The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-19
ing by the indianapolis Mill
tary Band.
GREAT CROWD AT GERMANIA
THE FORMAL OPENING DRAWS A
CROWD OF FIVE THOUSAND.
All the Other City Parks Also Well
Patronized-A Large Excursion
Business.

Yesterday was an ideal park day, and
that fact, combined with the announcement
that Fairview would be officially opened for
the summer season of 1902 brought to the
peoples pleasure resort" a crowd of ex-
traordinary proportions. Several road Of
ficers of the street-car company undertook
the task of estimating the size of the
throngs that circulated through the park
during the day, but they were compelled to
give it up. At any given time there were
probably five or six thousand people at
Fairview yesterday, but the crowd shifted
several times by reason of some leaving
and others coming to take their places,
so that fully twelve thousand people visit
ed the place during the morning, afternoon
and evening.
A pleasing feature of the day was the or
derby character of the visitors. Everybody
seemed bent upon having a thoroughly
good time without encroaching upon his
neighbours enjoyment, with the result that
the park presented the appearance of an
immense picnic ground filled with happy
hearted, care-free, summer jewellers. Dur
ing each band cOncert-one being in the
afternoon and another at night-about two
thousand people occupied the benches near
the bandstand or reclined comfortably up
on the grass ana pdlu close dIlenllOn 10
the splendid music of the Indianapolis Mil
itary Band. Other thousands wandered
about through the shaded walks and
charming hooks, OF which there are many
at Fairview, while still others INDUCED in
the varied forms of amusement provided
by the management. The canal, which at
tains its greatest beauty in the stretch at
and above Fairview, was filled with dart
ing boats the livelong day
For the little folks the pony track was
the Mecca throughout the day. Occasion
even one of 1.-The old folks found it i'm
possible to withstand the sight of the lit
tie peoples evident delight and concluded
themselves to try ride on the ponies or
donkies. The men who conduct the track
said that yesterday was one of the livelest
days they have ever had The ponies and
donkies are fat and fresh and sleek after
their long fall, winter and spring vacation,
and seem as happy while scampering about
the little circular track as are the children
they carry.
The merry-go-round did a land office
business yesterday, despite the fact that
il is the same contrivance that was used
last year, even TO the distressngly aged
tunes ground out by it's pulley organ.
John June and Nelson Hyde, the new
managers of the restaurant and ice cream
pavilion, said at the close Of yesterday s
business that If the remainder of the sea-
son is as profitable the Fairview dining
hall will prove as good an investment as
the best downtown cafe. The pavilion was
literally thronged throughout the day and
the force of walters had difficulty in hand
ling the volume of business.
w +. Milholand. secretary and treasurer
of the street-railroad company, who ex-
ercises special supervision over Fairview
Park, is rapidly arranging a schedule of
extra attractions for the greater summer
season which will open about the first of
| June. These amusement features are not
exhibited earlier. he explains. because at
present the nights are trif1e too cool for
people TO remain outdoors an entire even
| ing.
number of city policemen strolled
| through the grounds continually yes
| terday, but they found little to
| do beyond watching the people en-
! Joy themselves The presence OF
| the bluecoats was doubtless beneficial,
however, in REFRESHING any attempt at
rowdyism that may have been planned
| The management does not propose to have
| a repetition of last years unfortunate
| troubles.