Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-10-05
THE FAIR
Some Random Notes and Clippings
From Exchanges Bearing on
The st. Clairsvllle Fair.

T1e ST. ClalrSvllle Edlr.
The Fair, " hich was in progress when
THE CHRONICLE went to press last week
drew a creditable sized crowd on Thurs
day. The people came not because they
expected to see much of fair, but rath
er to see each other, and looking at in
that way the crowd was large. As fair
it was failure. True, some made very
creditable exhibits, and they were good
as far rs they went, but In numbers the
exhibitors were far behind few years
ago, although perhaps up to the standard
of recent years. In every department
the exhibit was small, and the whole
was pretty well covered in our account
last week. The fruit shown by John
Riley, consisting of peaches, grapes, ap-
pies, ETC., might be mentioned in this
connection, and there were more chick
ems on exhibition than for many years.
In but one thing did the fair excel those
of former years, and that was in the
number of skin games of every descrip-
tion worked on the ground. These fakirs
were allowed to ply their vocation with
out molestation, although their methods
were equivalent to highway robbery.
The games seemed to be run with the
sanction of the management and the Of
ficers of the law on the ground. 1t looked
more like fakirs' picnic than an agri-
cultural fair.
This is the only fair in the county, and
the way people will turn out when there
is practically no fair, is but an index of
what they would do were it run on diff
ferent plan. For several years back there
has been but little effort made to have an
exhibition of stock, agricultural products
and machinery, the things that go to make
successful fail, and each year the organ
ization becomes weaker than the pre-
ceding year. Unless turn is soon reach
ed the fair will be too far gone to be re
vived. 1t was once a success, and with
a little judicious effort could be made 30
again.
The racing this year was the best feat
ure of the Fair, and aroused greater in
terest than has been shown for years.
The sweepstakes trot was hotly contest
ed, and had to be determined finally BY a
heat Friday morning, darkness coming
on when each of the horses had won two
heats.
STALLION RACE-PURSE S65.
Joe Hooker, Jr., lst; Prince Monroe
I'd; Newell K. Sd.
Time-2:42, 2:4l, 2:394.
2:35 TRoT-PURsES SO.
Newell X. 1st; Prince Monroe I'd; Gros-
rio Sd.
Time-2:A, 2:43A4. 2:43.
2:35 PACE-PURSE $40.
Tony H. Ist; Broc I'd; Black B. Sd.
Time-2:5O, 2:444, 2:41, 2:491ss. 2:43.
2:5O TROT-PURsE $45.
Billy Dolan 1st; Jeanette I'd; Old
Skates Sd.
Time-2:51; 2:53; 2:4s.
3-YEAR-OLD TRoT-PURsE S25.
Lady Bird (Darrah) 1st; Jene Wilkes
I'd; Lady Bird (Thompson) Sd.
Time-3:O5, 3O4.
SWEEPSTAKES TROT-PURSE S125.
Tony E. 1st; Joe Hooker, Jr., I'd;
Nellie Bly, Sd.
Time-2:4l, 2:4O, 2:391k, 2:3S, 2:391k.
RUNNING RACE, KMILE-PURsE S85.
Alice Wagener 1st; Pilgrim I'd; Patron
ella 3d.
Time-101, 0:57, 0:561s.
SWEEPSTAKES TROT-PURSE $500.
Billy Dolan 1st; Bad Actor I'd: Prince
Monroe Sd.
Time-2:4o, 2:S74, 1854, 2:37, $685.,
2:41A, 2:361I.
of the Fair the Bellaire Independent
has this to say: The st. Clairsville Fair is
over for this year. 1t is the only one left
in this county, and the probabilities are
it will be badly left if continued under
the present management. 1t is called
Belmont County Fair, but the name is a
misnomer 1t is clearly and distinctly a
fair by small proportion of St. Clairs
vile people The exhibit departments
may be properly handled, but the man,
agement proper, like that of the Midway
Plaisance, permit such things and do such
things that the people do not like to en-
courage them even by their presence,
and yet the people of this county and
near neighbors would well sustain fair
held on the grounds at st. Clairsville, if
properly managed. The great crowd at
the fair, run in the loose and shameless
way this one is, on Thursday, fully at
tests the fact that the people of the cOun-
ty like to gather together on one or two
days in the year after the harvest is over,
to meet one another. And they like to
be entertained upon such occasions. The
exhibit of some things at the fair was
worthy and attractive, but rarely have
the speed ring attractions been free from
"jobbing in some particular, in which
some of the managers are interested
If it is to be Belmont Coun
ty Fair, make it so by interesting all
parts Of the county, and bouncing some
of the present managers. Otherwise the
fair deserves the fate that seems to be
surely in store for it.
And in the same line the M. f. Times
delivers itself thus: The attendance was
large. considering the fact that 'the
greatest show on earth" is still attracting
many people from this section of the
country to Chicago. The mechanical,
agricultural and artistic displays were
far from being up to former years. Gam
bling devices were more numerous than
In past years. Why the management
permit such violations of law is past
comprehension. Many people who would
take deep interest and great pride in
the snccess of the opIy fair in the county