The Washington times., 1902-05-04
THE FAIR WAS A WINNER.

The Masonic Fair and Exposition. 1902
is now a past event, but one TO which the
active managers, as well as every indi-
yidual Mason in Washington, can refer
with pride. In magnitude il eclipsed any
similar event ever attempted in this city.
while artistically and financially it was
an unqualified success. The arrangement
of booths. decorative effects. and illumina-
tions were so beautiful that the immense
hall and annex were thronged with peo-
PIE for fifteen nights and three matinees.
1t is estimated that more than 105 900 peo-
pie attended, and the net results are ex-
pected to exceed s50, 900.
In spite of the enormous crush of visi-
tors, which necessarily interfered with
fhe patronage of the booths more or less,
an attendance so great that on one oc-
casion IL is estimated many 1900
people were denied admission, the order
maintained was simply perfect. the police
arrangements being personally supervised
by the Superintendent of the Metropolitan
Police.
The most complete arrangements were
made for protection In case of fire. Chem
ical engines were placed at frequent inter-
walls, 2 standpipe, with hose attached. al
ways ready for an emergency, was in
stalled, and a detail of fremen were on
duty day and night. So far as human fore
sight could provide everything was pro-
yided to prevent coniagration or panic.
In addition to the sixty police officers and
twelve firemen furnished by the city, the
fair management had sixteen watchmen
on duty at exits and fire escapes, and a
large corps of members sworn in as spe-
cial police, while the managers OF booths
were instructed how TO act IN case of
emergency, yet with all these precautions
the members OF the executive committee
experienced great anxiety until the crowd
departed each night.
These arc some OF the details Of man
erement that ere Interesting to recount,
and may prove interesting to the reader
Who may have been casual visitor at
the fair and only saw the laughing, happy
throng.
The management of the fair itself the
receipt and dispatch Of supplies, and the
thousand and one items OF detail, the sue
cessful performance of which made the
machinery of the fair run without fric-
zion. was all under the direction of the
director general, who, with his assistants
were on duty continuously from early
morning until the fair was over for the
night
The freasurer's Office, where settlements
were made nightly by the thirty-one
bodies participating, and the general sec
fetary's Office were busy places, and
everything was carried on with the same
system ard order as might be expected
in any well-regulated counting house.
Credit for The effective decorations. so
fayorably commented on by everybody.
and embracing individual contracts. all OF
which we're completed on time, and form
Tag a perfect whole, is due Joseph C.
Johnson. chairman of the committee on
decoration. while the harmonious. color
schema was devised by the vice chairman |
of the same committee, Henry S. Selden.
But / must not specialize or ] should be |
con,peiIed 10 mention each one of the ex- /
ecutiye committee, who each did his full /
share. the chairmen of booths, and the |
ladies. whose assistance, both before and |
during the fair. was simply invaluable.
The fair is over, hard work has been |
done. but great results have been |
achieved. All has been accomplished that /
Was attempted and more. And when at II |
o'clock midnight the goth of April the |
wo-kmen began removing the booths IL |
was with happy hearts that the thousand 4!
or more workers who had given their timo |
and energy to the success of the fair for |
days and weeks took their departure from |
Hall.
FRANK II. THOMAS,
Chairman Executive Committee