The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-08
INTEREST in STATE FAIR
INDIANAPOLIS PEOPLE ARE MAKING
|. MANY INQUIRIES.
sousa Parties Are Being Formed-In-
terest I'm Horse and Live Stock
shows-Secretary II Busy.

I'm all the years I have been with the
State Board of Agriculture. both as a
member and as secretary. have never had
as many inquiries from Indianapolis peo-
pie on State Fair topics as 1 am now get
ting" said Secretary Charles Downing. IT
believe people in Indianapolis appreciate
the worth OF the fair to the city from
business, as well as social standpoint, to
a greater extent than they ever did. Three
or four times day 1 get heavy mail of
inquiries from the city people and they
keep my telephone Jangling from morning
until night They are asking about de-
partments Of the fair that L never sup
posed a man or woman who lives in the
city was interested in. The fair manage
ment has known for a long time that In
dianapolis people were interested in
blooded horses and 1t was this interest
that led to the State board to hold its
parades of these blooded animals. But this
year 1 am getting as many inquiries as to
when the cattle shows. the sheep shows
and the poultry shows will be held, and by
their questions the Indianapolis people In
dicate that they are now interested in
more than the prancing horses. These
shows are to continue through the week Of
the fair and the barns for horses, cattle
and sheep are going to be crowded with
fine class of show animals The exhibitors
seem to be more numerous than ever in
the State fair circuits and they are going
to bring hundreds of animals here from
many States. City people will find that the
State Board has looked after their inter-
ests pretty thoroughly. They have not
quite recovered from the military fever
| that prevailed when the Spanish soldiers
| were at the fair grounds and there are
| many inquiries as to when the Odd Eel
lows drills are to be held. They occur
| Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and
possibly Saturday morning These drills
are going to be picturesque and they can
| be seen TO an advantage from the grand
stand at the race track. The Odd Fellows
| will not be playing during the drills. There
/ is going to be too much glory and prize
money at stake and every canton will
know it is TO compete with the best can
tons in America.
THE soUsA PARTIES.
ct have not tried to count the number of
Sousa parties that are going to be given
| by city people on Wednesday and Thurs
day of the fair but there will be several
| hundred of them. These parties are
| forming at all the cities within reach of
| Indianapolis, as we'll as here. Most of the
| Indianapolis people are preparing to go
at night, and the management is preparing
| to take care of great crowds of city peo-
pie. Besides the street cars, there will be
| special trains over the MOnOn Railroad be-
| fore and after the concert. Carriages are
/ TO be admitted without charge and they
may be driven on the race track and to
/ the infield that people may get within
| easy hearing of the band. The manage
/ ment will also have place on the grounds
| where vehicles may be checked. There
| will be men on hand TO look after these
| vehicles and the States Board of Agricul-
| tIIre will see that the horses are looked
i oft nd will ha he
| of property from the vehicles. All week
| there will be 'somethin' doin at the fair
! that will be much of interest 70 the city
people as 1t will be to those from the coun-
| try"