The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-16
STATE FAIR ATTENDANCE.
GOOd-sixed Crowd Yesterday, Al
though There Was Rain,

tnOugh fhere Was Rain.
Considering the bad weather, the attend
ance at the state fair yesterday was good.
1t was aggravatingly good to the manage
ment of the fair, as it was an indication of
what the crowd would have been under
better conditions 1t may be that the rain
was good thing for the business men. as
it kept people downtown who otherwise
would have gone to the fair, and the stores
were swarming all day. In spite of all
these conditions, however, the attendance
at the fair was about 10000, Secretary Ken
redy said. On account of the rains all races
we're postponed 1t looked last night as
though there could be no racing, although
the management said if it did not rain
through the night and this forenoon it
might be possible to have races this after
noon. There was talk of continuing the
fair over Saturday. but after a meeting of
the board 1t was decided the fair should end
tonight at IL o'clock, as originally intended
The wet weather has demonstrated one
thing, and that is that the race track will
have to be resurfaced. Speaking of
the heavy condition of the tract. yesterday
afternoon. Charles Downing, president of
the State Board of Agriculture. said the
only way to improve the track would be to
resurface 1t. Most of the tracks in the
country fair grounds are made of a material
that will dry out in an hour or an hour and
half after the sun comes out 1t is not
so with the track here. 1t is of a gumbo
that cakes on the wheels of the sulkies.
and is provokingly slow in drying In dry
weather the track is most excellent but for
use during threatening weather it ought to
be one that would dry quickly. 1t is pos
sible that something will be done with it
before the next fair.
1T used to be-" said Mr.. Downing, that
racemen carried high-wheeled sulkeys for
wet weather. but that plan has been aban-
doned entirely. They will not go on this
track when it is wet. They say that their
horses slip and slide on it, besides which
the clay gathers on the wheels, locking
them. They use nothing but the low. pneu-
matic-tired sulkeys, now"
Whether the fair will be a financial suc-
cess, Mr.. Downing could not say yester-
Gay.
I'VE still have another day." he said.
and II 1T is fair the situation may brighten
UP. If possible we will give some races to-
morrow (triday), and try TO give the peo-
pie a good show yet. Every one seems
Rleased. Men VINO have been at other fairs
TINS season say that ours is the best. We
have been well treated by the newspapers
which. have taken into consideration the
difficulties we have had to meet
THEY RAN FOR THE BUILDINGS.
The crowds began arriving at the fair
grounds yesterday morning very early.
When the rain began they gathered in the
big buildings, thousands spending the time
in the art. agricultural, Horticultural and
pet stock buildings, where they had more
leisure to observe the exhibits than ordi-
narily There were whole families, many
of which had driven into the fair grounds
from the surrounding country. hitching
their horses over west of the race track
Since Sunday a number OF sideshows have
been put up In the west part of the grounds.
They appeared to have nothing objection