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Show 8PEND MUCH FOR AMUSEMENT. Twenty-Five Millions Are Invested In Parks In This Country. "It costs a lot of money to build and operate an amiiRement park on a largo scalo," says Frederic Thompson, Thomp-son, In Everybody's. "I supposo that moro than 125,000,-000 125,000,-000 aro Invested In these parks In this "country. Dreamland on Coney Island cost about $2,556,000. Ittvorvlow Park and the Whlto City In Chicago cost about a million each. "Luna park cost $2,400,000. Tho total annual expenses, Including tho cost of rebuilding, of putting In now shows and tho operating expenses, avorago about a million dollars, and tho season lasts four months. I spent $240,000 on ono show, of which 168,-000 168,-000 was for animals, mostly olophants and camels It was tho representation of tho Indian durbar and I lost tl00,-000 tl00,-000 on It. I charged the loss up to education, and It was worth It. It costB $5,000 a week to light Luna park, and $1,500 for tho music. Tho salaries of tho free performers this season nro $2,300 a wcok. And all of these expenditures, as well as a good many others, go simply to manufacture manufac-ture tho carnival spirit." |