Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-09-08

Estimates of the actual number of
people on the State Fair grounds natur-
ally varied yesterday, but old officials
and others conversant with past turn
outs on the big days were agreed
at four O'Clock. that the attendance
was up to the record. AS a matter OF
fact, which may as well be known,
there is no method Of telling accurately
how many people attend the Fair.
The cash receipts from the several
gates show in general way, but these
are never available in time for publ
cation the following morning and there
is absolutely no record of compliment
taries. The Association is liberal in
this regard, but the holders simply
show their tickets at the gates and pass
in, and no count is kept. There are
many hundreds of these tickets, some
used every day, some only once, and
few not at all, and in the absence of
turn-stiles a count is impossible. Yes
terday's attendance is what passes for
a twenty Thousand crowd, and this is
probably not far wrong, despite the
thunder storm of about noon. which
a. exbtedly kept away q thousand or
fifteen hundred city people The
strangers attended to a man, and were
very much in evidence all through the
day. At three o'clock the grand stand
which has seating accommodations for
$3.50, was filled. There were a few va
cant seats, but more people were stand
ing than would have filled the empty
chairs, and at least $500 people were
within the building, with two thousand
more under it and in the space between
the stand and the track. Around the
half mile track there was a solid row
CT people, often from two to half a
dozen deep, and this crowd must have
numbered seven or eight thousand.
The remainder were scattered over the
grounds and in the various buildings
which even at the height Of the races
were filled, while every attraction in
the Midway was coming money. At
the office in the evening no definite es-
innate could be given of the attendance,
except that it was about as large as
was ever known. and that the attend
ance was, considering the weather, alb
so1utely satisfactory. Money has been
made for the Association and with ev-
en- a moderate attendance on this, the
closing day. the management will feel
encouraged to go ahead with some pro-
jected improvement and give even a
larger and better Fair next year.
Some plans in this direction have al
way.
Yesterday morning was a pleasant
one, but about ten o'clock the sky
clouded up in the west, and without the
barometer dropping even cine point
thunder storm set in which lasted for
an hour and a half. Before it broke
there were thousands of people on the
grounds, and they kept coming despite
the rain, which continued until after
noon. At one o'clock the rain ceased
and the clouds lightened, and at two
the sun came out good and hot, rapidly
removing the effects of the. rain. The
track was heavy at one O'Clock, when
the cavalcade took place. but it was
well worked, while the horses were
held back for half an hour, and later
in the afternoon it was in fine condi-
,tion. To-day it will be fast, as the
wetting, although coming at an inoppor-
tune time, was really good thing.
Two of the best races of the week are
scheduled for this afternoon, and the
entries will be found in the proper
place.
The day on the grounds was a peace
'ful and quiet one not one instance of
disorder being reported. The crowd
was big, good-natured and happy, and
the day was a really enjoyable one.
There was some small pickering on the
race track over one of the specialties
by the Cook combination, but it was
adjusted happily, and the public got
the benefit of the performance. To-
day this excellent aggregation of talent
will present another series of perform
ances. With one unfinished race and
the two regular events for to-day there
will be no Lack Of amusements on the
turf It is children's day, and the lit