Evening star., 1939-07-16
Fifty Years Ago
In the Star

the discovery OF Amer
Riyols for lea by Columbus was
Worlds Foir projected fifty years ago.
The chief competitors
for the honors and proft-if. any-were
New York and Washington. The Star of
July 10, 1889, discusses this matter as
follows:
The two principal grounds advanced
by the New York papers for holding the
great international exposition Of 1892 in
that city are that it has greater popu-
lation than any other and the most
hotels. These facts are admitted. They
are, however, worth nothing as applied to
this case.
First, as to the hotels They are
numerous and some of them are very
large. 1t is we'll known, however, by
those familiar with the matter that in
capacity they are no more than equal to
York season and could, therefore, do
comparatively little toward accommo-
dating an extra crowd.
"As to the population claimed for New
York, 1t is there and it could undoubtedly
be counted upon to furnish good many
visitors to an exhibition, if means could
be provided for carrying them to it. The
proposed exposition is not, however, in
tended as local attraction only, but for
the benefit of the people of the whole
country and of other countries. These
are the elements to be taken into ac-
count, not the local population. But
the fatal objections to New York are the
shape of the city, the want of suitable
grounds within easy reach for the neces-
sary buildings and the absolute impossi-
bility Of transporting from the city to
the exhibition grounds the immense
crowds sure to be in attendance. The
elevated and surface roads of New York
are now taxed to their utmost every day,
as everybody knows, to carry the ordi-
nary travel between the upper and lower
portions of the city. How then could
they be expected to handle an interna-
tional crowd? 1t is absolutely out of the
question. So far, indeed, from being the
best place in the country for such an
exhibition, New York is the very worst.
tions are different and are in the highest
degree favorable for such an occasion.
AS was demonstrated last Inauguration
time, the whole city is able and willing
to convert itself at once into a vast ac-
commodation camp, where all-coming
strangers can be comfortably enter
tained and at the most reasonable
prices This is fact of the very great
est Importance and well known to the
country. In addition to this general
spirit of accommodation, the hotels of
Washington will be ample in numbers
and capacity. Several new ones have
been built during the past year, others
are in the course of construction and
still others are being greatly enlarged.
Yet more will be built in time for the
event, some of them large permanent
structures and others temporary in chars
acter but well adapted for the purpose
they are intended to serve Then again,
transportation facilities from every part
of the country by rail and steamer are
ample to meet any demand and in quail
ity the very best.
"But the great and controlling advan-
tage presented by Washington is the
central and accessible location she is
able to offer for the necessary exposition
buildings. Pleasantly situated, with the
most delightful surroundings, they can
be quickly reached by street railway lines
and cabs from every quarter and they
are, furthermore, within easy walking
distance of every thickly settled section
of the city. Aside from the above, and
score of other reasons to be advanced
showing that the seat of government is
the natural and proper place for such an
exhibition, the last-named consideration
alone outweighs everything that can be
said In favor Of New York"