Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-09-25
FAIR WEEK AT HARPER

To the Editor OF the EAGLE.
The week closing tails Saturday night has
been SO busy that your correspondent could
not find time to even send telegram to tell
of its events. 1t is fair week and the town
has been very lively, business has been good
with our merchants, times brighter for our
farmers, and an excellent fair and that splen-
did troupe, the Simon's comedy company,
have caused people generally to take little
recreation and look on the bright side of
life.
Our fair has been grand success in most
respects, very satisfactory all around, we
believe, speaking much for the management.
The old charge of fifty cents for round trip
to the grounds has always seemed to US a
great mistake and is SO regarded by many,
but il is still tolerated. This exhorbitant
charge doubtly greatly lessened the attend
ance from the city; three times as many city
people should have attended.
The displays were very crediable and
spoke volumes for Harper county soil and
husbsn1ry. The stock exhibit was better
than the fruit and agricultural display. TIE
races of course attracted much attention
and compared favorably with other fairs in
this part of the state. The track, buildings
and grounds were universally admired,
everything being finished up in good shape
and bearing look Of permancy. The
grounds are planted with forest trees which
are doing finely and will soon greatly i'm
prove appearances.
1t is yet impossible to tell exactly how
successful, financially, the association has
been this year, but despite heavy expenses
there will be surplus Of between $500. and
$1,000.
One Of the pleasant events of the fair was
the public marriage of Miss Wall to Mr..
Webb, both of this city. 1t was a premium
wedding and the presents amounted to sever
al hundred dollars worth Of household goods.
An audience of probably 5000 witnessed the
ceremony.
A baby show in the afternoon attracted
much attention and no small amount of in
terest among exhibitors.
Over $4,000. worth OF real estate changed
bands in this part of the country during the
past wesk.
An important newspaper change will take
place in this city this week. of which we
are not privileged to speak at present.
We are promised great cut in prices on
undertaking would do more for the
town and country than just such an occur
renee. Harper has for the past few months
felt the depressing effect of high prices in
lumber, the more SO on account Of the
former very reasonable prices which did SO
much to attract trade here.
The city schools have opened with an en-
rollment of upwards of four hundred pupils
and nine teachers. Never before have cur
schools opened with such favorable auspices.
Nine commodious, well-furnished roorns,the
property of the district were in readiness,
and e district high school department was
organized.
The Simon troope has played here every
night this week and to several crowded
houses. We envy ,ur sister Wichita the
citizenship of SO popular and talented an
motor as Mr.. A. Simon, in the character o
"Fsgin the jew" he certainly has few peers
on the stage.
Our new buildings are being finished up
and occupied with good stocks.
The three printing Offices were overrun
with work this week and six or seven print
ing presses were run almost constantly day
and night, the entire week.
Business in every department of trade is
Frightening and mammoth fall stocks are
being brought on or purchased on the pros
poets of good trade this fall. 6.