The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-10-05
SOME POINTERS.
Account of a Visit to the Illinois State
Fair.

agricultural country, with the great
est profusion of clean corn fields to b.
seen almost anywhere. 1t seems lik
the one crop corn gives place to every
thing else.
Had it not been for the continuou
rains of Wednesday and Thursday the
fair would have been a great success
but their fine track was sea of mud
and the Judging of stock had to b.
done under cover in the barns.
!; There were thirty-two exhibits Of
cattle, twenty of horses, three of ponies,
four of jacks and mules, and we called
! to get the number of exhibitors of
sheep and swine. The ten county ex-
hibits from different parts of the state
showed that in each, corn was the most
prominent feature and while other
products were shown, in limited
quantities, corn was in abundance and
of the finest quality. ..--
I. The horticultural display was more
varied than that of Minnesota, but
in the display of apples, ours was
certainly far ahead in number of va
rieties and perfection of fruit. Theirs
was divided into northern, southern
and central Illinois exhibits.
The culinary department was we'll
stocked with a profusio on of bread,
pies and cakes of almost every de-
scription.
The dairy display was very small
and unpretentious and demonstrated
that the Illinois farmers are more in
terested in corn, beef cattle and hogs,
than the creamery business.
The honey exhibit required large
space for accommodation and looked
fine.
The poultry exhibit showed off to
great advantage in the large and ap-
propriate building for the purpose,
with such perfect ventilation that it
was hardly perceptable that one was
in poultry house.
The horse breeders of Illinois are
interested in the draft, coach, light
harness and gated saddle horses, and
in this last named they are making
a record for themselves. AS fine sad
dlers (going all gaits) as can be found
were on exhibition and but for the
rain we would have had treat in
this line. The buildings of the fair
grounds are very fine and expensive.
The main one being that of Illinois at
the worlds fair with it's great dome.
The woman building with it's varied
departments, was a central feature,
from the cooking school to the nursery,
it being crowded all the time The
trades building was crowded all the
time on account of the art display,
school exhibit (for which they gave
liberal premiums) exhibits from a
great many business houses and prob
ably the central attraction was the
famous lady's band "a pieces) which
rendered most excellent selections.
The agricultural implement display
was very large, but much of it was
marred by the rain, being mostly only
sheltered by tents.
Their grand stand capacity is only
about half that of ours at Hamline,
but both the mile and the half mile
tracks are fine. Their barns are not
as large as ours, but are finely finished.
They are we'll supplied with city
water and sewerage. A great ad-
vantage to stock men, convenience of
grounds and protection against fire.
Shows of all characters were to be
seen, and some were met with who had
been at our state fair and they were
telling the people of the great success
of the Minnesota fair as compared
with the Illinois, as we'll as the iber-
ality of the people of the north with
their money, and patronage. Quite
number of exhibitors of stock at our
fair were met with there, and they
were loud in their praise of the success
of Minnesota and the treatment they
received, with strong assurances that
they would come again and bring
their neighboring friends.
A special feature of the Illinois state
fair grounds is that it is a city park
and state fair grounds combined, and
is open to the public throughout the
entire year, except the week of the
fair. 1t is lighted every night except
noon-lit nights, by electricity. The
grounds are provided with beautiful
drives rustic bridges, small lakes,
fountains and small wooded parks
etc. Besides what the city does to-
wards identifying the grounds, the
state has provided the buildings and
gives $40, 000-- per annum for the fair,
which practically insures the associa
ton against loss or reputation of
premiums on account of bad weather.
The officers ga in number) are very
courteous, obliging gentlemen and are
representative men of the state leach re-
presenting his congressional district
They hold their annual election of
officers right in the midst of their fair
and all the officers terms expire at the
same time, about the middle of the
fair, but the old officers finish up the
work of the fair that is in progress at
the time of election. There are many
good features Of their fair and some
that we think can be bettered.
J. c.. CURRIER.
Frank N Ware of Amhov was in