Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-05-11
THE INAUGURAL EXaIBITIoS OF
THE STATE FAIR.

Our State Fair Association have reason
to congratulate themselves upon the
fact that there is as much general inter-
est throughout the State in the enter
prise as here at home, and the exhibit
ton this Fall will draw larger crowd
Of people to the city than has been seen
here for many years :,
The Association has had the goou
sense to "strike while the iron is hot,
and respond to the demand for the
onening of its annual exhibitions during
the coming Fall.
The idea that there is not time to
make the first exhibition as good as any
succeeding one should be dissipated at
once, and the aim should be to make 1t
the very best. We think it will
be the best. Every member oil the
Association will enter upon the work
with a relish. There will be an inspira-
ton about it that will not attach, IN the
same degree, to any subsequent exhibit
ton. No more time would be occupied
in preparation il the first exhibition
were fixed for 1882. Active operations
would simply be postponed until about
this time i'm the Spring Of 1882.
No matter how elaborate or extensive
the projected buildings may be, they
will be- OF character that require but
little time for construction. They Will
he constructed Of lumber and require
no plastering, little or no masonry and
there is no part Of them but can be put
together speedily and be ready Tor use
a. soon as the mechanics have moved
out. The most economical, as well ~
the most useful and attractive structure
for the "main building" is on the plan
of the ''yreat amphitheatre" at the st.
Louis Fair. 1t encloses circle OF about
one.fourth Of a mile. Seats for specta
tors are built down TO within abOut ~
feet OF the ground on the inside OF the
circle. The depth of the building Is
about fifty feet, and its length, as We
have said, about one-fourth OF a mile,
The seats, rising one above another, form
the ceiling or roof Of the enclosed circle
and another outside roof covers the
seats. The circle enclosed by the build
ING is the place for exhibiting
and awarding premiums upon a.
live stock, which is done in the pres
ence OF the spectators, comfortably
seated i'm iull view. The enclosure I'M
der the seats is the grand exposition
circle for all commodities OF every char
acter except machinery and agricultural
products. A line Of articles on exhlbi
ton is arranged in the centre OF the
enclosure dividing it into two roadways
OF twenty-five feet space each, which
give spectators a chance TO traverse the
whole circle OF One.iourth mile, without
going out of the building, or being
crowded or jOstled by persons COM
ing in the opposite direction, as all per
sons occupying the rOadways move III
the same direction. We refer to this
building, because to it the great St.
Louis Fair owes it's continued success,
from the fact that it concentrates the
whole exhibition in a comparatively
small space and gives everybody fair
chance TO see it to advantage.
We predict quite as good an exhibit
ton this Fail, as in any succeeding year
of its history. 1t may not be as per-
feet in all its parts as in some subse-
quent years, but We don't want to ex'
haust all the resources the first year, but
rather to reserve something for change
1 Of nro0ran,na hereafter