Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-12-01
The Exposition Has Been a Sue
cess In Everything But To-
tai Attendance
THERE WILL BE A SURPLUS
Estimated That the Fair Directors Will
Have Million Dollars to Distribute
Among the Stockholders - Attend
ance Falls Below the Chicago Expo
sition-FauIt of st. Louis.

ST. Louis, Mo-, Dec. 1.-The Louisi-
ana purchase exposition, ~ general
verdict the greatest of all worlds fairs,
and a success financially, will close
with fitting ceremonies at midnight to-
millions Of persons will have passed
thru its turnstiles in the se1 en- months
1t has been open to the public; more
than s5O,OO0,OOO will nave been expen-
ded in the construction AMI mainten-
ance of the great show and about this
same amount of money will have been
spent by the public within the exposi-
ton grounds.
The exposition company has issued
no statement or estimate OF the finan-
cial status Of the fair, but a conser-
vative summary Of receipts and expen-
ditures may be made from study OF
such figures as the exposition company
has given out combined with know
ledge of percentage Of profit to the
exposition from the various sources OF
revenue.
OF the 100000 admiss ons, using
round numbers, only for the purpose OF
estimating, probably 100000 have
been free admissions, leaving 100000
paid admissions, from which the ex-
position derived about $500 $1,000.
According to best infor nation OBJ
tainable the worlds fair receipts from
concessions have all along just about
eaualed the receipts from admissions.
This would give the exposi ton total
revenue Of s120O0,000, to Which may be
added 100000 for receipts from all
other sources. This gives he exposit-
ion a grand total Of $500 $1,000 Of re-
ceipts.
During the preexpositior period the
worlds fair company received $5,OOo,-
900 from the government, $5,OO0,OOO
from the city and $5,000,00( from indi-
vidual stockholders. In addition the
exposition obtained loan If $4,600,0O0
from the government, which was re-
paid out Of the receipts after the fair
opened The receipts from the pre-
exposition period for adm issions and
all other sources brought the worlds
fair total resources up to the day OF
opening up to about $20.ot0,O00. This
sum. which was all expend ed, added to
the cost of maintenance during the ex-
position period and to tie total a.
mount expended by state and foreign
governments and the United States
government, bring the total cost of the
exposition, exclusive Of the cost to ex-
hibitors Of preparing, tran sporting and
maintaining exhibits, up to- about $780,
100000.
Expend Total Of $2o,ooo,ooo. !.
Granting that the $2O,Ot0,O00 which
the worlds fair obtained FIR om the gov
eminent, the city and private stock
holders was all expended before the
gates Of the fair were thrown open
to the world. and this is not question
ed. the exposition was entirely depen-
dent upon the daily receipts from adj
missions and concessions for it's oper-
ating expenses. Included under this
heading Is the cost Of the Jefferson
guards, gatekeepers, clerks, gardeners,
and laborers, the lighting Of buildings,
the salaries Of the officiaE, and super
intendents, the cost Of aeronautic ex-
periments, the expenses OF music
amusement and the various entertain
ment features carried out from time
to time, the reception AMI entertain
ment of distinguished guests, the rental
the Catlin tract and other land leased
from private owners, and he thousand
and one minor expenses incident to the
maintenance Of a great universal eN-
position Of the magnitude and scope OF
the st. Louis fair.
When it is considered that first Of
all, the government loan of $4,6O0.000
had to be repaid from the daily re-
ceipts, 1t is not hard tt, understand
that the exposition has ha d to be most
careful to come out even.
Expect Handsome Profit.
And yet, in view Of the fact that the
general statement issued by President
Francis on Nov. II, when the EXPOSE
ton had not only repaid all the govern
ment loan but had no bills payable OUT
standing, it is firmly believed the fair
will be able to show handsome prof
1t when the gates were closed last
night. Undoubtedly the cost OF main
tenance and operation has been heavy,
but It is believed that there should be,
after salvage, a balance of at least L.
100000 to be divided among stockhold-
ers after Forest park shall have been
restored and turned back to the city
in acceptable shape. This work, it is
believed will cost fully 100000.
AS for attendance the fair has been a
great disappointment to many who ex-
pected it to surpass the Chicago fair in
this respect, as it has in all others.
with a total attendance Of little less
than 100000 the st. Louis fair has
fallen about 100000 behind the Col
umbian exposition. and this notwith-
standing the fact, that, according to
railroads entering Chicago and st.
Louis, the attendance from out Of town
at the exposition Just closing has been
much greater than 1t was at the Chi
IN ca fnir