W A Y S A N D M E A N S D E P A R T M E N T Zachary T. Lindsey, Manager. B U R E A U O F A D M I S S I O N S 0-------- Craig McQuaid, Superintendent. W. H. Overbeck, Chief Clerk. W. M. Carson, Ticket Custodian. L.N. LeValley, Extra Clerk G. Groff, Extra Clerk. Arthur Chase, Ticket Clerk. E.B. Van Arnam, Pass Clerk. Arthur J. Webb, Chief Inspector. C. A. Mitchell, Pass Inspector. Miss Marie Patrick, Stenographer. Edward Johnson, Messenger. The Bureau of Admissions, Guardian of the Gates, is one of the most important divisions of an exposition in operation, and each Exposition has tried to profit by the experience of all previous Expositions in adopting the best methods of issuing tickets and providing checks upon the ticket sellers and ticket takers. The Bureau of Admissions of the Trans-Mississippi Exposition followed this plan, but being unable to find experienced men who were absolutely trustworthy, the bureau believed it was the part of wisdom to secure the services of honest men, even if their experience had to be gained at the expense of the Exposition. By reason of inexperience some vexatious delays occurred at the opening of the Exposition entailing considerable annoyance, but no serious loss. The greatest care and utmost vigilance was exercised by the Department to prevent abuses and even fraud on the part of unscrupulous ticket and pass holders. The matter of tickets of admission, their sale and redemption at the gates is a comparatively simple transaction, but in the multitude of pass admissions which must of necessity occur, the troubles of the bureau are mainly found. Special rules covering the transactions of the Admissions Bureau, providing for sales of tickets, etc., accounting for same, providing methods for issuance of passes of all kinds, and manner of record of same, were adopted and issued, but their length prohibits their insertion in this work, and no special reason exists for their publication. One general form of paid admission tickets was used varied in colors, and colors changed from day to day, and sometimes several times in the same day, in order that the closest record could be kept, and by using absolute checks ascertain where irregularities existed and locate them exactly. For pass admissions, a number of separate forms, as well as colors were used, the system devised was by comparison, as good and as safe as any that has yet been used at any Exposition. Previous to the opening of the Exposition a special commutation coupon admission book was designed, photograph of holder inside front cover, good only for the photographed holder, and containing detachable coupons, one for each admission. Books of this kind, as a means toward pre-exposition revenues were sold at $20.00 for 100 admissions, $12.50 for 25 admissions. Their value and use was not generally understood and the sales were not large. They are a good style of admission, however, to benefit both the exposition and the purchaser. For photographic coupon admission books to exhibitors concessionaires, employees, a charge of $2.50 each was made up to July 1st and $2 after that date. These books admitted the purchaser only during the exposition period, unless for some cause, their employment ceased, when the books were taken up, canceled and destroyed. The charges on this class of pass admissions was made only to cover their cost in various ways, to the exposition, and were hence classed as free admissions. Pass admissions were provided of various kinds, in series, each series bearing a different letter, and were as follows. Series A. Complimentary Season Pass. Series B. Complimentary Term Pass. Series C. Complimentary Press Term Pass. Series D. Paid Commutation Coupon Books. Series E. Full Term Photographic Coupon Pass for Exhibitors and Concessionaires. Series F. Monthly Photographic Coupon Pass for Employees of the Exposition, Exhibitors and Concessionaires. Books refilled at end of each month that employees services were retained. Series G. Complimentary Trip Pass. Series H. Complimentary Press Trip Pass. Series I. Workman's Card Pass, for short terms of employment. Series J. Full Term Wagon Pass, admitting Concessionaire with his own goods. Series K. Waiters Single Admission Pass, used for temporary increase of forces at restaurants, etc. Series L. Card pass permitting the crossing of 20th Street at Manderson Street. Series Z. Sleeping permit, photographic, permitting holder to sleep upon the grounds, used for various employees required to remain on premises at night. About 160 employees were required in Bureau of Admissions including office force, ticket sellers, ticket takers, inspectors, checkers and detectives. There were seven (7) regular entrances to the exposition grounds. There were six (6) wagon gates and twenty-two (22) exits. Thirty-six (36) self-registering turnstiles were used for checking and record purposes at the seven admitting entrances. The record of the gates, showing admissions of all kinds on each day of Exposition, the records of the office showing cash receipts from all sources, for each day of the Exposition, will be found in the subjoined table. (Insert the table if printed, not practicable to typewrite it.) BUREAU OF ADMISSIONS Resume of record of admissions: Paid Admissions,................................. Adult,...........................................1,385,733 Special Adult,................................... 2,146 Children,........................................ 113,556 Special child's,................................. 43,741 Special night,................................... 163,819 Commutation Coupons,............................. 49,975 - 1,778,250 Free Admissions,- Free (Bands, processions, etc.).................. 28,516 Full term photo passes,.......................... 132,514 Monthly photo passes,............................ 497,578 Card passes,..................................... 106,340 Trip passes,..................................... 12,518 Workman's passes,................................ 57,792 - 835,258 Total attendance................................ 2,613,508 .687 per cent paid plus .313 per cent free, equals 100 per cent. Record of admissions by months: June July August Sept. October Total Paid, 166,882 187,654 311,943 413,571 698,200 1,778,250 Free 122,469 144,030 162,234 179,597 226,928 835,258 Total 289,351 331,684 474,177 593,168 925,128 2,613,508 Resume for receipts from admissions: Pre-exposition period,.................................$ 4,199.82 Commutation tickets,................................... 14,850.00 Ticket sales,.......................................... 763,425.10 Workman's passes,...................................... 1,043.35 Exhibitors and concessionaires full term photo books,.. 4,304.75 Employees monthly photo books,......................... 12,514.00 Wagon books,........................................... 154.00 Post Exposition period,................................ 1,024.55 Total admission receipts,....................$ 801,515.47 Attendance on some of the principal days was as follows: October 12th, President's Day,......................... 98,845 October 31st, Omaha Day,............................... 61,236 September 22nd, Modern Woodmen's Day,.................. 52,725 October 13th, Army and Navy Day,....................... 49,710 October 11th, Govenor's Day,........................... 48,051 July 4th, Nation's Day,................................ 44,452 June 1st, Opening Day,................................. 27,998 Smallest day's total attendance, June 3rd,............. 4,756 Smallest day's paid attandance, June 6th,.............. 1,752 The weeks of October 9-15 showed a total attendance of 314,151. Week of largest gate receipts was week of October 9-15, receipts totaled $116,320.10. Day of largest gate receipts was October 12th, gate receipts $42,822.00 Average Cash Receipts for each admission at gates.........$ 0.37 Average Cash Receipts for each Paid admission at gates....$44.78