The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-08-30
AIN ENORMOUS
UNDERTAKING
IS The FAIR.
Before the First Spectator Enters the
Grounds $780, 900 viii Have
Been Spent.
ONE DAY OF BAD WEATHER
Means Loss That Will Require Two
Fairs to Wipe out-Figures
of Interest.

Few people realize what an enormous
undertaking is the getting ready of the
West Virginia Stute Fair for the ap-
pearance OF the first patron. For
months Secretary Hook and staff of
Woodworking assistants are busily en-
gagged In working out the many details
OF the undertaking. Everything Is
systcmatized, and as the executive
head. Secretary Hook has the whole
great and complex machine under his
Immediate direction.
Before the first patron enters the
grounds on opening day. the associa-
tion will have spent the enormous sum
OF $4,000 In laying out the great ex-
hibltion. And bad weather on one day
means that there will be loss Of $4,000
or $4,000 for the association to carry
over for the following year. Last year
there was one bad day, and the loss
was just, $1,000 in decreased attend
ance. If the association could receive
guarantee OF first class weather from
the weather bureau or from anyone
else. they would be willing TO put up q
good stlff price. for 1T.
The postage stamp expenditure alone
is $1,000. Twenty. thousand bulletins
are mailed throughout the tri-stata
rndius. Seven thousand hangers go
through the malls. Three thousand
premium lists are sent out In the same
manner, and in addition there is great
lot OF other printed matter, besides the
writing of thousands of letters in an
swer to inquiries. The associations
printing bill each year is something like
$500. Advertisements are carried in
seventy-two newspapers Mt q cost Of
$500 $4,000 is given intp purses to the
horsemen. $1,000 goes out In premiums,
Then there Is the Improvement ac-
count: this year about 5000 goes out.
A great electric lighting plant has
been put in especially for the night
sessions; kennels have been built for
the dog show; the German Village has
made IT'S appearance back OF the
grand stand: the different departments
have received attention; everything has
been given n new coat of whitcwash--:
at every turn there are evidences of
mony put out in liberal amounts.
The whitewashlng is done by ma
chine. In five days five men have dsne
what the same number OF men would
have been unable to do In two weeks
or more. Twenty barrels Of lime were
used. s%s
The new siute roof of the grand
stand was finished yesterday afternoon
by Contractor Schencrleln.
Although the time for closing entries
In several OF the departments Is at
hnnd. there is still n great demand for
premium lists, and It is assured that
the number OF entries In all the depart
ments viii eclipse those OF past years.
II will be seen that the fair is not an
enterprise that5wouid Invite Investment
MS nm Investment pure and simple. The
men who have put their money and de-
voted much Of their time ana talents in
conducting this fair We're not brought
into It by desire to make money-,hcy
We're ruled by desire to give Wheeling
nm attractionTat least once n year that
Will bring tremendous crowds and re-
suit In giving the town n good ndvcr-
s'sement throughout nm extensive re-