The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-08-07
MINNESOTA STATE FAIR
Great Show to Open on Monday, Au-
gust 81, This Year.
Twill Be the Best of a Wonderful
Series of Big Fairs.
From TUESDAYS Daily.

As the fourty- forth annual Minnesota
state fair will open in short time it is
quite in order to give some general
statement of the plans of the fair up to
date. These plans have been made on a
generous scale and with the idea of prog
ress which has characterized the conduct
OF the fair for some years past and
which has built it up to be the foremost
state fair in the land.
The fair will be opened on Monday,
August 81, with an address by United
States Senator Charles W. Fairbanks, of
Indiana, an eloquent and forseful speak
er of national reputation and known as
a presidential possibility of the future.
His address will probably cover agricul-
tural questions and some of the great
issues of the day.
Perhaps the most important feature
of the fair will be the National Live
Stock exhibits and sales held in con-
nection with the American Hereford
Breeders association. These exhibitions
have grown from tentative display four
years ago until all over the country
as the most successful shows of their
kind. The Minnesota fair is the only
state fair which can secure these ma
tional exhibits. Auction sales of prize
animals will be held in the great tent
on the fair grounds during several days
of the fair.
Premiums have been increased in all
departments and $4,000 is now the
grand total offered by the Minnesota
fair for exhibits and in purses.
Most of this money goes to agricul-
tural and animal exhibits; the exhibits
of manufactures and machinery are re-
warded by diplomas and honorable men
ton. But these exhibits will be none
the less interesting and extensive. There
will be the largest display of farm i'm
plements and machinery ever seen in the
west. This department will center about
the new farm machinery building which
has been erected this summer at a cost
of $4,000.
In the main or exposition building
every foot of space was assigned before
midsummer and booths will be erected as
in 1902 for the accommodation of the
overflow exhibitors. The dairy building
will be crowded; the poultry building has
been equipped with new show coops and
will make fine display of the feathered
tribe.
The woman's department has out
grown it's old quarters and has been
given the building used only few years
ago for the entire agricultural and horti-
cultural display This shows the enor-
nous growth of the fair. This old build
ing $50 feet long held all the agricultural
and horticultural exhibits three years
ago; now the woman's department which
then occupied corner in the exposition
building will find it none too large, while
the new agricultural hall, occupied first
in the fair of 1901 land 260x240 feet in
size) is already over crowded with dis
plays.
There will be keen competition among
the counties this year. The premium
awards for county exhibits have been re-
vised and increased and made more
equitable. Fruit will be CONSPICUOUS, and
| it is believed from present indications
one of the best displays ever made in
this line in the state.
Amusements at the fair will be bet
ter than ever before, both in character
and variety. The largest race entry list
ever made up for any state fair was
announced soon after July l. More than
26O horses were entered and for the great
S., 900 pacing race Al entries were made
This means tremendous racing at the
state fair.
And the race program will be sup
plemented with specialties of high or
der. Schreyer the daredevil bicycle
shoot the chute fend will be at the fair
again after tour of successes through
out the continent. Running races, hip
podrome events, balloon ascensions and
other thrilling entertainments will be
provided.
Many of these things will be repeated
at the evening performances but the
great evening attraction will be the gor-
geous pysotechnic spectacle 'The Des-
truction of Rome Paine's latest and
most marvellous production. This great
show travels like circus in a special
train and employs some 400 actors and
supernumeraries. 1t closes each eve
ming with a special display of magnifi
cent fireworks.
The State Federation of Woman's
clubs Will keep open mouse at the Ialr
again this year and all women visitors
will be made welcome.
The fair will open Monday, August
81, and continue through the week clos
ing Saturday night, Sept. 9Th, at IL p.
m. The entire fair will be ready for
sight seers at a. M, Monday morning
and will be maintained intact until the
closing hour. Half fare rates have been
arranged on all railroads. G. n. Cos
GROVE and f. w. Randall, secretary.