Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 140, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 June 1911 — The Cost of the Recent Auto Races—People Pay the Freight. [ARTICLE]

The Cost of the Recent Auto Races—People Pay the Freight.

Keqtland Enterprise. The automobile races at Indianapolis on Memorial day is generally accepted as one of the greatest contests of the kind ever held. The attendance was not far below 100,000 Managers of the speedway estimate that 83,000,000 was spent in staging the great event A great deal of the cost fell on manufacturers who sought to win the honors. ___ The speedway management was put to an enormous expense, for an army of workers was necessary to promote and conduct the event. Another estlment says fully half a million dollars was spent by visitors in Indianapolis. There is no way of computing the incidental expenses, of the thousands who Journeyed to Indianapolis for the purpose of seeing the great race. It is safe to say that fully 84,000,000 was expended in order to provide and enjoy amusement, recreation and excitement for one day. Of course there will be some to say that the money spent on this race represents waste but a sweeping claim of this kind is not true. A great deal of money was spent that went to men who are parts of a great industry. Consequently it wouldn’t be fair to think of 84,000,000 or any estimated sum, as so much money thrown away in a sewer. The significance of the expenditure is found in the fact that the American people are willing to spend so much for a thrilling performance. George Cohan, the theatrical manager, says the American people have “two dollar heart," meaning that the average American will pay two dollars for a few hours* entertainment. Behind the expenditures of the speedway and the manufacturers is the demand of the people, who, in the final accounting, “pay the ircight”