Iowa and the 1893 Chicago Worlds Fair rumor mill

There was a good deal of excitement in the Midwest and elsewhere during April of 1893 as The World's Columbian Exposition, the most spectacular of all the worlds fairs of the era, prepared to open on May 1 in Chicago.

That was especially true in Chariton, where its leading entrepreneur --- Smith H. Mallory (left) --- was serving as chair of the Executive Committee of the Iowa Columbian Commission, in charge of planning and creating the Iowa Building (above) and the displays contained therein. He also served as superintendent of the Iowa Building and moved temporarily to Chicago with his family for several months to oversee it. You can read more about that here, at a post entitled "Iowa shows off at the 1893 Chicago Worlds Fair."

But there was a good deal of misinformation about the fair circulating, too, and as opening day approached, H. N. Higinbotham, president, called upon the newspapers of the nation and other media to correct misunderstandings --- the rumor that there would be fees for drinking water and toilet use, for example.

The following was published in The Chariton Patriot of April 26. Drinking water would be free, as it turned out, but for a penny a glass visitors also could partake of Hygeia Water, piped directly to the fairgrounds from the Hygeia Spring in Big Bend, Wisconsin:

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World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, March 30, 1893 --- To the Public: Because of many misrepresentations and misstatements relative to Exposition management and affairs being in circulation through the press and otherwise, both in this country and abroad, and in reply to many letters of inquiry or complaint touching the same matters, it seems advisable that some official statement regarding them should be made public. Therefore I respectfully ask that the widest publicity be given to the following facts:

1. The Exposition will be opened in readiness for visitors May 1.

2. An abundance of drinking water, the best supplied to any great city in the world, will be provided free to all. The report that a charge will be made for drinking water probably arose from the fact that hygeia water can also be had by those who may desire it at one cent a glass.

3. Ample provisions for seating will be made without charge.

4. About 1,500 toilet rooms and closets will be located at convenient points in the buildings and about the grounds, and they will be absolutely free to the public. This is as large a number in proportion to the estimated attendance as has ever been provided in any exposition. In addition to these there will also be nearly an equal number of lavatories and toilet rooms of a costly and handsome character as exhibits, for the use of which a charge of five cents will be made.

5. The admission fee of 50 cents will entitle the visitor to see and enter all the Exposition buildings, inspect the exhibits, and, in short, to see everything within the Exposition grounds, except the Esquimau Village and the reproduction of the Colorado cliff dwellings. For these as well as for the special attractions on Midway Plaisance a small fee will be charged.

6. Imposition or extortion of any description will not be tolerated.

7. Free Medical and emergency hospital service is provided on the grounds by the Exposition management.

8. The Bureau of Public Comfort will provide commodious free waiting rooms, including spacious ladies parlors and toilet rooms, in various parts of the grounds. 

H. N. Higinbotham, President