The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-11
Commercial Club Suggests Gi-
gantic Entertainment.
Combine Street Pageant With
Agriculture and Stock Show.
COMMITTEE REPORTS.
Plan For the Big Event Is
Briefly Outlined.
Club Elects Directors and
Hears Reports.

The Commercial club has declared in
favor of a state fair for next falls
'doin's.' to be held in connection with
other features of entertainment. The
special committee appointed some time
ago to take the matter in charge, sub
Initted a general outline for the next
fall festival, which was approved by the
club. The committee said in its re-
port:
After carefully considering all pro-
positions submitted to US, we find that
there is an overwhelming sentiment,
both in the city and among the stock
men over the state, in favor of an en-
tertainment consisting, as a basis for
attraction, of an industrial and agricul-
tural exhibition given at the fair
grounds to continue for one week. This
should be called The Kansas Industrial
Fair and Fall Festival Special
emphasis should be given to exhibitions
of live stock and poultry, and exhibit
tons of modern machinery, in motion,
including the new automobiles, operated
by various motor powers, and with
these special exhibitions Of speed should
be arranged. Liberal purses should be
offered for these races, and the attend
ance Of some of the best horses in the
country should be obtained, even at a
seeming large cost.
I'VE recommend that other features
or the exposition shall be as elaborate
as means for promoting the same can
be secured We believe that all enter
tainment during the day time should be
given at the fair grounds, except that
during the forenoons those at the head
of our principal Industries of Topeka,
such as the printing plants and manu-
featuring industries, should set apart
certain hours to be indicated on the Off
cia1 programme when they would open
their plants for the inspection of visit
ors, they making a special effort to
have competent persons in attendance
a q nd
This idea, was suggested to your COM
m1ttee by the plan recently adopted by
Crane & Co, to exhibit their printing
plant during the progress of the meet
ing of the State Teachers association,
and we are informed that a very large
number of visitors in the city at that
time took advantage of the offer Of
Crane & Co, and were highly entertain
ed. We think there are numerous in
dustries in this city which could be
shown in this manner, resulting in
profit to the owners and entertainment
TO the public During each evening we
think that some form of free entertain
ment should be afforded on the streets.
We suggest for one evening that all of
the fine stock, horses and eQuipageS
be paraded on Kansas avenue under
electric lights. This parade could be
headed by the Topeka City Troop, and
in it motor vehicles and bicycles could
participate.
For another evening we suggest a
floral parade to be Illuminated by cleo
trio SearchlightS, placed at uniform dis
tances and with colOred screens, max
ing the parade an iridescent dream.
For another evening we suggest
that the new auditorium be open, in
which the services of some great orator
of national fame should be procured.
Perhaps this would be feasible as this
would be during the national campaign.
It might be well even to have two even
ings devoted to this, one evening being
taken charge of by one political party
and the other evening by another politi-
cal party-or a joint debate. If this
should be undertaken of course there
should be obtained the greatest orators
Of the country.
Another evening the two political
dambeau clubs should be asked to unite
in giving a fireworks exhibition. At
this time an electrical display could be
given Brilliant set pieces of ever
shifting design, operated electrically
including an electrO-pyrotechni dis
play which would leave a lasting i'm
preston upon the visitors. One member
of our committee is now at work elab-
Grating a plan for this kind of an en-
tertatnment. The searchlights used on
previous evenings for parades could be
used with effect on this occasion. If
more entertainment of this kind is de-
sirable, one evening could be turned
over to the Karnival Knights, and an
other to a parade of floats supported bv
the merchants, illustrating the various
commodities. Immediately following
this the merchants could open their
stores from which large revenue in
trade ought to be derived ElabOra re
preparations for music should be made
for these various entertainments, and
to that end it might be we'll to inaug-
urate band contests.
"On account of the fact that this COM
mittee was selected at about the time
of the commencement of the holiday
trade, they have not been able collec-
lively to give this matter as much
study as might be desired but from
such Investigations as we have been
able to give the subject, we feel war
ranted in submitting the above general
plan"
Frank H. Foster is chairman of the
committee, and the report was signed
by him and by c. r. Maunsen, F. NJ
Newland and r. W. Squires.
Immediately following the reading OF
the report, T, D. Hubbard of KimbalI
a member of the state fair committee
of the State Breeders association, was
introduced and gave his ideas concern
ing a state fair. He attended the Ohio
state fair last fall and described it al
some length, stating that all fakes
gambling devices and immoral enter
tainments were kept away from it, an6
was a great success CORRESPONDENCE.
On motion of James A. Troutman the
general plan of the report was approx
ed, and the special committee was con
tinued, with instructions to confer fur
Their with the breeders association, anC
to call a special meeting Of the cluT
whenever they had anything of interes
to present to it.
NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
The January meeting of the CONNER
cial club is also the annual meeting, anC
in addition to the reception of the an
nual reports of the officers, a new boart
of directors was elected.
Captain H. NJ. Philips, Judge T. F
Carver and Charles P. Adams were ap
pointed as a committee to nominate :
board of directors, and on their recon
mendations the following were electe,
to have charge of the affairs of tn
club during the coming year:
NJ. c. Holman.
Edward Wilder.
r S. Brigham.