The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1879-10-03
N. V.D. r.
Thirty Thousand People
on the Grounds
Thursday.
GRAND SUCCESS.

In common with the majority of our
citizens we attended the District Fair
last week, spending Thursday and Fri
day on the grounds. OF the varied dis
play in the various departments, of the
large and general attendance, and the
thousand and one things which might
and should be mentioned to give even
an imperfect description of this success
full fair, we shall be obliged to give only
a short and imperfect sketch.
We had not been able to visit the
grounds during the days of work and
preparation, and our first view was of q
complete and perfect whole.
The grand arch over the entrance Of
the main gate, the work of that enthusi.
astic Kansan, Prof. Worrall, enchanted
all who passed, and during the entire
days of Thursday and Friday this arch
was the attraction for q crowd. The
base of each side was composed of stalks
Of corn and at the top of these a fringe
made of the heads of millet. Above this
the arch was loaded with stalks of sugar
cane, the leaves stripped. At the top
a cornice made of ears of corn, and bat
Elements of the same material extended
higher. To each battlement small flags
were attached. The corners were orna-
mented with heads of sorghum and the
whole festooned with heads of wheat,
grasses and other agricultural products.
On the outside was the word "Welcome"
and upon the reverse "Kansas." Just
beneath the latter were the Inscriptions !:
1856 1860 1879.
BLEEDING. DRoUTHY. BOOMING.
The history Of Kansas in nutshell. At
the time of the entry of the Presidential
party, a real, live Goddess of Liberty,
Miss Emma Snow, of Neosho Falls)
greeted them while standing upon the
center of the arch.
A short distance from the gate and
just beside the roadway was another
attraction. A Kansas cornfeld with
pumpkins. squashes, etc. lying among
the corn, and an efigy ola Kansas farm
er high up on ladder chopping off the
ears uf corn with an axe. 1t was chit"
which might in many instances nearly
be true. Few there were who did not
give this more than first glance.
FLORAL AND ART HALL
was jammed from morning till night,
and the display warranted it. With the
exception of peaches and pears fruit was
fully represented. Of the latter there
was a fair display for an off year.
The building was put up in the shape of
a cross, giving room in the center for a
magnificent display of fruits. A pyra-
mid of apples, the base being surrounded
by varieties of all the different fruits
common to Kansas soil. Each of the
four gables were furnished with an imi-
tation stained glass window. Over the
north door was Lincoln's motto "Right
is Might" over the south door was the
inscription. labor Omnia Vincit."
Over the east window was Tyre, on
either side q coinucopis, spilling the
products of Kansas. The west window
represented a succession of factories.
The decorations were made with heads
of wheat, grasses, broom corn, etc. In
ladies' needle and fancy work the ex-
hibits were not as complete as might
have been, but that which was there had
been 80 we'll arranged that close observers
would have been misled. Taking every
thing into consideration the floral hall of
this year was far ahead of those previous.
The products of the farm proper, how
ever, was to be found in the
AGRICULTURAL HALL.
In this department the choice farm
products of four of the best counties in
State contended for the premiums, the
result being the largest and in almost
every respect the finest collection ever
shown in the State. Visitors from the
east fingered over and carefully examin-
ed the finest grains, corn, potatoes, pro-
ducts of the garden and farm: ETC., and
felt amply repaid when the inspection
was over. 1t was booming" advertise
ment for the wealth and fertility of our
soil But it was in the
LIVE STOCK
that the general interest of
farmers centered. Here was to be seen
the celebrated herd of Hereford cattle
belonging to Hon. Thos. Cavanaugh, OF
Saline county. The herds of short horn
Durhams belonging to Messrs. Hamilton
and Bayne, of Kentucky. Msssrs. Armel
& Jones, and a. B. Stofer, of this county,
had herds of % aud s short horns, res
pectively. Finegraded cattle, calves and
bulls by different exhibitors, run the
entries up to large number.
In horses, sheep and swine the exhibits
we're excellent From different parts of
Kansas and several other States were
entries. made. There were over 200 head
of the different varieties of swine and as
many of sheep on the ground.
Four large dining halls had all they
could do to feed the hungry multitude,
and there were innumerable pea nut