The Portland daily press., 1896-08-14
THE GREAT FAIR.
OF Course You Are Going to Rigby
Next Week.

Things Are Lively Now at the Park Pr e.
pairing for the Big Show-some of the
Features to Be There--Fair Weather
Means the Greatest Fair Ever Known
in Maine
Rigby is busy as bee hive these days
getting herself in readiness for the big
New England Fair next week. Carpenters
and workmen of all kinds are busy at the
park every day now from sunrise to sun
down, and by Tuesday the famous mid
way will blossom as the rose.
| All indications point to the biggest
the railroads are planning to transport i'm
mense crowds of people.
| The work of making the final arrange
ments for the New England Fair, which
will be held next week, is now occupy
ing the attention of Manager Farnham
and a large staff of clerks. The arrange
ments for a fair of such magnitude as
this one will be are not to be completed
in few days nor in few months either.
Almost Immediately after the closing of
the very successful exhibition given by
the New England Agricultural society
last year, preparations began to be made
for this years fair. Special attractions
OF various kinds had to be secured far in
advance for the dates for number of the
attractions which will be seen at Rigby
park next week are always filed for
many months ahead. However ths space
on the grounds reserved for such attrac-
| tions bave all been filed and already
some of them are beginning to arrive.
One of the best exhibits which will be
seen here and one to secure which a
/ special effort had to be made in the
management arrived this morning. This
is herd Of buffalo. deer, elks and
coyotes, the property Of the Adrian Wire
Fence company of Adria n. Mich. There
are very few buffalo left in the country
today, probably not over fifty herd in
ALL and of these only few have ever
been seen in the East. E1his exhibit will
be of great interest not alone 60 the
student of natural history, but to every
one.
The art exhibit from Boston will be
here today, and will be placed in the art
room at the City hall at once. ! 1t was
necessary to insure this collection to its
full value, many thousands Of dollars
before its owners would consent to their
being shipped.
The fakirs who will be seen on the
midway are coming to the oity in strong
force and three car loads of their goods
arrived here today.
To the lovers of speedy horses Wednes-
day will be the day of all days ON whio h
to visit the fair, for on that day the
speedy PAGER Joo Patohen, will be sent to
break the stallion pacing record. This
fast side-wheeler at Combination park,
last Saturday, made the fastest time ever
paced on a half mile track in the
country, when he was matched against
the runner Star Pointer. He negotiated
the distance in 2.05s4. His driver will
send him for all he is worth, too, for if
he does not break the record his owners
do not get a cent Of money from the
management.
1t is hoped that the North Atlantic
So uadron which left New York recently
under command of A dmiral Bunce, for
practice in squadron evolutions, may be
ssen here during fair week. Secretary of
the Navy Herbert has been written TO in
reference to the matter and it is under
stood that he has instructed Admiral
Bunoe to come here if he can make it
convenient to do so.
This city has always been noted for
the hospitality with which visiting tars,
especially those wearing Uncle Sans
uniform, are entertained, and the naval
officers are always pleased to have an op-
portunity to visit Portland.