Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-09-19
THE WILMINGTON FAIR.


-D
The Late Exhibition s"d the Pros
poets for Next Year.
The directors OF the Wilmington Fair
Association will meet within few days
In special meeting 10 outline dcfiaite
policy for the conduct of the fair in the
future. One thing is certain, end that is
that the managers are alive to the neces-
sity of being aggressive and ambitious to
excel. They realize that only active
workers are Of any use in advancing the
material interests OF the fair and they
appreciate the fact that additions and i'm
provements must be made In accordance
with the most advanced ideas. They
conducted two exhibitions successfully
without any previous experiences, but
they have learned much In these two
years that will lessen their burdens and
the cause of complaint next year.
There were between $4,000 and 80. 900
people present during the late fair,
almost half of whom were there on
Thursday. On that day, 5000 people
were packed within the grand stand en-
closure. The Wilmington & Northern
reports having carried AZ, 900 people both
ways during the week, showing that they
carried at least half of all the visitors.
The recent exhibition places Whining
ton near the top Of the list among fairs
| OF this class. The New jersey State Fair
at WRverly may equal or possibly slightly
exceed II In the value of the premiums
offered, but the other big fairs such as
Trenton, Mt. Holly, Pennsylvania state
Fair aud the recent Baltimore Fair, can
not approach tho recent exhibition held
here, either In the value OF the premiums
or the general excellence OF the exhibit.
ton The Wilmington Fair managers do
not claim to be perfect in their arrange.
ments, but they seem to realizs their pos.
sibilities snd intend to take advantage of
OF them.
For speed contests alone, $1,000 were
| invested, and those who saw the horse
races witnessed the best trottlng contests
that ever took place In Delaware. Among
exhibition horses, $500 in premiums
were awarded which il larger than the
horse premiums at any OF the above.
named fairs. For cattle, $4,000 was
awarded, and despite the complaints OF
some of the cattle men that the premiums
in that department might be larger, &c.,
rotary Brown showed that they ex-
ceeded or equaled those Of the other big
fairs and were three times the value OF
cattle premiums offered at the smaller
fairs such as Allentown, &c.
The fair will be run on strictly bust
ness principles and those who have
money invested can feel that their in.
terests are being protected. Next year
the grand stand will be enlarged and
covered entirely out to the track SO that
every part of 1t will be thoroughly shaded.
A large building will be erected for the
accommodation Of family parties, where
the ladies oan sit down to rest or lunch
The arrival OF visitors in the form OF off
oials from other fairs, shows the neces
sity for the erection OF pavilion for the
special accommodation Of guests of tbs
association. Other improvements will
be made as they suggest themselves and
the fair of 1890 is already heralded as {
step further advanced than this year,
exhibition. Although Starting Judg,
Smith cost the fair association 1858 fui
his weeks services they consider thl
money we'll invested and tried to securt
his signature to a contract for next seasoI
but MIR. Smith vail not make contract
for next year until the beginning of tn,