The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-20


tory of the Indiana State Fair when the
crowd was so large that the management
declined TO estimate the number of people
present II can't say how many people
there are here to-day" said President Mac
Donald. because 1 nor no one else can
tell anything about IT, All that ! know is
that there were never so many people here
before within the history of the fair"
Secretary Downing said ne thought there
were between $4,000 and $1,000 people on the
grounds at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. but
there might have been 10000 more than that
or 1000 less. The only reliable figures are
based on the paid admissions, which at
o'clock in the afternoon numbered more
than 5000. In addition to those who paid
their admissions thousands passed through
the gates on complimentary tickets issued
70 them because they were exhibitors at
the fair. or because they We're Odd Fellows
attending the meeting of the Sovereign
Grand Lodge, and for a hundred other rea-
sons A fair estimate, including day and
evening attendance, places the crowd at
about 1000 people which is many thou
sands more than ever before attended the
state fair in one day.
EVER-INCREASING THRONG.
The people began going to the fair early
I'm the morning and from the time the first
car went out at a. m until i'm the after
noon the street-railway company was taxed
20 its uttermost to accommodate the ever
increas sing crowds. Cars ran on a three
minute schedule on both the Illinois and
CentraI-avenue lines and every car was so
packed and jammed with people that
standing room on the foot board was at all
times at a premium. By noon the fair
grognds, which cover an area of a great
many acres, were black with people and
more were coming every minute Car
riages were driven into the grounds by the
hundreds and the railroad trains, which
ran all day on a fifteen-minute schedule,
carried thousands of people who were will
Ing to psy - extra fare in order to avoid
riding on tire crowded street cars. For
once the exhibitors the grounds could
not complain that the people were drawn
away from them by the attractions at the
race track for the reason that the twenty
Arc or thirty thousand people who took up
every available inch OF space in the big
amphitheater and stood ten deep clear
around the track were scarcely One-half
of the people on the ground, many thou
sands being unable to get either a glimpse
at the races or TO hear any portion of the
sacred concert programme rendered by
Sousa's Band. But those who couldn't hear
the music or see the races didn't seem at
all chagrined and cOntented themselves
with the various exhibits which everywhere
met the eye.
The Art Hall was so crowded that it was
difficult TO gain an entrance. The poultry
horticultural and agricultural buildings
were cOngested with people all day, and
every exhibitor on the grounds had more
visitors than he could attend TO.
INDIANAPOLIS ATTENDANCE.
The fact that the railroad officials at the
Union Station place rather low estimate
on the number of people brought 10 the
city proves conclusively that the greater
portion OF the record breaking crowd was
made up OF indianapolis people. the big at
tendance from this city being probably due
10 the fact that most of the factories were
closed for the day out of respect to the
memory of President Mckinley. The weat tn
er for the fair yesterday could not have
been better. There was not cloud in the
sky and il was just cool enough TO be
bracing. and the visitors were active in
their wanderings from one exhibit TO an
other
In tine amphitheater and around the race
course the people were packed so close to-
gether that the cool wind was hailed as a
relief
The Sousa concert began promptly at
o'clock and after that hour il was inlpos-
siblc' To gain admission TO the grand stand.
In fact the big amphitheater was filled to
oyerfiowing long before noon. those who
obtained seats early in the day being
afraid to leave them for fear they would
not get back at the hour of the concert
and the memorial exercises Immediately
following
Notwithstanding the discomfort 10 which
the thousands who sat in the amphithearer.
and the many more thousands who tried
10 get as near the band stand as possible.
We're subjected. IL was without exception
the best natured crowd ever assembled on
the fair grounds Prior to the concert
when people We're crowding and showing
and toes were being tramped upon indis-
criminately the indiscretions OF The
rhoughtlesS and the rOughneSs of those in
cisned to be rude were Invariably pardoned
"A - no or l. IL, fro f,f
the oiS pavilion grew too large for those
behind To see what was going at the
race track there We're no protests from
those who could not see. Unlike Wednes-
day the biz crowd which filled the amphi-
th"ater yesterday did not leave their seats
at the conclusion OF the memorial eXer-
cises and the band concert. but remained
watching the races until Il grew too dark
to see.
THE EVENING CROWD.
Thousands did not leave the fair grounds
until after the evening concert. Some had
brought their suppers with them. others
pstronized the hundreds of refreshment
stands which lined ,bo main drive at in
tervals Of every few feel. and others Gid
without a meal I'm order TO avoid paying a
second admission To the grounds The
weather was not so cold as on Wednesday.
and a consequence the attendance At the
concert last night was many times larger
than on the night before
Members of the State Board Of Agricul-
ture are agreed that IL the greatest day
IN the history OF the state fair. From a
financial point Of view the entire week OF
the fair has been the best in years. There
have been more paid admissions this year
than ever before and the profits when the
ledger Is balanced will show an fncrea -.
Of many thousands OF dollars over those
of last year and the year before Treasure r
J. W. Ia Grange said yesterday that the
receipts were beyond his expectations and
he predicts that the end OF the week will
show the Board of Agriculture To be In
better financial condition than ever be
Tore. The fine attendance this wear Is at
tributed 10 "A great many things The ex-
htiits are unquestionably the best ever
shown at the state fair. The weather al
though "A triile cold on Wednesday has
been uniformly good. and in addition the
mana cement has been able TO Offer "A fine
racing meet aud John Philip Sousas great
band ss special attractions.
To-day Is the last day OF the state fair
and Tonight the exhibitors will begin pack
Ing and moving out. The management OF
The far states positively. however. that
nothing viii b. disturbed until late this
be The splendid racing card. which includes
The finish OF the free-fOr-aH pace three
heats of which We're paced yesterday. the
z.is trOt. 2-2f pace and the 200 pace stake.
The SOusa concerts We're concluded last
night. but the Indianapolis Military Band