The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-01
WORTH St An,DING BY
Sec'y Randall Talks State Fair to
the Commercial Club,
MORE STREET CARS ARE NEEDED.
He Says the Trhnsportation Problem
Has Assumed "a Serious
Aspect.

agricultural society, addressed members
OF the Commercial Club this. noon on the
subject of the state fair with special ref
erence to transport alton. He traced the
growth and sdevelopmentsof the fair from
the time when it,was held annually at
different points In the state and had no
permanent buildings. until to-day, when
the exhibits shown are more diverse and
numerous than, those displayed, at any
other state fair in the country. Speaking
Ifom personal experience, Mr.. Randall
told his hearers Of the first state fair
ne had eversseen. 1t was held at, sWinona,
his old home, and had, he thought. ac-
eomplished much good for that, district
by 1mpressing. upon farmers the necessity
TOT study along agricultural lines, while
visitors from away had been interested
by the excellence OF the exhibits made
and the state benefited accordingly.
Continuing. Mr.. Randall said:
Much good was accomplished by the early
as well as later fairs: whether they were
financially successful aor NOT. I.
Present Site Excellent.
With the history of the fair since its per-
lnanent location upon the, present grounds
you are familiar. A better or more suitable
place could not have been selected. The state
has provided the buildings and equipment,
except such minor improvements as have
been :.made blythe society IN recent years
from the. surplus revenue. Tie legislature
appropriated 100000 In. 1885, sac, 600 H. 1883,
S25. 900 in 1890, $4,000 in 1899 for the pur-
chase OF the grand stand, from the Twin City
Jockey club, and $37, 000s for an agricultural
nall and water supply. in 1901, making the
states total: investment 1924, 600. "A few years
ago Minnesota had the; best. equipped fair
grounds in the United States i During re-
cent years some other states have erected
buildings much superior. illinois,, for in
stance has expended $4,000 or more in
buildings upon her fair grounds during the
last five years, and Ohio has done nearly
as we'll, so that SO far as equipment is con
cerned Minnesota is no longer at the head. A
few years ago the equipment was sufficient,
but now it Is far outgrown. For a number
OF years 1t has been impossible to house the
exhibits offered. This fair. in the number,
value and variety of exhibits, and attendance
Low ranks first in the United States. Neither
this leading position nor:>the usefulness of
the institution can be maintained unless ade-
quate improvements are made = u
- How. Receipts Have. Grown. j.
Mr. Randall next. read a. table. showing
the growth of receipts from atheffair.. The
hgures proved that the receipts from sale
OF tickets. had grown from $21,712 in 1894
to $S7,072 in 1901, while the total receipts
from all sources last year we're $13,S35.
II has been the policy Of the society, he
said, to make the surplus fund Of one year
the permanent Improvement fund OF the
next. q
The first cause of the fairs great suc-
cess, Mrs. Randall said, was its friendly
environment. He declared its situation
to be unexcelled and said that both Min
neapolis and st. Paul had helped the So
clety by aba blooming the fall festivities
form rly held during fair week and
which inevitably lessened the evening at
tendance at the fair: :.
49, Big Live Stock interests s.-s
II The live stock. department. are national III
character and competition in them IS open III
the world. In horses cattle, sheep, swine
and poultry, the best types OF all breeds viii
be secured without reference to location, for
study and comparison by the farmers and
live stock breeders of the whole northwest.
In the horse department. draft horses, trot-
ting bred horses, saddle and harness horses
will be shown in increased numbers
- The night features at the fair will this year
receive special attention !. Experience has
shown that there Dis an army. of laborers in
these two cities. who can ill afford to lose a
days time and days pay to see the fair.
They cannot and do not attend the fair during
the day, but are glad to enjoy its. advantages
at night Tho fair Is to be made worthy their
attendance. Most of the exhibits will be ar
ranged SO that they can be seen as we'll "at
might as by day. Twelve thousand dollars
OF 81, 600 per night; has been set aside for the
night amusement program by the board OF
managers. With this amount of money avail
able for this purpose, to be expended by an
experienced amusement committee, there need
be no doubt as to results - = ss$f
Better Transportation Needed.
There is one yery serious obstacle to be
overcome. / refer, now to the lack of sufi-
cient transportation facilities between the
cities and the fair grounds. Complaints have
been heard for some time. but for two years
past the situation has been acute. The street
cars have been so crowded during the busy
hours of the day that people have had diff
Guilty IN getting into them, and many could
not be accommodates at all !, People have
come here from distant points. and after
reaching the. cities have found it exceedingly
difficult and at times impossible to reach the
fair. The attention OF the street railway Off
eials has been4called to the matter, and each
year some additions to service have been
made. The street car people have not, how
ever, kept pace with the situation. Last year
they reported doing IS per GENT more business
during fair week than during fair. week Of the
year before But the attendance at the fair
last Year increased 50 per cent With the
fair growing at the rate Of SO per cent and
the street railway at the rate of is per cent,
the matter. of sufficient and comfortable
transportation becomes more HOPELESS all the
time. The Como Interurban line, over which
state fair visitors are carried Is insufficient,
and some way out Of the difhculty must be
found. The laying Of cross line on Smelling
avenue connecting the old 1nterurban line
with the grounds, may solve the problem. If
this is not done. it. would seem that service
by tho steam roads is necessary. Your help
in this matter IS desired; The state fair
board has a committee on transportation. Of
which Mr.. Nelson Is chairman. at work, and
suggest that the Commercial Club appoint
COMMITTEES to cooperate with them. The
problem is a serious one and Its solution is
important. - :s-. !.
THE JUMPER GOLD MINES QUEER
y WAYS. .s-ss.-:..<-. .s.-s
Los Angeles Times. 81. ssS--, !.
: A report has reached Stockton Of q big
strike in the famous Jumper mine A
pocket Of almost pure gold was uncov-
cred Friday, and while every effort has
been made to keep the matter quiet, it. is