The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-01-08
WHAT THE EXHIBITS COST.
Important Element In the Expense Of
the Worlds Fair.

. Enormous Sum In the Aggregate.
American Exhibitors Alone Claim to
Have Spent over $4,000, ooo-It
Was All Paid to Secure Publicity
and Demonstrates That Advertising
Pays.
From the Louisville Courier-Journal
In the estimates of the enormous cost
of the Worlds Columbian Exposition the
expense of individual exhibits has not
been considered in the $50, 55s, $40 ex-
pended by the directors 1t will sur
prise many persons to know that Ameri-
can exhibitors claim to have spent from
$50, 0O0, 600 to SIS. 200, 900 at the fair. This
does not include the cost or the value of
the goods which they placed on exhibit
ton. A writer in the Chicago Herald,
after making some inquiries, thinks the
statement is not improbable. On the
other hand, he says, the figures are likely
to be too small rather than too large.
There were %, 440 distinct American ex-
hibits in the several buildings. The
ownership of about 1900 of these was
duplicated; that is, this number of ex-
hibitS belonged to exhibitors who were
represented in more than one building.
Thus the actual number of American ex-
hibitors was about 10000 These figures
are the result of inquiries by the Ameri-
can Exhibitors Association.
Maj. Pangborn, president of the associ-
alton, says further that about one-half of
the American exhibits were what are
termed 'still" exhibits-set up in cases
or booths and left without supervision.
OF the remaining 10000 half, he says,
were combined and cared for in groups
firms would employ one person to repre-
sent them. There were actually 5000 ex-
hibits in the immediate charge of some
responsible member Of the exhibiting
firm or the individual owner. 1t is Mai.
Pangborn's opinion that the average ex-
pense of each of the %, 440 exhibits was
not less than 81 900, total of more than
$22, 900, 000 Careful inquiry seems to in
dicate that the estimate is none too high,
and probably falls considerably below the
actual figures.
There are many elements which enter
into tie expense, emitting in all cases the
cost of goods themselves. Every eXhib-
itor was required to make some prepara-
ton for the installation of his goods.
From platform and show case these
preparations ran through all the grada-
tions to the elaborate and expensive pa
vllions which were found in manufact-
ures and liberal arts building To the
cost of transportation to and from the
fair must be added the expense of in
stallation and maintenance, the latter
item involving the expense of employees
and management. The railroad fares of
the principals and assistants, their hotel
bills and other like expenditures were
no small sums. Some exhibitors do not
hesitate to say that they bought hun
dreds of admission tickets for visitors and
cracked many bottle of champagne at
dinner parties and over bars Bread was
set atoat on many tempting sea with
the expectation that it will come back
after not many days. Some of these items
may not be considered as belonging in the
list of legitimate expenses, but they rep
resent money out of pocket, spent for
the same purpose for which the exhib-
itors came to the fair-to advertise their
wares.
Chief Allison. of the department of
manufactures, has undertaken to get
accurate figures covering what may be
called legitimate expenses. They may be
incorporated in his final report to the di-
rector general. He sent circular few
days ago to each exhibitor in his depart
ment, asking for a detailed statement.
About IL per cent. have sent inrepIies to
date. They tend to prove the statement
that 81 900 is a low average
Independently of this inquiry by Mr..
Allison, a large number of exhibitors,
representing both those who have spent
the most money and the least, were asked
for figures. A limited number, who were
compelled to observe the strictest eco
nomy without regard to results, Joined
hands and purses in putting up a booth or
showcase, and spent but little. The ma
1ority of the smallest exhibitors paid out
not less than 5000 for booths and plat
forms and usually $500. He who spent
less had but little to exhibit. What
might be classed among the cheap booths
ran up in cost to $4,000 each. A piano
maker, in the liberal arts section, paid
this last sum for pavilion covering
twenty square feet of space. which he
will sell for anything he can get. He ex-
poets to give it away. When an exhibit
has had the services of an attendant this
has added not less than $500 to the ex-
pense. In general, pavilions and booths
are worth nothing now to the exhibitor,
and there is no salvage with which to
credit the account.
Among those who made the most at
tractive displays in the Manufactures
building there are many who spent hand
some fortunes for the average man. The.
pavilion at the American corner, near
the clock tower, cost between S35, 900 and
$40, 900. This was paid by the three firms
occupying it, The one having the largest
Vi space III btl1S pavilion spent, &C
cording to its manager, all told, between
$780, 900 and 100000. From twelve to
fourteen men were constantly employed
and, with an eye to economy, house
was rented just outside the grounds and
this force occupied it.
Another iewelry firm in the American
section paid $25, 900 for its pavilion, but
expects to sell it for about So 900. The
entire cost of preparation, installation
and maintenance has been 800 600.
One of the sewing machine companies,
which has exhibits in three buildings, is
said, on the authority of one of its
directors, to have paid out $3.50, 900
before it was ready for visitors. 1t has
kept force of twenty-five to eighty
employees on the grounds during the en-
tire fair, and has given away an immense
amount of expensive cards, pictures and
other mementoes
A clock company paid SO, 800 for its pa
Wilton and 81 300 for electric light fix
lures, and has kept two men with the
exhibit continually. The total expense is
estimated by the company TO have been
$50. 900.
The silk and wooden men built a grave
yard along Columbia avenue and the
black tombs in which they installed their
goods cost 81, 200 each. The only salvage
is in the plate glass windows, which were
being sold yesterday for 81 each The cot
ton goods cases, just to the south, cost
still more. but the exhibitors have the