The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-02
THE QUESTION OF DATES
BUSINESS MEN APPEAL TO THE
BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.
Anxious that the State Fair should
Not Conflict with the Il. OF p
Question Not Yet Settled.

The question OF fixing the date for the
state fair this year was the most important
matter discussed yesterday at a full meet
ing of the State Board of Agriculture. held
in the Statehouse. A committee represent
ing the business organizations of the city
appeared before the board for the purpose
of urging the fixing of the date at time
when it would not conflict with the knights
of Pythias conclave, which is to be held the
last week in August A number of the
members Of the board, and in particular
James u. Mcdonald, of Ligonier, were
strong III the opinion that in order to in
sure the success of the fair it should be
held during the same week the knights are
here. The argument in support of this view
was that the low rates on the railroads
during the L. A. w. meet and the knights
conclave, both OF which gatherings come in
August, would drain the State of possible
visitors to the city that the subsequent
holding of the fair would result in it's losing
its usual state patronage. 1t was, there
fore, serious question whether the fair,
instead of being held at its usual time dur
ing the third week in September, should
not be held when there was a crowd iii the
city. 1t was also argued that the fair
would not necessarily conflict with the ar
rangements for the entertainment of the
Knights and that it might, on the other
hand, prove valuable attraction for the
week.
The members of the business committee
that had to combat these views was COM
posed of d. p. Erwin, d. NJ. Parry, Evans
Woollen, William Fortune and II. e. Kim
ney Mr.. Erwin told the board that he
would regret seeing the state board made
a side show of the X. of p. meeting. He
thought the board might place itself in an
undignifed position by holding the fair
when the knights were here. He also said
that it depended upon the board itself
whether the fair would bs a financial sue
cess, and that disappointment would re-
suit If the board acted On the idea that the
meeting of the knights would assist in
making it success. There is but one
thing said he, that will make the fair
success, and that is the securing of as good
an attraction as was had last year"
Mr.. Parry said that the commercial or
ganizations of the city would be glad to CO.
operate with the board in any effort to
make the fair success, and he thought
that it may be possible to secure 1-cent-a-
mile. rates on the railroads for the fair, the
same as for the knights of Pythias. He
showed the DOarQ LndI the limit OF Jlne on
the tickets to the conclave was SO short
that the fair could reap only one days
benefit from the crowd that would come
at that time. The other members Of the
committee also addressed the board, and
the conference closed by a statement from
President Downing, of the board, that the
sentiment of the members was largely in
favor of holding the fair at the usual time,
which would be two weeks after the meet
ing of the Knights No vote was taken,
however, and the board will meet again
this morning to further consider the mat
ter
Besides considering the question of the
date of the fair the board revised the prem
ium list and appointed the superintendent
of the various departments of the
fair. The premium list will foot up
about $4,000, which is practically the same
as it was last year. The superintendent
selected were: Admission department,
Aaron Jones, South Bend; grand stand,
Krode Porter, Hagerstown; speed M. S.
Claypoo Muncie; horses, j. c. Haines,
Lake; beef cattle, Claude Matthews, Clin-
ton; dairy cattle and products, Mortimer
lowering, Lafayette; swine, Mason j. Nib
lack, Vincennes; sheep, Hiram Rowland
Rowland; poultry, Colt Barnett, Logans-
port; art department, James e. Mcdonald
Ligonier; Horticulture, E.. H. Robson
Charlottesville; machinery, w. W. Stevens,
Salem, and privileges, IL. L. Nowlin,
LaWrenceburg.