The Irish standard., 1903-08-15
MINNESOTA STATE FAIR.
This Years will be the Best
Ever Held.

AS the 44th Annual Minnesota State
Fair will open in Il 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 Il generous scale and with the ide;
OF progress 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 Ike opened on Monday.
August 31st. with an address 10y United
States Senator Charles w. Fairbanks,
OF Indiana. an eloquent and forccful
speaker of national reputation and
known as a presidential possibility of
the future. His address will prob
ably cover agricultural questions and
some of the great issues of the day.
Perhaps the most important feature of
the fair will be the National Live Stock
exhibitions and sales held III connec,
ton with the American Hereford
Breeders Association and the Ameri-
can Shorthorn Breeders Association.
These exhibitions have grown from !,
tentative display four years ago until
they are known among breeders all
over the country as the most success
full shows of their kind. The Mime
sofa fair is the only state fair which
can secure these national exhibitions
Auction sales of prize animals will he
held in the great tent on the fair
grounds during several days of the
fair Premiums have been increased
iii all departments and $4,000 is now
the grand total offered by the Mime
sofa Fair for exhibits and in purses
Most of this money goes to agricul-
tur;ll and animal exhibits; the exhibits
of manufactures and machinery are
rewarded by diplomas and honorable
mention. But these exhibits will be
none the less interesting and extern
Svc. There will be the largest dis
play of farm implements and machin,
cry ever seen in the west. This dc
partmcnt will center about the new
Farm Machinery Building Which has
been erected this summer ut cost OF
SlO.OuO In the main or exposition
building every foot of space was as
signed before midsummer and booths
will he erected as in 1902 for the :lc
commndation of the overflow exhibit
tors. The dairy building will be
crowded; the poultry building has beer
equipped with new show coops and
will make Il fine display of the feather
ed tribe.
The womans department has out
grown its old quarters and has beer
given the building used only few
years ago for the entire agricultural
and horticultural display. This shows
| the enormous growth Of the fair. This
old building. $50 feet long, held al
| the agricultural and horticultural OK
| hihts three years ago: now the won-
ans department which then occu-
pied corner i'm the exposition build
ing will find it none too large, while
tho new agricultural hall, occupied
first in the fair of 1901 (and 26OX24(
feet in size, is already 0vcr-crowdct
with displays. There will he keen com
petition among the counties this year
The premium awards for county cN
hihts have been revised and increase,
and made more equitable. Fruit will
be conspicuous. and it is believed from
| present indications. one of the beS
displays ever made in this line in th'
| state. \muscmcnts ut the fair will bt
better than ever before. both in chHrac
ter and variety. The largest race rI
try list over made up for amy stAte fail
was announced soon after July LIST
More tllln 2im horses were entered an'
for the great 5000 pacing race II en-
tries were made. This means trcmcn
dous racin" at the state fair.
And thc race program will be sup
plcmcntnd With spccialitirs of Il hi"l
order. Schrrycr. the daredevil bicycle
shoot -thc-cllltr ficnd will he ut the fail
again after Il tour of successes through
out the continent. Running races. hip
pOdromc events. balloon ;,SrcnSions ant
other thrilling entertainments will ~
J provided. Many of these things wi!
he repeated at the evening perform
| anccS. hut tqlc great evening attraction
will be the gorgeous pyrotcchnic spec
tacle, "The Destruction of Rome.
Pains latest and most marvellous pro
duction. This great show travels Xix
Il circus in 4 special train and en-
ploys some 400 actors and S,pernumcl
aries. 1t closes each evening with ;
special display Of magnificent fire
works. The State Federation of Won
ems Clubs will keep open house Il
the fair again this year, and all wome
visitors will be made welcome Til
fair will open Monday. August 3lst
and continue through the week. clos
ing Saturday night. September 9TH, 4
II p. m. The eutire fair will he read
for siyht-sccrs at Q Il. M, Monda
morning, and will be maintained intat
until the closing hour. IIalffare rate
have boon arranged on all railroads
dent ANA T.. W. Randall. secretary.