St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-09-07
THE MINNEAPOLIS FAIR.
Not the Success That Was Hoped
For in Receipts at the
Gate,
But the Managers Promptly Pay All
Premiums, Prizes and Bills.
The Last Day of the Fair Fairly Interest
ing One, with Light Attendance.
The Race of GentIemen's Roadsters Closely
Contested-Gem Wouldn't Go Double.

Yesterday ended the fair. While it has
been a success, it has not been pronouncedly
so, In fact, it was snip and tuck" race,
and for most of the time it was an open
question as to whether nip or tuck would
develop the most speed. combination of
circumstances has brought about the result.
| A philosopher would say, there is no effect
without cause. The attendance
has been unusually light, as
a whole, and consequently the gate
receipts footings will necessarily fall far
short of those of former years. But to make
up for this there has been a larger amount
of articles placed on exhibition, and larger
| number of entries made than in former
years, and the respective monies received
from these sources, added to the sums taken
in for privileges such as lunch, ''wheel
of fortune,'' roulette ''beer," and
''hawkers'' stands, will vastly exceed the
amounts taken from the same sources
at previous expositions. The attendance has
been limited because of the ''hard times"
the low price which the farmers are able to
realize for their wheat crop and for other
products, and also because of the fact that
the fair has not been ''boomed'' as Bill King
''boomed' it. The eventful week
came and passed without Great
ing the least excitement. Business
in the city continued normal; very little talk
was heard about the fair anywhere, yet in so
far as Notwithstanding and pacing-and
all kinds Of live stock are concerned, the
attractions were paramount. The manage
ment deserve great credit for securing such
famous animals as Jay Eye See, Johnston,
Richball, Minnie R., Gem, Phallas,
etc., and they should have ensured
an attendance which must have taxed the
capacity of the grounds to accommodate the
people. But it was all done in qniet way.
The management was of an economical turn,
and perhaps wisely so. The expense of
boom" advertising was curtailed on every
hand, and only modest amount of display
was contracted. The fair came, consequently
before major portion of the people who
invariably wait to be stirred up by the press,
had become aware of it, and
before they had made up their
whether or not they would attend, the fair
was about ended and they concluded it would
then not be worth the while to go to the ex-
pense.
While it has been practically an innova-
ton, the management has acted with honesty
and integrity. Everything promised has
been fulfilled. The horses advertised have
started. Even Ben Butler did not disappoint
them. 1t was strictly a fine carried out
according to programme" Furthermore,
it hos been great fair, and it is the opinion
of the treasurer of the association that all ex-
sHui1 lla of Inv ha hat
a neat surplus will remain over.
The attendance yesterday was so light that
for time it seemed doubtful whether the
management would consider it worth while
to start the horses in the races. 1t rained
and everything was damp, but every event
promised occurred.
During the afternoon teams In long lines
streamed from the grounds ladden with the
exhibits and by night fall, large amount of
the wares and products which had pleased
the eyes of the thousands who had thronged
the halls and grounds, had been returned to
the stores and shops of their owners. The
work in removal will probably continue to-
day until finished. The cattle and live stock
was also being driven off in herds during the
progress of the racing programme.
PAYING PREMIUMS.
The premiums awarded have all been paid
and all purses on races have been handed
to the winners. This is something unusual.
Under the old style these little matters were
oftimes only settled a twelve month after, as
it were, and it is claimed in some instances
were never settled at all. Whether the re-
ceipts of the fair will Offset the expense
will effect in no manner the paying
of all just cal MS. The premiums,
purses and ils-everything-wi be
liquidated, dollar for dollar. That is
refreshing circumstance and all
exhibitors and owners of horse flesh go to
their homes feeling that the Minneapolis
fair management are ''about the squarest
set of men they ever met"
The scenes and incidents at the grounds
yesterday were of such monotonous and
uninteresting character that it would be a
waste of valuable space to give description.