Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-08-26
TIE STATE FAIR Opens
Friday the Biggest First Day In
the History Of the Asso-
citation.
Railroad officials Predict Biggest
Traffic For Many Years-some
Unusual Attractions.
The New Art Hall Completed-End
OF Century Collection--The
County Fairs.


fair opened yesterday, though in only an
way. No admission was {
charged to the grounds, and none will
be charged today. The first admission
fee will be asked on Sunday, when the
attraction will be lecture in the af-
ternoon by Gen. Charles King on the
Philippine question. Gen. King has re-
Gently returned from service In the ORR
emit and his address will draw a large |,
attendance For Sunday % cents adj
mission will be charged, with 10 cents
additional for the amphitheater.
Probably the testimony of railroad
men yesterday as to the number of
fair visitors who came into town during
the day furnishes the most convincing
proof that this years attendance Will
be the largest ever known. Indeed, rail-
road men are more confident on this
point than anybody else, and they have
the best information. Many of them
say there will be twice as many state
fair tickets sold this year as ever be-
fore. Yesterday, for Instance, the Rock /
Island brought into town. on fair tick
cts. between LOO and 1900 people. 1t /
was by far. the largest number ever
brought in on the Friday before the
fair. Other roads estimate their pat
ronage at figures which bring the total
up to between 5000 and $500. And this I
before the fair is in any way ready for
visitors. The question with railroad
men is whether they will be able to
handle the crowds of next week.
Friday was the busiest day. at fair
Headquarters, ever experienced on the
informal opening occasion. The offices
of the president and secretary We're
crowded all day. BY the middle of the
afternoon 400 exhibitors tickets had
been sold, which is something like twice
as many as are usually taken so early
| in the season. The number of exhibits
is already SO large that during the af-
ternoon exhibitors We're almost fighting
for space, and in some departments it
was given out that difficulty would be
encountered in taking care of them.
All the members of the executive
lcommittee and most of the directors are
here looking after their various DEPART
ments. THE most gratifying feature
| thus far said Secretary Van Houten,
4 is that the live stock exhibits are COM
ing back to us. For several years, dur
ing the period of depression, and when
4 values of horses and cattle were low,
breeders did not consider it worth
while to stand a large expense to send
their fine stock to the fair. All the
western fairs suffered as a result But
prices are better, demand is larger, and
4 Iowa farmers are doing more to i'm
prove their stock than ever before The
breeders have discovered that the very
place to exhibit, If they want results, is
at the Iowa fair, and they are here in
force. We will have the best all-round
show of live stock ever seen at an Iowa
fair. Exhibitors are coming with big
4 strings of fine cattle and blooded horses
from Wisconsin. Illinois, Minnesota,
4 Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri, and we
may have some from other states
4 On account of four classes failing to
MI in the racing entries the association
a few days ago announced the opening
of four new classes These will not close
till Monday, and 1t is Impossible as vet
to say how we'll they will fill but pres
ent indications are that every class will
draw large field. In the other classes
the entries include some of the best
horses that have campaigned in the
west this year. The fields will not be
SO large or so good, however, on ac-
, count of the competition of the big Nut
wood meeting at Dubuque during the
same week as the fair.
After disagreement between the
fair management and Mr.. Charles A.
drumming, the artist who has been the
chler promoter of the art exhibit mat
terS have been srnoothed out and 1t is
now assured that this will be one of the
, best departments of the show For
years the aggregation of painted china
lcrazy-patchwork. India ink portraits
and occasional water colors. or oil
paintings. labelled an art exhibit, has
| been o joke among people who claimed
: to understand art. Last fan the man
: agement determined to either have a
, real art show or else give up the effor,
1 to have any at ALL MIR. Cumming took
D an interest in the matter. He induced
S the directors to erect an art hall, anC
r this has just been completed. 1t is one
of the finest buildings on the grounds
2 across the avenue to the southwest
e from the main exposition hall. 1t ha.
e excellent light, is arranged with tn,
: Especial design of showing all kinds o,
e art work to advantage. and also Of
making visitors comfortable. Mr.. Cum
J. lining, himself a painter, protested
a against the selection as judges of per
: sons whom he did not believe competen
: to criticise and judge art works of tn,
r class which were promised this season
e He told the board as much, and tn,
board was indignant. The matter ha
finally been arranged to the satisfac
Ition of everybody. MIR. Cumming will
exhibit and so will his friends A larg,
e number of exhibits are already in posi-
Z, ton in this building, including man,
: very valuable paintings. 1t will be b.
e far the best collection of meritorious ar
works ever brought together in thi
Is state.
,r The end-of -the-century exhibit, show
ing curios of half century and a cen
= fury ago-spinning wheels, looms. prim
itive agricultural implements, home
n, spun goods, old-fashioned clothing. bri
dal gowns of the era of the second wa
h with England, firearms and other weap
ons a century old. and scores of othe
l. interesting relics-alongside of thei
ID counterparts of the present generation
ID is one OF the most instructive and inter
testing sections of the show. Contribu
m tions have been received from all quar-
tiers of the state.
Monday will be the first day when tn
completed show will be ready for visl
Il Vvrp- ,