The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-15
First Races VIII BE Given This After
noon and Sousa Concerts Begin
To-Morrow Afternoon.
GREAT CROWDS ARE EXPECTED
AN UNUSUAL NUMBER OF EXHIBITS
ARE IN PLACE.
Police and Fire Departments Repre-
Has Given Way TO Preparedness.

When the sun comes out OF the eastern
sky this morning and looks down upon the
fair grounds. north of the city, IL will see
the largest and best state fair ever given
i'm Indiana
With the fair grounds so full Of horses
and cattle and sheep and swine and poultry
and forming implements and buggies and
carriages and wagons and hundreds OF
other things manufactured in Indiana and
raised on Indiana's farms that there is not
nearly room enough TO display everything
to good advantage. the fiftieth annual In
diana state fair will be formally opened
this morning.
That the state fair this week is 10 be
better and larger than any other state fair
ever given in Indiana is plainly evident
from the enormously increased amount OF
exhibits on the grounds. There have been
big state fairs i'm this State before, but
never have the grounds north of the city
been full OF exhibits as they are now.
The judging will be begun this morning
and will be continued all week. The Judges
have almost stupendous undertaking be-
fore them this week in judging the thou
sands of entries.
When darkness fell on the fair grounds
tail in the arrangements for the opening OF
the fair that had not been attended to by
Secretary Downing and the members OF the
State Board of Agriculture.
The fair really could have been opened
yesterday afternoon, for things were so
nearly ready for the inspection of the pub
lie that few would have known there were
still good many things 20 be looked after
Lof1 ~ - a..
Agriculture would be willing to have their
exhibit given into the hands OF the public
CONFUSION ALL GONE.
When Sunday<evening came. although the
members of the State Board of Agriculture
had worked like Trojsns all week. things
at the fair grounds were in quite confused
condition. Parts of hundreds of farming
implements were scattered all along the
main drive from the entrance nearly to the
grand stand; the stock barns were almost
full and wagon load after wagon load OF
stock continued to be driven up in front of
the administration building for instruc-
tions about unloading: the various build
ings contained dozens of disarranged piles
of products from the farm. merchants ex-
hibts, manufacturers exhibits, artists ex-
hibts and dozens of other kinds of exhibits:
and. in short there were many things TO be
looked after before the arrangements would
be complete.
Yesterday Secretary Downing and the
members of the State Board. with the as
sistance of +. III. Peed superintendent OF
grounds, and hundreds of laborers and SUI
pernumeraries. changed all this confusion
into strict order. Additional space was pro-
vided in the stock barns for the horses and
cattle and sheep and swine for which quar-
ters could not be found at first: tents were
put up az temporary housing for stock for
which there is no room I'm the many barns:
the hundreds of small exhibits were put
into place in the buildings: all the farming
machinery was 'set up and put into place
and threshing machines and binders were
put into operation; the barns northwest OF
the track were cleared for the horses en-
tered in the weeks races; show tents and
restaurant tents were put up by the dozen:
all distractions in the drives were cleared
away-in short, everything that had not
been attended 10 beforehand was looked
after yesterday. and when darkness came
everything was I'm readiness for the
opening and for the critical eye Of the
CONTESTS AND RACES.
The first horse races of the week viii be
given this afternoon. The principal event OF
this afternoons programme is EOS trot in
which Chestnut, Milton s. and Fred the Kid
will be among the starters. There will be
two fast races tomorrow afternoons 2:l3
trot and 2:17 pace. There will be about a
dozen starters in both events. The best
feature Of the weeks exhibition will be the
driving of Dan r. tomorrow afternoon. He
will go mile in 2o4 or less.
The first of the Sousa concerts at the fair
grounds will be given tomorrow afternoon.
The other afternoon concert of the week Will
be given Thursday afternoon. Concerts viii
be given tomorrow aud Thursday nights
at TomHnsoE Hall
Following the custom begun good many
years ago children will be admitted 90 the
fair to-day free OF charge. War veterans
will also be admitted free to-day.
The State Board has made arrangements
with Superintendent Taffe OF the police de-
partment to have the fair grounds well
looked after by the local police. Sergeant
Ieet has been detailed 10 take charge OF
the policing OF the grounds. To-day he will
have eighteen blue coats on the grounds. and
Tomorrow and the remainder Of the week
the force will be increased forty.
Justice White, of Washington township.
has established himself I'm the administrs-
tion building above the Offices OF Secretary
Downing and IL the police arrest any per-
sons who insist upon "disturbing the peace"
they will be yanked to the second floor OF
the administration building and tried at
once by Squire White. Deputy County
Prosecutor Reagen will be on hand 10 con-
duct the trials.
Chief Coots OF the fire department yestcr-
day detailed Captain Rosengarten of the
South-street engine hose company TO the
| fair grounds with a chemical wagon. The
| opposite the administration building and will
be ready all week to be called out any time
of day night.