The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-22

booths 2'' asked Mr. Crosby.
About 50 a front foot generally, and
an exhibitor can have as much space as
he likes. This makes a ten foot booth
cost $50. -
Secretary Anderson suggested that
DR.. Gray retire for 4 short time so that
position. After he had gone Mr.. Brig
ham opened the discussion by opposing
the proposition
Topeka started the fall festival bust
ness in 1896, and it was a success" said
Mr.. Brigham In 1897 we had the
largest fall festival in our history, due
largely to the interest OF the Santa Fe
in its quarter-centennial- In 1898 the fall
festival was not a success, and many
people believe that a fall festival every
year is more than the town can stand
In 1899 no attempt was made to hold
fall festival on account OF our big re-
ception to the Twentieth Kansas.
We want to have a big celebration
in connection with the opening of the
auditorium next fall. and some street
entertainment in connection with it.
don't believe we ought to try to run
two shows in one summer, and I don't
believe that we could get the farmers
out in the month of May when they are
busy. l believe it would be a serious
mistake to take this thing up at this
time. | think, too, that it would be
better to Get up our own shows rather
than to contribute to some outside cor
pOration.
DO you think we could make a sue
cess of a street fair next faIl?'' asked
Secretary Anderson
Il do not see why we could not" said
Mr.. Brigham. And I think we could
do it without giving away 80 1-3 per
cent of the profits
Brigham. He may be right about the
time, but / believe it would be a good
idea to get somebody to run an affair of
this kind who has had experience and
N hon raj NO mo Mt ic +
get people here. I think it is probably
not good policy to attempt two shows in
one summer, but We nave to depend on
the towns around US for a crowd and
as they have fall celebrations of their
own. it is a subject which we ought to
consider"
Mr. Wise: This will be a busy year.
Next fall we will be in the heat of a
large number of county fairs and coun-
try street fairs I believe a thing of this
kind would be better in the spring, be-
cause we can then get our entertain
ments at a better rate. think, too, it
would be better to get men who know
how to run this sort of a thing to get it
up for us. 1t is their business and they
understand it. l have attended three
street fairs and / believe they are
good thing.
Mr. Bonebrake: IF we have a street
fair at all, we ought to have it in the
spring. I don't believe it ought to be
postponed. In the fall we will have our
auditorium opening, and rather favor
a. street fair this spring. The auditor
ium opening will be an indoor entertain
ment, and 1 think We ought to combine
our efforts to make that big sue
cess"
Mr.. Steinberg: Il don't like to confess
it, gentlemen, but don't believe we can
make a success Of a fall festival this
year 1 am a member of the fall feSti-
val committee and I must say that there
&c NJ interest that iS necessary to
make it go. We can't get at it right
Some of the members want a state fair
or nothing, and others don't believe in
state fair It takes about $4,000 to
run a state fair. I believe a street fair
is a good proposition, and also believe
we ought to get this or some other good
firm to manage it. They don't ask a
guarantee, but only percentage, so we
won't be out anything"
Mr.. GreenWald: when DR.. Gray first
came here he talked about guarantee,
but l told him it was out of the question
and he then said that he was willing to
come here and take his chances with the
club, because he has watched US and
knows we work together. The principal
thing l object TO is giving 80 1-3 per
cent OF the gross receipts. 1t seems to
me that is too much"
Major Anderson: This fall festival
business is in very bad shape. Not
thing has yet been accomplished
towards it. The fall festival committee
When the fall festival was new it was
big thing and drew, but now. as DR..
Gray says. we have educated the east
ern cities and the surrounding towns,
and now everybody has a fall celebra-
ton. The only way to make it go is to
get up something new, and that is
hard thing to do
I'VE can get a crowd here to our mus
zeal festival" continued Major Ander-
son, ''but it will not make money for
the merchants. This will be something
that will enable the merchants to sell
goods. while if we get a crowd here in
the fall for the same purpose we will
have to get something very extraordi-
nary to do it"
Mr. Sheard: Il am in favor of this
proposition. I don't believe in state
fairs, because it takes too much money
to get them up and does the town no
great amount Of good. People come to
town, go out to the fair grounds with
their lunch baskets and stay there till
it is time to go home"
Mr.. Weber: IF we have a street fair
at all 1 believe it ought to be in the
spring. In the fall we will have the au-
ditorium opening and this will be fol-
lowed in November by the pure food
show"
Mayor Drew: How many merchants
would take space in a street fair?"
Mr. Crosby: practically every one"
Mr.. Steinberg: I believe every one
would if the price for booths is reason
able, and that Will De nXed Dy the COM
mercial club"
Mr. Wise: There will be 2.4O0 feet of
space for sale. This will cost about 81
a foot to get the thing up. At SO a foot
there will be a profit of 81 a foot on the
booths
Mr. Wilder was called on to give his
opinion and he said:
4 am not a merchant and am not so
vitality interested in this proposition as
some of the rest, SO have not express
ed myself. 1 have never been in favor
of street fairs, because have thought
them an Indifferent sort of entertain
ment. I have never seen one, but since
1 have heard DIR. Gray talk 1 have felt
as though 1 had already seen a big
street fair and that We had a good
profit in our pockets. IF we have one
at all it ought to be in the spring. 1
would not favor attempting a regular
fall festival next fall. but rather would
favor putting all our efforts into max
ing a big success of our musical enter
tainnent at the opening of the auditor