The Salt Lake Herald

SAY THEY TAKE IN MORE MONEY

Fifty-cent Fares Have Increased Revenues of the Resorts.

NEW RATES REDUCE CROWDS

LAGOON AND SALTAIR MANAGE-MENTS BOTH DOING BETTER,

People who cling to the belief that the new rates to Saltair and Lagoon will prove a failure are destined to be disappointed. There has been a general sentiment that the 50-cent fare would not be maintained. While there has been a marked reduction in the travel to these resorts, the managers claim that the revenues are larger than they were last year under the 25-cent rate. Whether this condition will continue throughout the season, it is yet too early to determine, but it is asserted by the officials that in any event the present fare will be maintained. They claim that the resorts cannot be conducted excepting at a loss for less than the present fare. John S. Critchlow, manager of the Lagoon, said yesterday:

"Our revenues have been larger under the new rate than under the old one for the same length of time, and we are satisfied thus far with the result. Our business has been affected some by the weather. The warm weather did not start in as early this year as usual, but what we have lost in numbers we have made up by reason of the increased fare. Whether the crowds increase or not, however, we shall not return to last year's rate. We cannot afford to. Last season we carried larger crowds, but there was no money in them. While we are not carrying as many people this year we are getting a better class of people.

Expenses Are Large.

"Our expenses are larger than they were last season and we will have to get more. For this reason we shall not reduce the fare as we cannot make a lower rate and maintain the resort on a paying basis. Wages are higher, material costs us more and the cost of operation is greater. We have put in a good many improvements, in fact, we are making improvements all the time. We keep a force of men at work the entire year around while our season at Lagoon is only for a few months. The public is not apt to consider these facts when measuring our expense account, but these questions have to be taken care of."

The management of Saltair views the matter from the same standpoint and presented similar reasons for maintaining the present fare. The directors of the resort held a meeting yesterday morning and expressed themselves satisfied with the result under the new fare. While the crowds have not been so large, the revenues have been larger. At the offices of both companies it was stated that the bookings for the present season are fully as large if not larger than they were last season.

The resorts have been engaged by various organizations for dates extending into the summer season. Whether they will draw crowds as large as in former years is something that cannot be foretold. While the family patronage is not so large through the week, the managers and the resorts believe that little if any difference will be apparent on special days.