The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-03-09
THE EXPOSITION.
Some More Good Reasons for
Holding Such a One.


To THE EDITOR OF THE TIMEs.-The
movement towards holding an indus
trial exposition in Roanoke city this
fall cannot fail to please those whose
heartfelt wishes are for the advance
ment Of Southwest Virginia.
Having had longer and more vsried
experience with fairs aud eXpositions,
probably, than any man in tho State,
can say without hesitation that know
Of no better location in Virginia for a
successful industrial exposition than
Roanoke city or its suburbs. And this
statement is made with vivid recol.
lection of the ultimate fate OF the
Roanoke fair (at which l was an ex-
hibitor) of some fow years ago, which
was from start to finish an unfortunate
collection OF mistakes.
In Yesterdays article in TIE TIMES
you enumerated many of the peculiar
advantages which Roanoke possesses
for an annual exhibition, and there are
also many benefits which would accrue
to Roanoke should this proposed show
become reality. Consider the thou
sands of people who would stay the
week in your city, making many pur-
chases and scattering thousands OF dol
lars. And in this the Roanoke of to-day
is 80 much better situated than lit was
six or seven years ago, for think OF the
numb Der of new towns along the line Of
the Norfolk and Western railroad whose
citizens look upon the Magic City as
headquarters, which then never existed.
Roanoke needs an annual exposition
SO that there may b a nucleus, as it
were. around which may be clustered
meetings Of all kinds including those of
the bicyclists, the military, the fire men,
the horsemen, the stockmen, the poultry
faneiers, the different secret orders and
benevolent societies; all these would in
course of time be drawn to Roanoke
every fall.
AS to stock exhibits, tho breeders
from Pennsylvania. New York. Ohio,
New Jersey and Maryland, who an
nually wind up their exhibition circuits
at Hagerstown and Frederick fairs in
the first week of October have repeat
eddy expressed to me a wish to come
further South to another fair. In this
Roanoke's good friend, tho Norfolk and
Western railroad, could BIO of much
assistance in bringing these superb
Northern exhibits to help out our own
creditablo displays from the Valley and
southwest.
AS have often pointed out, the rocks
upon which 80 many fairs have come to
grief are bad weather and bad manage
ment. AS to the former evil, the build
ings should be SO constructed that il it
rain in the heaviest showers visitors
can still visit every building and in
spect every exhi bit, live and dead, with
out being exposed to the weather. Be
sides this there should be main hall,
with seats and stage, in which enter
tainments can be given day and night.
for tho pvnncitinno of bo a.
are lighted with the electric light at
night, and have sufficient entertainment
to bring almost as much revenue at
night as in the day.
AS to the bad management, this must
be remedied by the selection OF active,
hustling business men for the board of
directors, while the Offices of president
and secretary should be filled only by
men thoroughly competent to fill them.
sleepy headed, non. progressive, surly
or Ignorant secretary will ruin any
society, and on the secretary really
hangs the success Of an exposition. He
should have knowledge of everything,
be everywhere at all times, be able to
direct and to command, and yet always
be pleasant. There are ono or two such
men in Roanoke.
The time is, indie ed, short now TO get
subscriptions arc quickly made and the
officers get an old time Roanoke hustle
on them III could be done. 1t may DO
premature to make the suggestion, but
l would like to add that il the grounds
of the present Roanoke Driving Park
could be leased or purchased, with u fow
acres additional, it would be pleasing,
healthy and convenient site fer the ex-
position, besides which some expense
would be avoided by the fact that there
are already there the race track and
stables and considerable fencing.
Perhaps, also, il the exhibition were
located there Salem and Roanoke county
folks might be more easily induced to
join in making it a success. But what
ever IS done should be done right away,
and it is my honest belief that intelli-
gently conducted an exhibition at Roa
noke can be made financial success of
itself, besides bringing thousands Of
dollars annually to the city, and return
ing larger interest upon the same
capital invested than any previous en-
terprise in Roanoke.
FRANK A. LOvELOCK.
Salem, March 8, 1894.
Saya Clevelnnd VIII Vato tba ysIonl nm