Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-05-18
STATE FAIR THIS YEAR.
Preliminary Steps Taken for
the Coming Show.
WHAT STATE ASSOCIATION WANTS
Suitable and Attractive Amusements
Must be Given to Draw and Interest the
People-Plans and Preparation to BE
Rushed - Miscellaneous Iowa Matters.
Preparntio for the State Fair

preparation the state
Preparations for the coming state
fair are already under way, says the
Iowa State Register. A conference
was held Monday in the Commercial
Exchange rooms between President w.
F. Hartman and Secretary G. H. Van
Houten. representing the State Far
association; President John NJ. Reed
and Secretary Milo Ward, of the Com
mercial Exchange; Secretary E. M.
Ford and w. w. Wilmer, of the Audi
torium company; and ]. S. Emery and
Mr.. Matthews, of the Semi ON Sed. AS
2 result of the conference a mass meet
ing OF citizens was called for Wednes-
day evening to devise means OF enter
;ainment for the week of the state fair.
What we want" said Secretary Van
Houten, on behalf of the State Fair
association, lis some suitable and at
tractive amusements to be given in the
city each evening during the state fair.
These must be of an order which will
attract people to the city and the fair.
If the citizens of Des Moines, either
the Auditorium company or the Semi
ON Sed association will arrange for
this, our association will leave the
program open for each evening of the
week, and advertise the amusements
furnished with the rest of our fair
attractions. We want a high class Of
entertainment, however, one which
will draw crowds to the fair. The
people of Dies MOines appreciate the
necessity of this as well as the direc-
tors of the fair and we ask co-opera-
ton on your part"
Mr.. Emery proposed that the Semi
ON Sed agree to furnish portion OF
the attractions, giving street enter
tainmerts on at least two evenings Of
the week and that the Auditorium
company arrange for the balance Of
the time or else furnish attractions in
the auditorium simultaneously with
the street amusements. The Semi ON
Sed association, Mr.. Emery believed,
could be induced to put on some good
attractions. The arches for the street
illumination were already in the pos
session Of the association and could be
put in place at little expense. These
could be utilized later at another en-
tertainment by the association II 1t
was seen fit.
Mr.. Wilmer, on behalf of the Audi
torium company, stated that he believ-
ed the directors Of the auditorium
would be glad to arrange for a weeks
attractions in the auditorium. The
company was in need of funds and
would be only too willing to undertake
some series of amuSements, which
would not only attract people to the
city but also prove Of pecuniary ben
eft to the company. Mr.. Wilmer said
that he would take up the matter with
the company at its meeting in the
evening, and that a definite announce
ment would be made Immediately.
The representatives of the State Fair
association urged that immediate &C
ton be taken as it was necessary that
plans be arranged so that the neces-
sary advertising can be put out. They
urged upon both the other associations
the necessity of providing attractions
which would draw crowds to the city
The subject of the citizens mass meet
ing was then proposed and adopted.
Later President John S. Emery, of the
Semi ON Sed association, and Secre-
tary Milo Ward, of the Commercial
Exchange, directed call for the meet
ing to be held in the Commercial EX-
change Wednesday evening at 1880
o'clock 1t is the purpose at that meet
ing to adopt full plans for the week.
At the meeting Of the executive COM
mittee of the state fair the work of
repairing the grounds was blocked out
and work will proceed Immediately.