of Hudson and Fulton. The
days of the four great parades have
been practically holidays and during
the remainder of the week it has been
difficult for the average man to pay
much attention to business so great
have been the demands of hospitality
and the attractions of the various pub
lie and private entertainments that
have occupied every moment of the
time. In addition to the expenses of
the various public committees in charge
Of different features of the celebration
which have amounted to more than ST.
100000, it is estimated that the ex-
penditures of private citizens for bunt-
ing, flags and other decorations have
been at least S250,0O0 with 100000
added for the cost of illuminating pri-
waite edifices. Probably $4,000, 900 or
more has been expended for seats on
grand stands. in windows overlooking
the parades and on excursion boats for
the naval spectacles. 1t is impossible
to estimate the amount paid out to
railroads, hotels, restaurants and shops
on account Of the celebration, but $780,
100000 would be a conservative esti-
mate The theatres and other places
Of amusement have reaped a golden
harvest running into the millions while
the item of private entertainments.
dinners, balls, motor parties, and sim
liar events represent an equal expense.
When to this Is added the expenditure
by the national government and for
eign nations in securing the attendance
OF the huge feet OF warships, IL will
be seen that the outlay in connection
with the celebration cannot have been
less than $30,00O,000 and may easily
have been almost twice that figure.
Such an unconsidered item as the fir
ing Of salutes from the various ships
OF the fleets Is said to have represent
ed an expense of 800 900 or more.
That New York may soon become a
city of sightless people is the most
striking fact in the remarkable report,
the first of it's kind, ust compiled by
the tenement house department. Ac-
cording to this report, which reveals
condition undreamed OF heretofore,
there are in this city no less than
3,775,346 persons The ~eport shows
that there are 101,117 rooms which are
used for living purposes without a
single window. These rooms house
more than a quarter Of a million peo-
pie, the great majority of whom, espe-
cially among the women, never see the
light of day except on rare and brief
occasions. AS result of this living
In darkness local experts assert that
the effect will be similar to that pro-
duced in the fish living In the waters
of the famous Mammoth cave in Ken
tuchy, which never being exposed to
the hight have as result entirely lost
their organ OF sight. That the effect
Of similar conditions in the case OF
human beirgs would be practically the
same liz the assertion which has led to
the prediction OF sightless New York
unless these conditions are promptly
remedied. IT is not a stretch OF the
Imagination indeed to picture New
York of the future as inhabited by a
race of sightless cave jewellers since in
25,O43 OF the city's 102,897 tenernents
families live in teh basement or sub
basement. More than one-fourth of
the tenements covered by the report,
In which rs per cent OF the city's
population lives, are Of old construc-
tion with dark halls numbering in
addition to the 101,117 rooms entirely
unlit by daylight 263,0O0 additional
rooms insufdciently lighted Three
quarters OF the entire city population
fa In n
the report, which covers all kinds
housing two or more families.