The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-24
THE STATE FAIR.
The Magnitude OF the Seventy.Fifth
Annual Exposition.
Growth of the Association and Won
derful Increase Of Its Facilities.

A glance at the premium list and sun
dry other preliminary announcements OF
the Rhode Island State Fair Association
for its 18th annual exhibition at Nara
gansett Park, near Providence, gives
promise OF an unusually interesting week
OF agricultural, Industrial, educatlonai,
and amusement exposition.
The marvellous success which has at
tended this society in its admirable work,
covering a perid of three quarters OF a
century, must, of necessity, be owing 10
something more than mere chance, favor-
able location or other adyentitious cir
cumstance.
Ii is true that il has had its vicissi-
tudes, as have others, but it Is evidently
"fated not TO die, +" as its 20 years OF eXls-
tence attest its strong vitality. The
whole domain of exhibition possibility
is yearly explored with thoroughness
and persistency which has resulted In
superb annual offerings by the associa-
tion, and the season of 1895 Will be MT
l. ting type and example of its achievement
in this direction. Passing from this pre-
fatory but manifestly warranted tribute to
the record OF the association, reference
must be had to the immediate announce
ment for the present year.
To begin, the fair will extend through
six days, Sept. 16-2lst inclusive, being one
| more day than given in any other pre-
vious season. The grounds will be open
from 10 a. m. TO l0:30 p. M, each day,
| and during the intervening hours every
| moment may be spent profitaby and l.i-
| terestingly In traversing the exhibition
! ground with its myriad and diverse at
| fractions. The premium awards touch
closely upon $50, ,00o and the total esti-
mated expenditures, constructive and
special, il is expected, will be fully $50, 600.
| From these figures some adequate idea oil
| the magnitude of the fair may be formed.
| OF these sums, $40 600 will go TO amuse-
| ments; sl7, 500 will go 10 horses; $500 to
cattle; $500 to dogs; 5000 TO poultry,
| and $4,000 in miscellaneous appropria-
| ton. There are in all 26 departments,
| each in charge of an acknowledged expert,
with efficient corps of assistants Some
of these departments, notably those as
signed TO horses, dogs and poultry, con
stitute in themselves exhibitions worthy
OF a whole days attention, and are equa
to separate shows given at times in the
cities throughout the country. During
the past two or three months there has
been general overhauling and renovation
| of the 90 buildings within the fair en-
closure, many changes and Improvement
have been made, and Narragansett Pari
is now, without question:, the model foi
the country in the matter OF exhibition
display.
ATTENDANCE IN PAST YEARS.
In 1892 che attendance was 1000; In
1893, los, ,0O0 and in 1894, 100, 500 fiv
days. This Is proof enough, and, as th
LAWYERS say on these points, "the cas-
Is ciosed.b The estimated attendance 70
1895 is over 100, 900, but as the grounds
which cover 81 acres, can easily accom-
modate 200, 900 persons, no one may ID
deferred from visit by fear OF over
crowding. As in the traditional omnibus
there Is always room for one more.