Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-09-08
MONSTER CROWD.
Between 10000 and 10000
People at State Fair.
Receipts So Far Sll72 Ahead Of Last
Year---a New Record.
Annual Meeting Of S0ciety-Old officers. With
One Exception, Reelected.

how many people have passed through
the gates. for the management are not
doing as they used to do when they
gave out the number of people and the
it. They haven't got the full returns
in when you ask them now and per-
haps it is as Well. Nevertheless this is
doubtless the greatest day Of the years
crowds it is safe to assume that it is
as large. if not larger, than any crowd
that has ever before been upon the
grounds, which is pleasing news to the
friends of the association. The num-
her is VariouSly estimated from 10000
to 10000 people.
1t seemed as though every town and
city in the State had turned out some
of its people TO be here. Every one
| but Portland, who, by the way. do not
| know that the Lewiston fair is in pro-
! gress. so it is said. Some of the Port
| lard people are here and they have
called on the Journal asking the ques-
ton that cannot be answered. why
| do not the Portland papers give us
| something beside the results of the
| races? We want to learn something
Of the fair itself" The papers proba-
bly, have some reason, or they would
not remain SO quiet on the subject
All the friends of the exhibitors have
come to see how the different colored
ribbons look on the exhibits. Those
who are friendly to the winners are, of
course. saying they knew these would
win. while the others are looking over
the different ones and wondering why.
The cattle had admirers. today, in leg
ions. The throngs about the cattle
sheds was immense Those who looked
on while the judges We're at work on
the cattle and horses. judging by
points. found many things to interest
them.
The poultry fanciers found interest
in watching the experts as they in
spected every pair of the fowls and
Judged by points. There have been so
many of these that every class has to
| be Judged in a most scrutinizing man
| ner. You know they judge from the
condition. color. shape. comb, legs,
| feathers and many other minor points
that YOU and l would never think of
| looking for.
| It is said this poultry house will be
|
The great fault has been that it is too
dark for a good exhibition hall. Some
of the cages on the inside are so very
dark that the judges can do no work
there and have to carry the contents
of the cages to the doors.
Those who came, today, for the pur-
pose Of seeing the 2.10 pace found they
| had a better day to see fast trotting
than on Wednesday. when the wind
| blew in such a gale. There was a lit
tie breeze stirring but it was not equal
| to that of yesterday. The Fair AsSo-
citation. with thought of the comfort of
| its patrons. had the street sprinklers
out in greater force than ever to wet
down every square inch from the gates
| to the grand stand so that the dust
| would not be 50 bad for people. There
| were many Il set of sore eyes, this
| morning, on account of yesterdays
| time passed here at the park in the
| wind and dust. which was at times
| binding in spite of the water that was
| sprnkled over the ground. 1t kept the
| people the greater part of the time at
! tending to their eyes and their glasses.
| There was breeze. today, but not
| equal to that of yesterday. Today's
| has been more of the congenial order.
| The visitors from over Augusta way
have not been so numerous, though
| there have been several. The crowd
| from the kennebec section must have
expended itself Wednesday, in coming
over to see the Governor and staff, you
know that is a sight Augustans so sell
| dom see that they do not miss an OPP
portunity when it presents itself.
BY the way, the people over this way
are wondering what was the use to
which certain Kennebec county Of
fetal and ex-mayor of Augusta, would
put the whips he was buying, Wednes-
| dav. He was over in the Midway and his
powerful. commanding form doomed up
above every one there. He could not
resist the temptation Of bargain that
| presented itself in the form of six
whips of the first quality for 81, and he
purchased them. He owns nothing in
the way Of a vehicle but a bicycle, so
what is the use of the whips?
| Down at the Elm house that same
| evening it seemed as though one was
back at Augusta, possibly in the Au-
c,sta house rotunda. There were the
| members Of the Governors staff. with
| several of the State officials, among
| whom were Commissioners Oak and
| Stanley, and then there was Treasurer
NJ. s. Campbell of the Insane hospital,
| Superintendent b. T. Sanborn of the
same institution. F. +. Guernsey of
| Dover. Senator Blanchard of Franklin
county. Nathan Weston of Augusta, w.
G. Boothby, S. S. Patten, ]. M. Mum
70. |. @. Gage and l.. l.. Cooper of Au-
gusta. together with a score or more
of prominent men who come to Angus
ia during the Legislative season.
This estimating of crowds on such
/ large grounds is very uncertain bust
ness" said q man who has been con-
nected with the fair for years, but |
| tell you 10000 people is an immense
| crowd and / doubt if there are any
where near that number here. today,
even though some say there have been.
/ should set it at 10000 people. have it
| called a conservative estimate"
( CONTINUED on page 81