Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-10-03
THE cowLEY COUNTY FAIR.
Steps Taken Towards Organizing a Circuit
of Fairs.

To the Editor Of The Ddiiv EAGLE:
Not until had started for Winfield did
learn that this was the week during which
their county fair is held, The occasion has
given me an excellent opportunity to learn
something of this city and county. The as
ISOLATION is new, this being their second ex-
hibition. The officers are good, hard-work-
ing men, gentlemen in every particular, but
they could study the Sedgwick county fair
to good advantage. They have very fine
grounds, located about quarter of mile
from the Santa Fe depot, and just opposite
their famous Riverside Park. The latter. by
the way, is one of the most beautiful natural
parks ever saw, and is grand place for
picnics and all outdoor gatherings. An
eight-foot stone walk leads from the depot
to the park and ia ir grounds. | do not know
how grounds can be better located than
those of the Cowley county association.
They are about one-third in tim Der
which furnishes an excellent place
for the stock pens as well as the best posi-
BILE place for combining and feeding. There
is also fine half-mle track on perfectly
Level surface and any amount of room near
by for exhibition buildings.
Cowley county has not Jared as well as
her sisters this year. Just at the time when
corn and the late crops needed rain, no rain
fell, so there is shortage" on some crops.
The effects of the dry weather were plainly
to be seen in the agricultural exhibit. There
were but few vegetables and small number
of these were very large. There was con-
siderable good corn and some very poor, and
some plump, nice wheat. But what was
lacking on vegetables was all made up on
apples, of which there we're great quantities
and of excellent quality, though their dimen-
sions were not as large as some have seen
in Wichita. They had but little other fruit
except large display in cans and in jellies.
The fine art display was very inferior.
No floor had been laid in the building and
the dust was horrible, but those in charge
made the most of the facilities at hand, and
with the aid of the sewing ma
chine agents, who were in full
bloom. the dry weather having
had no bad effect on them, made u fair ex-
hibit considering the amount of material.
There were few buggies and farm imple-
ments and a beautiful display made by the
marble works. Down in the grove the dis
play of lunch counters and peanut stands
was large and very imposing. There was
no drunkenness on the grounds and I saw
no gambling except selling pools for the
races.
Considering Cowley county's claim of
being great stock country, the amount on
exhibition was very small. The best stock
in the county was not on the grounds at all.
There were about 100 entries of horses, COM
prising few Percheron-Normans and
Clydesdales and number of roadsters.
There were about sixty entries of cattle,
mostly Short Horns and grades, with few
Jerseys, and Herefords and some beautiful
Polled-Angus grades. The sheep and swine
exhibit were both small, only about forty
five entries of the latter and about sixty of
sheep. There were some good hogs ex-
hibited, however. But few entries of poultry
were made, but the birds were large and
very fine. The officers of the association
have spared no energy to make their fair
success, but the farmers have not responded
very heartily this year.
BY invitation of the society meeting was
held last night at the Breton House to con-
slider the advisability of organizing district
fair. Messrs. T, ID. Fouts, J. Mccormick
and A. Z. Johnston of Sedgwick were pres
ent, together with representatives Of Sum-
ner, Harvey and Harper counties, and, of
course, q number of Cowley county people.
Several hours were spent in discussing the
plans Of county and district fairs,after which
a resolution was unanimously adopted favor
ing circuit of county fairs, embracing about
six counties, including probably Sedgwick,
Harvey, Butler, Cowley, Sumner and Harper
counties.
The plan is to have ali advisory committee
to make rules, set dates, arrange premiums
ETC., for all the fairs in the circuit, so that
there viii be no conflict, and that each may
be benefited by all the others. The meet
ing adjourned To meet next Thursday at
Wichita, when full representation from all
the counties is expected. A number of
Wichita people have been here this week
attending the fair. RALPH.
Winfield, Sept. &c, "a.