Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-09-19
OPENS SATURDAY
Illinois State Fair Begins Eight
Day Exhibit in One
Week.
WILL BE GREATEST EVER HE'LL
Sixty Thousand Dollars in Premiums
and Purses Other
Features.

sta fair will be thrown open and the
eight-day fair will begin. On grounds
on which have been spent $150,000 this
summer in permanent improvements
and on which the state has bestowed
a liberal hand in making them the
finest and most magnificent in the
union, the Illinois state fair will begin
its second half century of life. This year
of all years it Will be the greatest
fair on earth. The Illinois state fair
for business management, for com
forts, for features, for exhibits of the
varied industries of the greatest state
in the United States, stands pre-emi-
ncnt.
In connection with this notable
event in agricultural and industrial
affairs of the state, Springfield mer-
chants will give their annual carnival
and the illuminations of the city at
night will be repeated on Il larger
scale than ever before.
Forty thousand dollars has been of
fered in prizes and premiums and $780,
00G has been hung up for. harness and
running races.
Has Political Significance.
| The political developments of the
! fair promise to make it notable and of
state wide Importance. Every repub-
lean of prominence in the state will
be present. Yates will have announc-
ed his candidacy week before and
announcements of simAlr character
are expected from Hamlin. Warner
Lowden, Deneen and Sherman. \ cal
for a conference Of the 80 who stood
| - ], l.,
been issued. The conference will be
! held during the week. The eNposi
ton will be used also by the governor
to bring in his advisers and friends
from every section and u Yates rally
and love feast is on the program.
| Officials cf the fair are predicting
the largest crowds in its history and
preparations have been made for
| them.
Sunday. Sept. % there viii be a pro
gram appropriate to the day and
George r. Vending will lecture OF
the Man Of Gallilee." Orchestra and
band concerts will fill in the rest of
the day. Monday will be school
ehildren's day and 100000 free tickets
have been distributed to then
throughout the state. Tuesday is
Snowbirds' and Jacksonville day. This
will be the second annual reunion OF
the old settlers of the state. Wednes
day will be old soldiers and Lincoln
| day. Thursday is governors and De
catur day. Gov. Yates and. his staff
will be entertained by the state boarc
and executives; from other states are
expected. Friday. as usual, will b'
Springfield day and Saturday pay day
and closing.
County Prizes offered.
Among the features of the fair will
be the awarding of premiums foI
county exhibits. The best county ex
hibit from each of the three grant
divisions of the state will receive {
prize of $3.50. Fifty dollars is offered
for the best bushel of yellow corn ant
the same for the best bushel of white
corn. and liberal amounts for SECOND
and third in each kind. Big prizes are
also offered girls for the best eXhibit
of cooking and baking. Five hundred
dollars are hung up for exhibits a
| garden vegetables. In the textile and
culinary department cash premiums
aggrcgating $4,000 are offered the wo-
men of the state. For poultry and pc
stock the premiums are 81 500 in cash
Six bands from as many different
cities in the state have been engaged
to furnish the music.
The speed program is attractive
! Entries for the harness events closed
the night of the 18th and entries foI
the running races must be in h.
O'Clock of the afternoon proceeding
the race. The following is the speed
program and purses:
Monday, Sept. IS.
so trot-$6OO.
1924 trot (3-year-oIds bred in Illinois
eligible Aug. 15)-$600.
2:30 pace-$600.
Runing-One mile, 5000
Running -Three-quarters mile, 5000
Tuesday. Sept. 30.
2:1s trot-$S0O.
200 pace $500.
2:2O pace Three-year-old, bred il
Illinois. eligible Aug. Is, 5000.
Running -Seven-eights mile $500.
Running mile novelty, $500.
wednesday, Sept. 80.
1925 pace-$600.
! 2:11 trot-$sOO
2:25 trot- 5000.
Running One and one-half miles
Illinois derby, $500.
Running -Seven-eighths mile, 5000
Thursday, October 1.
2:14 trot-$S0O.
2:16 pace-$soo.
-pace-$t 900.
2:22 trot-SS00.
Running Three-qnarters mile $500
Running-One and one-eighth mile
5000.
Friday, October ?.
$50 trot- $500.
Observation-Disclosures 900.
2:13 pace-$s0O.
2:20 pace-N$s0O.
Running-One mile 5000