The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-02-17
WILL BE BIG FAIR.
W. P. McNair Has Something to Say About
the Fair,

/ the Fair.
". P. McNair has had a good deal
of experience with fairs and he was yes
| terday asked what he thought of the
outlook for a big state fair in Wichita
next fall. In answer TO questions Mr..
| McNair said:
In my opinion the year 1895 will re-
cord one of the greatest state fairs
ever held in the state of Kansas. From
the racing standpoint everything point
that way. AT this tine last year but
few associations had claimed dates.
none were offering large stakes and the
financial depression was on full head"
among the horsemen. Today, dates are
generally claimed, associations are Of
fering stakes and horSemen throughout
the country are making liberal entries
There are more good horses to be pro-
vided for now than there used 10 be
and that makes it hard on secretary
to provide proper classes or stakes.
Horses that were practically unknown
to fame in 1888 went into winter quar-
ters last fall wearing all the laurels
possible AS d rule these horses have
been wintered we'll and in 1895 will be on
hand competing for the coin with many
new ones. ! believe that all asSocia-
tons known TO be sound financially
will have larger entry lists and more
ever had. There are many people who
| have no idea OF the work connected
with the secretaryship of an associa-
| ton To this officer more than any 9TH
er may be attributed the honor OF any
successful fair or race meeting, and il
! is therefore a very important matter
| to have the right man for this position.
| He should be a person Of fair mind. or
executive ability and well acquainted
with work for from the time 10 begin
! his work there is plenty for him TO do
until the gates are closed upon the
! last day of the fair Though he may
have assistants in charge of various
departments. he must be familiar with
ali the details and allow nothing 10
come between him and the success OF
! the enterprise. His track must be got
ready for the spring work or horses. IL
should be borrowed and fodted, scrap
! ed or resoiled as the need may require
| and in general be kept in the best man
ner possible On most tracks in kan
sas the sprinkling cart, the harrow AMI
/ the float are the most important track
tools and should be used in the order
named unsparingly.
The Kansas rac- tracks call for more
! water than anything else and in TOO
many instances this call is over looked
The track of the state fair grounds need
a great deal of water because Of its
structure and with a full supply can be
I
kept the fastest in the state. After
the dates for the meeting have been
selected and program arranged, the sec
rotary must place himself il correspond
ence with all the horSemen he can. fur
nish them with programs and give them
all the information he possesses. Az
! ter nominations have been made, he
must keep them informed OF the dates
future payments become due and must
be paid He has one meeting 10 look
after and his dates are uppernost
while the horsernea have many 10 re-
member and often overlooks payment
thereby losing what he has already
paid in. The correspondence OF the sec
retary's Office is immense and Is OF
a character requiring the promptest at
tention. Probably the most important
feature of his work Is advertising. This
should be done in a most liberal manner
He should select the hsst papers cir
culating in the territory from which
he expects his attendance and arrange
60 keep his fair prominently before the
subscribers. not only in the way Of good
| local matter but by as tempting dis
play lad" as is possible for him 10 pre-
pare. Should you ask me what agen-
cies contributes the most 10 "A success
full fair l should answer. Ju3icious ac-
vertising with the largest kind OF an a
is the very best
4 most important feature OF sue
| cessfui fair is the selection OF judges.