Arizona republican., 1905-10-14

The Omaha exposition was regard ed as the most successful of all fairs, because it was the only one which did not result disastrously from financial standpoint. The exposition not only paid all it's obligations, but refunded to the stockholders in the enterprise 98 per cent of their invest ment The performance of the Lewis & Clark exposition, an enterprise of about the same magnitude, in equal ing the attendance record of Omaha, is made more notable by the circum- stance of the present worlds fair be- ing located in a sparsely settled ter ritory. Within 500 miles of Omaha a days journey-live 13,OOO, 900 people, nearly one-ffth of the population of the United States. Portland's 50O- mile radius includes only 1,SOO,O0O.
 Many things have contributed to the success of the Portland enterprise. In the first place it is a good show. There are many things to be seen at the Lewis & Clark exposition that have not been displayed elsewhere, and the grounds are more beautiful than any before utilized for a similar purpose. The exposition management and the people of Portland have given their guests a square deal. There have been no hold-ups on the exposition grounds. Hotel and restaurant rates in the city have been so reasonable that there has been no cause for complaint
 The desire on the part of many thousands of people to see the great Pacific northwest is admitted by the exposition to have contributed largely to the attendance from the east, and the low railroad rates have placed the fri, rT-ffh of Ina average citizen. Exploitation of the country, in connection with exploita tion of the opposition, attracted the attention of thousands to the wonder full natural advantages possessed by the Pacific northwest, with unexpect- ed results. Prior to September 1, say the railroad officials. 76,OOO excursion tickets to the Pacific coast were sold from points east of the Mississippi river, and of this number no less than 61,57O were held by persons who visit ed Portland.
 The Lewis & Clark exposition from the first was designed to be an expo sition of the resources not of Oregon, the patron state, but of the whole Pacific northwest. It was intended that the fair should be the means of acquainting great numbers of east ern people with the situation in the northwest, and this has been accom- plished already to a much greater ex- tent than originally was anticipated. A vast majority, probably four -ffths, of the visitors from the east have taken advantage of the opportunity to see not only Oregon, but Washing ton, California and Idaho. with a re- suit that the sister states have profit ed nearly as much as the state which gave the big fair it's being. Hotels in Seattle. Spokane, Tacoma, San Fran cisco, Los Angeles and other points have been taxed to handle the crowds of tourists, and many of those who came to see the country have liked it so well that they have stayed in the west. This has been truly notably among the farmers and people of ordi- nary means, the kind or settlers the west is looking for.
 The attendance all along has been steady, except on special occasions when great increases were recorded. The largest day was the Fourth of July. when the turnstiles registered 5. 7OS admissions. At Omaha the at tendance on the largest day was 9S,- 845: at Atlanta, 5S,336; at Nashville, 9S57S; at the San Francisco Mid Winter fair of 1S93-94. 90. O97; at the Merchants Export exposition at Phil adelphia, 46,526, and at Charleston 23,978.