Music Trade Review

June 5th, 1881.
MUSICAL
CRITIC AND TRADE
REVIEW.
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142 Music Trade Review THE
A WORLD'S FAIE IN BOSTON.
HE World's Fair meeting at the Hotel Vendome, Boston, on the evening
of the 25th inst, was, in point of numbers and enthusiasm at least, a
T
great success. A general managing committee of one hundred well-known
I make the statement with confidence that if necessary 100,000 more
han the present population can be accommodated within the city limits and
ts connecting suburbs. But in 1885, with the large Railroad Hotel, the-
temporary hotels and buildings erected specially for the occasion, in addi-
ion to present accommodations, and there cannot be a shadow of doubt as-
;o the amply supply to meet all demands. The accommodations of Phila-
delphia were estimated at from 70,000 to 80,000.
' merchants of that city was appointed. Letters were read from the Governors
of the other New England States and from prominent merchants and manu-
facturers, offering aid to the project. Speeches were made by the Hon. J.
W. Chandler, W. H. Lincoln, M. P. Kennard, 0. A. Richards, John C.
PARTICIPATION OF EXHIBITORS.
Paige and others. The principal address of the evening was delivered by
It
has
been
suggested
that, on account of the shortness of time since the-
General C. B. Norton; the substance of it is given below:
Centennial, that exhibitors would not participate. The result, as shown in
the Paris Exposition, 1878, Sydney Exhibition, 1879, and Melbourne Ex-
ADDRESS OF GENERAL NORTON.
hibition just closed, does not indicate any thing of the kind. On the con-
The first point for consideration is the proper time at which such an ex- trary, the exhibits of every country, except our own, were larger in propor-
hibition should take place, and the reasons for the date; some of our friends tion at these exhibitions than at the Centennial. I make the assertion, and
having suggested 1892, and others 1883. Experience has shown that four believe it capable of proof, that we owe to the Centennial Exhibition, in a,
years is not too extended a period in which to prepare so great a work. Even very large degree, our present nourishing condition of trade; and, so far as
at the Centennial, with all the persistent effort made, the exhibition was not I have been able to ascertain from manufacturers themselves, this is an ad-
really in complete running order till July. There seems no reason for any mitted fact, Although foreign buyers were but lightly represented, yet,
longer postponement than 1885. The celebration of the discovery of through those keen, observing men sent out officially by foreign Govern-
America by Christopher Columbus in 1492 will doubtless be carried out; but ments, and through the agency of able foreign correspondents, attention was-
there is no good ground for a postponement of a practical business under- called to our improvements, our inventions, and our better methods of
taking for the sake of sentiment. Should we not hold our International manufacture. This led to agents being sent to this country; our agents be-
Exhibition in the United States in 1885, it is more than probable, from cur- ing sent abroad; the publication of trade journals; and last, but not least>.
rent report, that Great Britain will do so, and we should lose the advantage. the printing monthly, by the State Department of the United States, of
As the center of the great manufacturing industries of New England, Boston reports upon our trade with foreign nations, and how best to increase that
is entitled to the World's Fair. Connected by railroad with every other part trade. All this leaven is working, and its result will be seen first in an ex-
of the United States, Mexico and Canada, there can be no difficulty in the haustive exhibit of our own products and manufactures to gain increased
transhipment of goods and visitors to such an exhibition with even greater sales, and secure an immense effort, on the part of foreign exhibitors, to
facility than either to New York or Philadelphia. To our friends from guarantee for themselves what is so rapidly passing away. The fact is, this.
abroad, the fact of the shortening of the voyage by one or two days is no World's Fair will just supplement the Centennial. It will clinch the nail
small inducement; and the establishment of the new line of steamers to cross already so well driven. The total number of American exhibitors at the
the ocean in four days, will doubtless add largely to travel from Europe. Centennial was 9,266. There are more than that number to be secured in
Taking all matters into consideration, Boston would appear to present every New England, alone if so desired.
advantage as a city for the World's Fair in 1885.
VLANS OF THE EXHIBITION.
THE FINANCIAL EXHIBIT.
The subject of cost is a grave one and should bo approached with care_
The grading and filling in of the grounds at Fairmount Park, with other But here again, gentlemen, you start under most favorable circumstances:
collateral work, cost over $500,000. This item is entirely saved in Boston. you can, to a certain extent, control and fix the expense of the World's Fair
The railroad system is already such that the exhibition building will be at the oxxtset. There will be no unknown expenses; the ground is there,
tapped by all the leading roads; and when you have completed your terminal graded, ready to be located upon to-morrow. The item of grading, filling
facilities in South Boston and the Marginal road, all goods from Europe can in, and collateral matters in Philadelphia alone amounted to over 3600,000.
