Omaha daily bee., 1898-07-31
COST OF SEEING THE FAIR
Estimate Of the Expense for a Modest Pair o
Visitors.
DECENTLY DONE FOR TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS
Spend n Week Comfortably In Omaha,
See the whole show and Have
Every Day on II
for that Figure.

All over the the great west and pretty
we'll all over the country, for that matter,
thousands are asking, What will it cost to
see the exposition at Omaha from start to
finish; to see it all?"
The chances are that IL 100 persons were
asked that question 100 different replies
would be received and each would be correct.
This divergence is all due to the point of
view" The man with plenty of money who
is out for a good time can easily spend hun
dreds of dollars during a weeks stay in
Omaha and spend a large portion of it on
the exposition grounds, while the poor devil
who has an earnest desire to see the wonders
of the exposition, with next to nothing in
his pocket, can easily get along on what
the rich man would give away as tips to
those who serve him in the course of a
single day.
There has never been n great exposition
in the United States where the instances Of
extortion were so few or where 1t was posi-
Bile to see everything in a decent, comforta-
BILE manner, without unnecessary expense or
humiliating economy, at a less cost than
right here in Omaha.
Suppose a man and his wife wish to come
to Omaha Monday morning and leave Satur-
day night, spending every day at the exposi-
ton and seeing everything in each others
company. This couple will be old enough
to be steady and young enough to be curious
about what they see, and to want to see it
all. They may come to Omaha early Monday
morning, remain during the entire week, live
comfortably, see the exposition every day
and visit nearly every show on the Midway,
and when Saturday night comes they again
stand at the depot waiting for the outgoing
train, somewhat tired, perhaps, and glad to
be going home, but happy. A little calcula-
ton viii show the husband that he and his
better half have spent the week pleasantly
for $25. This does not include railroad fare,
since there is no way to tell what that would
be-. Here is the expense account for the
week, and bear in mind that every item is
figured on the basis of two people; for one
it would be much less: Lodging, So; break
fast, So; lunch, $1.S0; supper, SO; car fare,
1.2O; admission, Sc; Midway, 81. Total, $40.
How This Is Done.
There are hundreds of rooms in Omaha
where two people may lodge for So a week.
These rooms are airy and clean, in respect
able neighborhoods and within a block or
two, if not directly on, the street car line;
they have every convenience, and while not
p~alatial, are certainly good enough for any
one. The visitor may save trouble by con-
sulting the columns of The Bee and engag-
ing a room before coming, although it will
not take long to find a suitable place after
reaching the city.
Both will ride to and from the grounds
each day, going in at any entrance they
please and taking any car line. This will
take 20 cents a day or $1.2O for the time
they are in the city, making the expenses
foot up so far $4.20. The admission to the
grounds is so cents each, 81 a day for the
49, 90 r.. H. ,Y1,Iy r.htnh rims tho
expense account up to 5000. Next comes
the question of food. There are a lumber
Of places in the city and on the exposition
grounds, quiet and clean, where a very good
meal, nicely served, can be gotten for %
cents; this will include coffee, meat, vegeta-
bles and sweets of some kind. Allow then
our two friends 25 cents each for breakfast
and supper and it will be Sc a week for the
two meals for both, and the expense &C
count has grown to $16.20.
Thirty cents a day for lunch for two
seems little enough, yet it can be managed
on the grounds very decently. More elabor-
ate meals may be obtained, but the modest
individual can be accommodated at a reason
able price. For this calculation the lunch
bill is figured at 80 cents a day, or $3.50 for
the week.
1t is possible to visit every attraction on
the Midway for $3.50, and to spend any
amount of money purchasing the curious
and beautiful things exhibited. If, how
ever, the stranger and his wife wish to
visit only a few of the principal shows and
listen to the music without imbibing quaint
ties of beer, they can take it all in for 81
easily; this will include a ride on the lagoon
and reserved seats at the fireworks and
band concerts.
OF course they are not supposed to visit
everything during one evening. To do so
would be wearisome and half the effect of
the Midway, which Is in the lights and shift
ing crowds. would be lost in the rush to
get through the trip. A few attractions
can be visited each night and thoroughly
enjoyed and thus the fun stretched out
through the week.
All this, mind you, has cost only $25, eX-
| elusive of railroad fare, little enough surely
During this time the two visitors have been
able to live comfortably and enjoy them
selves thoroughly and il they have any
fault to find with either Omaha or the
Transmississippi and Industrial Exposition
it must lie in themselves and their capacity
for appreciation, and not in Omaha or the
show.