The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1896-03-28
ALL Pull q I @ GET THEIR.

ALL LII i lJ:l1ll lSl)UEilE Ill IL.
slTizENs or PERI md, ARE OF
THE HusTLlNG KIND.
j New Attractions Devised Tor Drawing
Strangers Within Their Gates Fair Held
p IN the City Streets Fres Amusement
For All.
The citizens Of Peru, Ind are con-
/ WINGED that the best interests Of their
town demand that strangers shall know
what q desirable place it is to live IN.
as we'll as Offering first class facilities
for trade, SO they are continually think
ing mp some new scheme to draw the in 1.
habitants ct the surrounding country to
their hospitable city. a free street fair,
held upon the main business streets Of
the city, has proved great drawing
card and has been Of great value to the
business Of Peru.
The street fair as seen in Peru is al
most altogether the devel opment Of local
ingenuity. Scarcely a year ago attention
was called to street attraction which
was produced in one Of the towns in an
| adjacent state. It seemed good idea,
and committee Of citizens was sent to
ascertain just what it was. The gentle
men returned with the idea that Peru
could vastly improve on the plan. It
was at once decided to have a street fair
there. Preparations were begun, and
within q month the first great event was
inaugurated. Even with that short time
for preparation the weeks fair proved
such an event that it has been the talk
| Of the state ever since. The secret lies
principally in the fact that Peru pos
sesses an except onally energetic class of
business men, who are always ready and
willing to associate themselves closely
and use their money to advance the in
terests Of the city in any manner posi-
BILE. In this way Peru has made repu-.
tation for itself, and whenever an event
is advertised to take place there the peo-
pie everywhere show a wonderful con-
fdence and lend their patronage to a
most generous degree.
Last years fair was complete sue
s as a novelty, even though the time
Of preparation was SO short, and from
5000 to 10000 strangers came to visit
it daily. It was something entirely
| new, devised through the ingenuity and
liberality Of the. merchants, and not
copied after anything under the sun
The fair of 1894 had not been finished
when it was decided to have another
this year, and most elaborate prepara-
tions have been going on since.
Everything is free. There is no car
fare to pay to distant grounds, no en-
trance fees to see the attractions, and
there is where the merchants who fur
nish this free show are benefited. A
crowd treated thus generously cannot
fail to be moved to a degree Of gener os-.
ity in return, especially to the extent of
| making purchases from among the
tempting offers Of the varied displays.
The association officers, with the aid
Of every individual business man in the.
city, have planned an attraction that
would be hard to excel. The business
men and public spirited citizens gener
ally We're first asked for subscriptions to
guarantee the expenses Of the event. A
fund Of several thousand dollars was as
sured with little trouble, and prepara-
tions then began in earnest Numerous
committees We're empowered to attend
to the advertising, to interest merchants
in making displays, to securing amuse-
ments for the crowds, and for the dozens
Of other necessary things, and the gen
tlemen composing them have done their
work SO we'll that complete success for
the whole is assured
The principal business thoroughfare
is filed from end to end with displays
The side streets, too, for several squares
are utilized in the same manner. The
city council has authorized the fair as
ISOLATION to suspend travel in vehicles
through these thoroughfares. thus leav-
ing the entire street from curb to curb
open to the people.
The individual displays Of the mer-
chants are made in booths or stands To-
Gated directly In front Of their doors,
across the gutter and curbing. Most Of
them are constructed in most substan-
tial manner, of good lumber and with
waterproof roofs. In these the merchants
expose their most attractive goods and
vie with each other in displaying in the
most attractive manner possible. Some
Of tho booths are 90 by 40 feet in size,
and it is easy to see that with such accom-
| modations the displays can be both com
plete and striking. Many have added
some form OF amuseme nt or free refresh
ment to their displays.
The county fair part that is, the horse,
cattle, poultry and other departments
is arranged in the center Of the streets,
either in sheds or tents. The art, do
nestle, fancy work and other feminine
departments are given quarters IN halls
or vacant storeroon,s n at convenient
places. The races, balloon ascensions,
etc, are all TO be seen upon the streets
and are all free. 81.
The citizens Of Perm deserve credit for
the ingenuity and public spirit displayed
and deserve the benefits that are sure to
come to q community that works to-
gether as one man for the improvement
tISn3% 1,nS,n E%<,rr, & Z