The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-05
COST OF LIVING
IS GIVEN BOOST
There Was Nothing Free or
Cheap About Washington
at Inauguration.
EVERYBODY is GREEDY
Many Hardy Bank Roll Suffers
Utter Collapse During
Day.
Especial to The Times-Dlspatch.J

Especial to The Times-Dlspatch.]
Washington, March 4.-Oli Mr.. High
ost-uf-Living seized upon the inaug-
uration throngs to-day and put such n
dent in their individual pocketbooks
that the induction of Woodrow Wilson
into the presidential Office is likely to
20 down TO postcrity as q sad reminder
or the grecdincss OF Washington bust
ness men
Sandwiches. which ordinarily retail
at a iiickel. jumped 10 q quarter. under
the Aladdin-like touch OF the vendors;
lunchoons tserved in the stands) com
manded prices that made the purchas-
ers Eroan while the rates charged for
seating accommodations from which to
review the parade brought utter col
lapse to many Z: hardy bank roll. Even
window space along the limo OF march
was sold ut a kings ransom.
These soaring prices are directly at
tributable 10 the desire OF Washing
tonians To -ecoup their donations to tho
Inauguration fund "a feat the moro
difficult by reason of President Wilson's
elimination of the inaugural ball, which
formerly brought in enough profit TO
dcfray all expenses OF the civic organi-
zation. Every man who held a conccs-
sion this year. therefore. valued il only
second to his health aud put prices up
on it accordingly.
seats Cnmc High.
Seats In the grandstands, formerly
retailing at from 90 cents TO 81 4 per
son. rose in an easily gliding scale 10
from g to $40. according to the pros
perity of the prospective purchasers
Seats In single windows ranged from
So 10 $50 head. while whole windows
were only TO be enjoyed and purchased
by captains Of industry or owners OF
OIL heldn. or gold mines in successful
operation.
whole window. current quotations
mr.
and rooms ran up To $1,000 apiece. The
$1,000 room, OF course. had at least two
windows therein. Even windows in
h!do streets giving only a side view OF
the parade. brought their owners from
S25 10 $50.
To take care OF the hundreds of
thousands OF visitors. the capital had
been transformed. into a fairy city OF
crandstan1s rising tier upon tier along
the line OF march OF the parade, and
before the Capitol the stands filled
every opening. such as parks. and paw
cd courts and even chung 10 the side OF
the buildings
AS much preparation was made for
the erection OF these reviewing stands
as for the building OF "a great Office
structure Architects prepared the
plans, the drawings were submitted
10 the District OF Columbia government
for examination TO determine whether
or not they were in conformity with
the building regulations, engineers
superintended the actual construction.
and expert carpenters and mechanics
executed the fitting, placing and fast
cning OF the timbers and planks
The court OF honor was the most Inn
posing OF these temporary buildings.
This court was composed OF two long
grandstands butt on opposite sides
OF Pennsylvania Avenue, directly in
front of the White House These
stands We're as complete and present
able in every detail rs the famous race
track grandstands at Auteil, Ascot or
Epson Downs.
The Presidents stand, in the court OF
honor, faced In the same direction as
does the White House. 1t was rem
dered more imposing by q huge white
portco in the centre. which was sup
ported by pillar In an old Colonial
style To the front OF this portico
stands the presidential box. 1t look
ed like the case OF n revolving hotel
door. without the compartments. and
was entirely screened with glass.
The stands on the opposite side Of
the street presented one long UNI
broken front TO the paradcrs. The en-
tire court was hedScd In cedar trees
temporarily planted. and presented q
beautiful study iii white and green.
Next 10 the court OF honor the most
imposing structure was that at the
cast of the pOrtico of the Capitol This