The Topeka state journal., 1901-07-10
To Be NO FAIR.
Dry Weather Has Probably
Killed the Project.
Will Be Revived in Time For
Next Year.
AFRAID OF THE RESULT
Want TO Make the First One a
Gigantic Success.
Horse Show and Races May Be
Given, However.
Proposal to Have Court of Hon
or on Quincy Street.

The first annual state fair to be given
BY the Kansas state Exposition com
pany win probably be called OFF until
the fall Of 1902.
The unsatisfactory crop conditions
which prevail now and which We're not
even suspected two weeks ago taken to-
gether with the small space of time left
in which to prepare for the show" said
one Of the members of the board OF
directors Of the company this morning,
is in measure responsible for the
feeling that the fair should be post
/ poned until next year"
A meeting of the board of directors
and the stockholders of the company
viii probably be called within the week.
The whole situation will be gone over
and discussed IN every detail.
1--WE want to make our first fair an
unquestionable success" said Chas.
! Samson, treasurer of the company. 1T
is necessary that the first fair be satis-
factory in every respect; that it be SO
/ that no fault whatever may be found
/ with it to command the respect of the
people of the state. 1t would be very
poor policy to give a show that would
be a fizzle. It would then be almost i'm
possible to get the people to come to
another fair here no matter how good
it should be-"
1t is being argued that on this account
it would be advisable to wait until next
year to give big state fair. This will
allow of more time to erect suitable
buildings on the fair grounds, and will
then allow ample time to gather mater
ial for the agricultural and mineral and
industrial displays which are absolute
ly necessary in the complete success OF
a big state fair
i have been over the state quite ex-
tensively during this summer, said II:
A Heath of the Kansas Farmer, and
[ find that everyone is in favor of a
big state fair. The people of the state
want it. 1t is surprising the sentiment
there is in favor of it, but in my judg-
ment it win be utterly impossible to go
to work now and give a fair that VIII
fill the requirements
Probably a good plan would be to
eliminate the exhibits this year and
hold a race meet and stock exhibit
This would attract large crowd here,
and would lay the foundation for a big
fair to be held the following year.
IF the fair is to be held this year the
advertising matter for it should have
all been stuck I'D all over the state by
this time. The premium lists and
classes for entries of exhibits and RACES
should have all been made up and pub
lished long before this 1 feel that 1t
would be q wise proceeding to wait an
other year to attempt the big show by
that time adequate room for exhibits
could be secured by getting to work this
fall to erect the proper buildings at the
fair grounds There is the contingency
that the lumber man will be unable to
secure enough lumber and in time to
build what is needed at the fair grounds
this year"
Deliveries on orders for lumber are
very backward now" said w. l. Miller,
a lumber man. 1T is caused by the
large orders that have been placed by
firms all over the country 4 have nad
considerable trouble in securing what
I have ordered"
A suggestion that only race meet
and stock exhibit be held this year has
been made It has also been suggested
that in ddition to the race meet which
would only occupy the time during the
afternoons, court of honor could be
held on the steps to the entrance to the
auditorium.
Quincy street. said Major T. J.
Anderson, of the Commercial club,
could be closed for traffic between
Seventh street and Eighth avenue, or if
it was found necessary could be closed
for two blocks, by blocking the streets
to horses and carriages. The sidewalks
could be left open and no adrnittance
charged to gain entrance to the scene
of the festivities.
MY idea would be-" he continued,
Ito hold such a show whether the state
fair is held or not Erect dancing pa
vilions near the Court of Honor. The
court could be presided over by a mock
king and queen I would suggest. too,
fnaT a great QEdA Oh LlDuEy SnOUAQ DG
expended in making the place a scene \
such as a picture from fairyland. Pro-
vide for myriad electric lights and
erect the pavilion substantially with
beautiful columns.
s.Such a show was given at St Paul
two or three years ago, and was con-
sidered a great success believe that
such an entertainment would take well
here. The street for one or two blocks,
whatever is eventually decided upon
could be converted into veritable
bower of beauty
..The Auditorium itself could be
opened and entertainment of some
class, probably q high class vaudeville
company. could give shows at stated
hours, or there could be an arrange
ment for a continuous performance"
The plan has met with the approval
of all to whom it has been suggested.
mercia1 club. when he heard of It ex-
pressed himself enthusiastically IN IA
vor of the project 1t need not inter
fe-a with the state fair in the least
he said. 1T could be given in the even
ing. and would fill in the evening for
the visitors who were here Then if
the fair is postponed for another year
we want an entertainment of some
idea. and would no doubt be popular
with all
Il like the plan,'' said Postmaster
John Guthrie Tt would be a novel
in favor Of it. provided there is an
abundance of good music to go with
it."
z H Crosby. chairman of the enter
tafnment committee of the Commercial
club. is strongly in favor of making
some sort of showing for the people Of |
the state here this fall THE Court /
OF Honor idea is a good one" he said
junct to the state fair OF course IL
the state fair IS POSTPONED until an