Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-09-06
The STATE FAIR.
Opening Day Most Success
! ful Ever Known.
The Attendance Double That Of the
Opening Day Last Year.
Many improvements Made About the Fair
Grounds. Lewiston Decorates.


The Maine State fair opened in this
city, today. under what appear to be
the most favorable auspices in the his
tory of the association. Never did such
crowd gather on the opening day.
The new officers that were elected at
the close of the fair, last year, have
every cause to feel proud of the re-
suits Of their untirng efforts to make
the fair OF '9S one that was never
eclipsed in the Pine Tree State.
Treasurer Eveleth on comparing the
gate money of today, with that of last
season, finds that this years receipts
are more than double those of the pre-
ceeding year.
The exhibits are unusually large
There are more and better than ever
before. Exhibitors have come from far
and near until the number is the larg-
est in the history of any state fair in
Maine.
The most noticeable. thing about the
grounds is the repairs and changes
ltlat nave DCCn ANO OHc NOulu
scarcely recognize the Maine State fair
grounds Of former years. The change
is complete. The Improvement is re-
markable.
AS one enters the park. it is not nee
essary to turn out for fakirs and vend-
ers. They are here but the.- occupy a
position that in no way conflicts with
the exhibit From the gates you can
now see the horses trotting on the
track. At one glance you can take a
birds eye view of the whole grounds.
The labyrinth of former years has
been done away with and in it's place
is clean, handsome view not only of
the grounds proper. but the surround
ing territory, which has always lent a
charm to the general appearance.
The decorations at the park are both
handsome and unique. The Main hall
is draped in Stars and Stripes. In the
center of the decoration is a large
,icture of Sheridan on his memorable
ride down the Shenandoah. In short
everything has been done to make the
grounds attractive. The crowds APP
preciate it. They are pleased to think
that so many things have been done
to make the place a pleasant one to
visit.
Sec. Clark has looked into the moral
side of affairs. He has decided that it
pays to give the people good. clean
show. No liquor selling is allowed on
he grounds. No pools are sold and all
the shows are supposed to be reputa
ole. 1t is not slow fair. On the other
hand it is exceedingly lively. 1t gives
the general public just what they want.
They couldn't have planned it better
themselves.
To a certain class it at first may
seem to be lacking excitement, but to
most it will seem to be great i'm
provement. 1t is to be an entertain
ment, a grand entertainment where one
can take his wife and children ana
feel that they will not be insulded.
Lewiston is grandly decorated for
the occasion. The city government
and the Electric Light Co. have even
outdone themselves to have the spin
lie City be so clothed as to show its
thousands of guests that it is glad to
see them Lisbon street and Main
street are decorated their entire
length with patriotic bunting. The
lily HAIL Is MapSd botA AA''iNAS -~-N'
lut From its lofty tower to its base
s a collection of flags made up in ev-
cry conceivable way. In the centre OF
III is the picture of Washington.
The exhibits on the ground as has
been said before are unusually large,
but many have not yet arrived. Inc
fruit exhibit will be complete, Tuesday
morning. The floral display is one
that is larger and more elaborate than
anything ever before seen in Maine.
Tuesday is expected to be great
day. Old Prob will try to do his best
to encourage the crowds. In all
probability there will be $1,000 people or
the grounds, tomorrow, said a man
who has followed the fair since child
hood II tell you,' he continued, L
never saw such crowds come in the
city on Monday as l saw, yesterday
OF course only a small number went
to the park. The majority went TO
visit friends. They do their visiting
the first day and then attend the falr
all the rest of the week. Yes, 1t is
going to be great fair, fair OF
which the grand old State of Maine
will have cause to feel proud.
NGtlly -O1c OL Tic ~ new pONSS ~---~~
have been put in the grand stand this
year were sold at auction, Monday at
.arnoon. The boxes seat from six to 10
persons and the prices range from )"
10 $13. The amounts paid over those
sums was premium. !.
The sale was as follows:
Box IL, Ferd Penley. 1923; box IL, J.
s. sanborn, $2S; box IA, G. 3. Bearce,
$4s: box Is, G. w Bishop, $23; box II"
e. J. Harvey and E. c. Jack, SIS; box
II, Willard Linscott, SIS; box Is, Z. H.
Nelson, $14; box %, Mr.. Belmont. va
box 20, Col Osgood, s2S; box "a ".
Knight, $40; box %, X. c. Atwood. $4S:
box &c. Willard Linscott, SIS; box y.
DR.. Cakes, SIG; box %, f. s. Mower.
s1s: box 81, w H. White. SIG; box 80
JOS Neal, SIS; box 42. A. b. Laham.
$1s; box A, l.. A. Pray. $l3; box =, =.
G. wilson. $1s; box As, D. i. Cornish,
3d. M