The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1905-07-05
ATTEN D ANCE At FAIR
BEATS ALL PREDECESSORS
More Paid Admissions First Three
Weeks Than Omaha Exposition
Had in the First Month.

Portland, June 29--That the
Lewis and Clark Exposition will
prove to be a notable success from
the point of attendance is practically
a foregone conclusion, though 1t has
peen open less than a month. 1t
has had larger attendance for the
first three weeks. in proportion to
the population of Portland and its
vicinity, than any other exposition
ever held in the United States.
Figures compiled by John A. Wake
field, the director of concessions and
admissions, VINO has been connected
with half a dozen expositions, show
that the Portland fair has enjoyed
an attendance up to date 20 per
cent greater than any other exposi-
ton, considering the population
within radius of 500 miles.
Approximately 100000 people
live within 500 miles of Portland
Since opening day, June /. the
daily attendance at the fair has
averaged 14,127. The city of
Portland has about 100000 in
habilants. Chicago, at the time Of
the Columbian exposition, including
it's immediate suburbs. contained
practically as many people as dwell
within Portland's 500-mile radius.
Yet for the first month of the Chi
cago fair the daily attendance ran
from 1924 to 30,929, excepting one
special day when $4,000 people were
present
For the first twenty-five days of
the Portland fair, ending with June
20, the admissions aggregated 310.-
1876. OF these. 16O,79S we're paid
admissions, averaging 1909 paid
admissions daily. AS the Fair
goes on, the pass admissions will de-
crease and the paid admissions will
increase. Many workmen have been
employed about the grounds during
the first few weeks, putting the fin
ishing touches on the exhibit booths
here and there, shaping up the lat
ter landscape work and completing
some of the buildings on the Trail.
the concessions for which were
granted late This has made the
free admission aggregate consid-
erably greater than it will be during
the remainder of the exposition
period. On the other hand. 1t is the
experience of all expositions that the
ClOWuS uO HOt ueSiH W COiuc uutll
the second month, and as a rule the
largest attendance is in September
and October.
The paid admissions for the first
twenty-three days at Portland were
equal to the aggregate for the entire
first month at the Omaha exposition,
Notwithstanding the fact that within
one nights ride of Omaha there were
100000 people. With less than
one-seventh as many inhabitants in
the corresponding territory. Portland
feels that she has surpassed the most
sanguine expectations.
The Lewis and Clark Exposition
will run until Oct. Is. A daily
average no larger than that of the
first three weeks would give nearly
million paid admissions, which
many experienced exposition men de-
clared before the opening of the Fair
would be as large an attendance as
reasonably could be expected from
an exposition so far from the great
centers of population. But it is the
history of all expositions that the
first months attendance is the small
est of all, and Director Wakefield
| counts upon the paid attendance
far exceeding one million. Hotel
bookings in Portland indicate far
larger attendance for July and
August, while it is not to be doubted
that September and the closing days
of the fair in October will bring the
largest crowds of all.