The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-09-05

The Nineteenth West virginia State
Fair and Exposition opened yesterday,
with an attendance larger than has
beenusual on the opening day formerly.
AS 1t has always been in the past,
Monday was day of preparation for
the real opening of the big show. which
occurs to-day. with fine racing pro-
gramme and the performance by the
Jay Cook Hippodrome and Wild West
as the leading features. The races
begin promptly at o'clock. and the
hlppodrome specialties will be given in
front of the grand stand, between the
heats, an arrangement that gives a
continuous performance throughout the
afternoon, and does away with the
sometimes annoying waits between
heats, the average horseman not being
remarkable for the promptness with
which he enters the track.
Interest In the fair throughout the
trl-state radius Is said to be far more
general than in any former year, and
the railroad people expect to transport
the people to Wheeling in record
breaking numbers. Merchants Days"
doubtless have contributed to the in
creased interest, and the two working
tremendously together will surely make
this week remarkable for the number of
Visitors in Wheeling
In former years, the largest crowd
has always come on Thursday, but the
management would not be surprised II
Wednesday carries Off the prize this
time, for with the Merchants Days
fireworks on Wednesday night, the out
of-town crowd will undoubtedly be ire
mendous on wednesday, and naturally
the visitors will visit the fair as well
as witness the great fireworks exhibit
IIon prepared by Messrs. schwertfeger
Meyer and their associates on the
"Merchants' Days" committees.
interest In to-day's attendance will
exceed that in any other day of the
week, for on 1t hinges the winning OF
the Intelllgencer's attendance contest.
Last year there were S,OS1 admissions
on Tuesday, but 1t is believed to-day's
Will largely exceed that figure Others
also believe 1t, for the large majority
Of the 400 odd guesses that had been
registered last night estimate the at
tendance above last years, some going
as high as 1900, which. OF course, is
very Wild, but most OF them range be-
tween 5000 and 1850. The coupon ap.
pears this morning for the last time
and the contest closes at noon to-day
Coupons must be received at the count.
ing rooms at or before that hour. The
result OF the contest will be announced
In Wednesday mornings paper and tbs
So gold piece and the two season tickets
to the fair can be obtained at the
counting rooms Wednesday morning by
the lucky one.
OF the fair itself. the Intelligencei
can say with all sincerity that 1t is th'
best In the history OF the association
and is deserving OF the liberal patron
age of the people of Wheeling and thu
tri-state country. Secretary Hook anc
the directors hive left nothing undon'
that would add to the attractlveness o
the fair and to the enjoyment Of tht
public. and It now remains for the lat
ter to show their hearty appreciation
of EFFORTS made in their behalf. I'll
their behalf" is said advIsedly, for TIL
association is not n money-maklns con
Germ: the directors and the stockholderi
consider themselves wen repaid II the!
come out of the week with balance
on the right side of the ledger suitici
ent to make improvements and add
tons TO their equipment and to provid,
for the almost invariably heavy dam
ape TO the grounds caused by the higl
water in the river every spring. TIL
fair is wheellng's one big annual event
ana IT is to the credit of all Wheeling
and the good people OF the surrounding
country that the patronage In the pas
has been sufficiently large TO encouras
the fair association to remain In tn
field The IntellIgencer does not doub
the hearty good will felt By the publ
toward the association, and this goo'
viii will doubtless be demonstrated Il
large crowds every day this week
Tbe nssoesa,ion has done It's par
weII-and now. ladies and gentlemen
YOU will kindly do yours.
,,s,...I,,,. ,,,o,, IN. untes: the big Bhoy