The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-25

Secretary Tal1madge, of the Chamber
of Commerce, has spoken in favor OF
free admissions to the Minnesota state
fair, and the G ! o b 9 has directed atten-
ton to the matter in a previous issue AS
vet the members of the chamber have not
gone on record but it is quite likely that
the subject will come up for discussion at
an early day.
Is has been suggested from another
quarter that the price might protltably
be placed at Is cents OF course this
would imply an increased appropriation
from the state. The annual appropria-
ton is now $4,000. Secretary Tallmadge
has suggested that this be increased to
$50, 600 and the gates thrown open to the
public. Were the price of admission
placed at 20 cents an annual contribution
Of $4,000 might suffice for all expenses
incurred over and above the amount re-
ceived from gate admissions
But the most important point in this
connection is the making of an attractive
fair. It certainly cannot be doubted but
that much can be added to the present
Minnesota state fair In the way of bring.
ing it into sharper competition with otner
similar enterprises. That a successful
fair can be produced at the comparatively
low price of % cents for ground admis,
sion is amply demonstrated by Canada S
great exposition and industrial fair at
Toronto For several years this has been
one of the principal Canadian features.
but the one of 1899 eclipsed all previous
efforts. In 1898 the exposition attracted
an attendance of 3OO,0N0 but this was ez-
celled in 1859. In an address to the people
the manager of the Toronto enterprise
said:
HOW TORONTO DOES IT.
ut is the scale on which things arc
done that alone makes the production Of
such attractions as are given possible
Toronto is now a city of about 100000
inhabitants. If with this number TO
draw upon, locally, why would 1t not be
possible for a Minnesota state fair, To-
Gated midway between two cities, each
of equal size to Toronto, to compete sue
cessfully with any other exposition at
minimum price of admission of Is cents?
To do this, however, it would be neces
$1,000
in every particular Toronto does this.
In the first place it is comprehensive
representation of the agricultural, indus
trial and mineral resources of the Dom1n-
lon of Canada The buildings on the
ground are fitted with the products of the
farm, orchard, garden. factory, field, for
est, lake, stream and mine, together with
the latest inventions and most novel
features gathered from various hooks
and corners Of the universe. Among the
departments of interest are the process
of manufacture in iron and wood working
machinery, specimens in natural history,
butter making competitions, hall Of cleo
trical science, special exhibits made by
the Canadian Pacific Railway company;
new art gallery erected by the Grand
Trunk Railway company; trotting, run
ming and hurdle races, bench show of
dogs, fine are exhibit under the manage
ment Of the Ontario Society of Artists,
military features, introducing the tattoo,
bivouac and reveille, with fireworks ef
fects and massed bands, balloon ascep-
sions, experiments illustrating the ex-
plosive power Of gun cotton under water,
ana OIHef OutuOOT dllTdCllOHs
But in addition to all these exposition
features, there are, also, a complete
CIRCUS AND HIPPoDROME
and a high-class refined continuous
vaudeville entertainment in spacious
building known as the Exposition Music
hall None of the artists in either circus
or theater are mediocre Each one is an
expert in his or her speciality. The names
of the performers, which are given on the
programmes, attest the truth Of this as
sertion There is nothing cheap, second
class or clap-trapping in the entire list.
But with the Minnesota state fair it
has been radically different in the past
Any one who would pay the price for
the concession has been permitted to ex-
hibit anything, not indecent, at any price
he might see fit to charge for the side
show. Consequently there have been
heard loud murmurs of complaint from
visitors at the fair who have justly felt
that they have been victimized. They
have paid 80 cents at the gate and 25
cents additional for grand stand privi-
leges. Under the Toronto system the
one price of admission, Is cents, has ad-
mitted the visitor to all the attractions
above enumerated. And the Toronto ex-
position is continued for two weeks
With similar high-class attractions the
Minnesota state fair might be profitably
continued that length of time.
One of the original and best features of
the state fair here, nightly Examinations
of the Capital City, has been abandoned
There has been no good reason for this
1t was a free attraction, and the more
such the better for any public enterprise
The object Of a state fair, as Secretary
Tanmadge has wisely said, one of the
greatest educational institutions, Is not
to tap the
POCkETBOOK OF THE VISITOR.
That should be the last motive to actu-
ate any management of such an enter
prise Were the admission free and the
expense met by a liberal state appropria-
ton each visitor would feel that he or
she was paying a share, apportioned to
taxation, of the whole show Conse-
quently visitors would be brought on a
more friendly footing, and then would
prevail better feeling Of equality and
fraternity. Certainly the attendance
would be many-fol0 larger. These are
two arguments for free admissions But
for the single admission prices of 25 cents
there are many others. With the end
kent constantly in view of presenting the