be landed with double the facility secured either in Philadelphia or New You have two buildings admirably adapted for certain purposes connected
York. The grounds suggested are within a moderate walk of any part of with the World's Fair; by their use another heavy expense is saved. As-
Boston, which is a great advantage in the event of a pressure upon trans- you are aware, I have suggested the amount of $3,000,000 as all that will be-
portation facilities. Visitors will be landed directly in the building from required, under any circumstances, to carry through the proposed under-
any part of the United States. Another very important advantage is the taking. The Centennial expense account was:
fact that, through the energy of your business-men, two large and commodi-
$640,980 30
ous buildings are already in the course of erection, which, through the For grounds, grading and drainage
281,802 3»
courtesy of those in charge, can doubtless be utilized for the purposes of the For bridges and fences
5,242,295 83-
exhibition. Taking advantage of these buildings, the proposed edifice de- For buildings
359,013 50-
signed for the World's Fair would be built in a segmental form, and would For expenses Centennial Commission
303,374 37"
cover about sixty acres, or a space nearly one-fourth larger than Boston For awards,*medals, etc
Common. The proposed height of this building would be some thirty feet, For general expense account
1,995,543 78-
except at the center, where it would rise to some fifty to seventy-five. The
architecture should be simple and economical; and, doubtless, among the
Total
$8,823,310 IT
plans that will be offered, there will be at least one that will meet all emer-
Of these amounts you will please bear in mind that nearly $3,000,000-
gencies. You will please bear in mind that this building will be temporary, was expended
by the State of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia for
and that, by careful management in its construction and the choice of the Memorial and
Halls and the Machinery Building. With
materials, a considerable gain can be realized from their sale at the close of the World's Fair in Horticultural
this city I believe that it is possible to show that many
the exhibition. It is proposed that the arrangement of the exhibits shall be
the same as that adopted at the Paris International Exhibition of 1867: upon of the expenses incurred at the Centennial can be avoided, and that my esti-
a simple system of classification, which Avill admit either of the following of mate of $3,000,000 is quite enough. The distribution of this amount will be
one class through all countries, or of all classes in one country, one-half of somewhat as follows: To May, 1882, possibly $100,000; to May, 1883, $500,-
this building to be devoted to the United States, Mexico and South America, 000; to May, 1884, 81,000,000; to May, 1885, $1,000,000, leaving a reserve of
and the other half to the remaining nations of the world; the machinery $400,000.
My estimate as to income for the World's Fair is roughly about as
moved by steam power to follow the rear line of the building—the front
lacing Huntington avenue—thus saving much labor and expense in the space follows :
gained, and less distance to travel from the connecting railways. While at Five million paid admissions at 50 cents
$2,500,000-
first sight it may be imagined that such a building will not present a very
(There were over 8,000,000 at the Centennial.)
attractive appearance, I feel confident that the skill of the architect will so For concessions
and privileges
500,00ft
arrange the facade as to be in good taste and highly ornamental. In addi- For old materials
100,000
tion to the building, and within the grounds, there will be ample space for
This showing indicates a profit, but will hardly show a loss. To raise
the erection of a small cotton factory and other representative branches of
our great industries. The special advantages of this plan over the Centennial the funds for the exhibition there are several plana. First, a positive guar-
are that, once in the exhibition building, it can all be seen without th( antee fund, the parties advancing the money as a finance board to control
waste of time and labor that was required to examine over 200 separate the receipts; this board to be secured by the introduction of a popular loan,
to be known as the World's Fair loan, in shares of $10, redeemable in five
buildings erected in Fairmount Park.
years at par, no interest. General Wilson, of the New England Railroad,,
has suggested that these shares be made to represent twenty tickets of ad-
TRANSPORTATION AND ACCOMMODATION.
mission, so that the parties could utilize them in that way, and thus secure-
The arrangements for the receiving and dispatching of passengers b; the absorption of a large portion of this stock. Still another plan is to make
railway in Philadelphia were very complete, and equal upon an emergency application to the State of Massachusetts for an appropriation, and to sup-
to receiving 25,000 or sending away 10,000 per hour; the average number o plement this by a similar application to the other New England States.
daily trains for 159 weekdays was over 410, with an average of over 6 cars t( These should realize at least $1,000,000, leaving only $2,000,000 to carry.
each train, giving accommodation in the whole number of trains for ove' Such is the financial question. I have said but little about the local advan-
20,000,000 passengers. The total number of arriving passengers handled a tages to railroad and horse-car interests, to hotels, boarding and lodging-
the Centennial depots, arriving and departing, was 5,907,333. One grea
to retail and wholesale merchants, to holders of real estate, and the
advantage that we have in Boston is that the facilities for moving those re houses,
itself, All these points must commend themselves to your practical
siding in and visiting the city are equally favorable to those offered by the city
railroad. A recent estimate, secured through the agency of one of our city experience and general consideration.
journals, indicates that the present railroad facilities are equivalent to 300,
000 daily, and of course with four years in which to add to this it wouh
A prominent piano maker of West 36th street, this city, a few evening*
seem perfectly feasible to transport with ease all visitors who may attem since, temporarily forsook music for tragedy, and did enact the King on the
the World's Fair of 1885. The total number of local city passengers move* occasion of Dr. Landis recent performance of Hamlet. The P. P. M. was the
by street railways in Philadelphia, to and from the exhibition, is estimate* recipient of much applause. We wonder if, when he pronounced the lines
at 10,557,100. The largest number on any one day was 250,000. It will b_ " Heart with strings of steel," he was not, " like a man on double business
borne in mind that much the largest proportion of city travel here in Boston bound," thinking of the pianos with steel strings which he shipped the week
will be on foot, whereas in Philadelphia the foot travel was less than 2,000, before.
000. The proposed building comprises sixty acres, and to walk to one en<
Mr. C. D. Pease the well-known pianoforte manufacturer of West 43rd
and return you will have travelled over one mile; to obviate the fatigue o
this journey it is proposed to have an elevated road inside the building street, New York city, is having the handsome brown stone house, No. 24ft
upon which cars shall be moved by electricity, taking large numbers of pas West 48th street, renovated and decorated, and intends to use it as a-
sengers by continuous trains with ease and facility.
residence.