The San Francisco call., 1901-11-03
CLOSING NIGHT
Of EXPOSITION
Buglers Sound Taps as
the Lights Are Shut
Off for Good.
stockholders Suffer a Loss
Of Several Million
Dollars.

BUFFALO. N. Y. Nov. 2.-Thes Pan
American Exposition ended at Il o'clock
tonight. At midnight President John G.
Milburn pressed an electric button and
the lights in the famous electric tower
grew dim for the last time. Slowly one
py one the lights on post and pinnacle and
tower faded away. A corps Of buglers
standing in the tower sounded taps" as
one of the greatest glories of the exposi-
ton, the electrical illumination, passed
away. and the exposition was ended.
The exhibition has not been a financial
success, but the benefits derived from 1t
Will be of great value to the commercial
interests OF the country. The primary OBJ
Ject of the exposition was to advance the
friendly relations and commercial inter-
course between the United States and the
other countries of the two Americas. In
this respect it has been decided sue
cess.
The financial loss will be in the neigh
borhood OF $3,OOO,0O0. The statement to be
issued by the officers of the exposition
setting forth the expenditures and re-
ce1ptS Will be made public some time this
month. Until then the company will make
no formal statement. The loss will fall
upon the holders of the common stock
the holders of second mortgage bonds and
the contractors who erected the buildings.
Two hundred and ten thousand shares of
common stock were sold at $40 share.
The stock was subscribed for by the cit
izens of Buffalo and the Niagara frontier
In small lots of from one share to 10O so
that the loss will not be severely felt by
any one.
Stockholders Make No Complaint.
No complaint has been heard from the
holders OF common, who appreciate the
benefit the exposition has been to the
city. There is also a feeling of satisfac-
ton that the enterprise was carried to
successful end without State or Federal
aid: The f1rst-moTgage bonds, amounting
to $500, 900, will be paid in full. An issue
of $500, 900 second-mortgage bonds is un-
provided for, but the revenue from salv-
age and buildings and from other sources
will probably cover part of this indebt-
edness. The remainder due to contractors
is not definitely known, but it is said that
1t represents their profits for the work
done, and no one will be severely embar-
raSSed by the loss.
An average of 100000 admissions a
month had been figured on by the exposi-
ton officials. The great snowstorm Of
last April was severe blow to the expo
sit1on. An immense S.mOunt of work was
undone and work on the grounds and
buildings was delayed for a week. Siren
uous efforts We're made to make up the
work remained undone, and the formal
opening OF the exposition was. postponed
until May 20. The lamentable tragedy in
the Temple of Music was another blow
to the Pan-American. The attendance
had been increasing steadily up to the
date of the assassination of President Nc
kinney. Ine gates were closed for two
days, and when they reopened there was
a drop of Is per cent in the attendance,
and no Improvement followed.
Petty Thieving of Exhibits.
The Government exhibit, which is a
beautiful and instructive collection will
be at once shipped to Charleston.
A large crowd attended the exposition
to-day. The exhibit buildings were
jammed during the afternoon and there
was much petty thieving of exhibits by
souvenir fiendS.
The fruit and wine exhibits in the Horti-
cultural building suffered the greatest
loss from the depredations of the crowd .
and it finally became necessary to turn
the people out of the building and lock the
doors.
There was veritable riot on the mid
way this afternoon. The disorder started
from a quarrel between an intoxicated
man and a waiter. The crowd took the
part of the stranger and wrecked the
place, smashing chairs, tables and win
dOws. A stream of water from fire hose
finally put the mob to rout.
The total admissions to-day were 129 233
and for six months g. &295 073