The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-16
Mar the Occasion for the Crowd
of Sightseers.
JUDGES BEGIN THEIR WORK
THEY HAVE A sTUPENDoUs TASK
BEFORE THEM THIS WEEK.
Surprise Expressed at the Number
and Excellence of the Exhibits
News OF the Fair.

Despite a drizzling rain all the afternoon
the fiftieth annual State fair was formally
opened yesterday with fully 1900 people
on the grounds. This is a larger crowd
than attended the State fair the opening
day last year, and the weather smiled fav-
orably on the opening day of the fair last
year. War veterans and children were ad-
mitted free yesterday and they were there
by the thousands-especially the young
sters.
The rain did not hurt us a bit" This
statement was made last night by Presi-
dent Thompson, of the State Board of Ag-
riculture- I'VE have had more people on
the grounds to-day than ever before on
the opening day of the fair. in spite OF
the rain. OF course, the rain would have
prevented a lot of people from coming II
1t had started in the morning. But there
was not a drop of rain until about o'clock
and then about all the people who intended
TO come out to the fair were here or had
started. But just the same the fact that
it rained all the afternoon and that we
had larger attendance than we really
could have expected, even If IL had not
rained, goes to show that the fair this year
is better and larger than our fairs in prev
lOuS years, anu mat we dfc kOiUS 10 make
a record this week for State fairs that
will be hard to beat"
The fair got into full swing yesterday.
The judging began in several departments.
the merry-go-round was started on its
seemingly endless Journey, the weeks races
were begun; all the exhibits were opened
to the public; all exhibits that were not
arranged for the inspection of the judges
were put into place; the side shows were
opened. and. in short, the fftieth annual
State fair put under way in good style.
THE TRACK SoFTENED.
A half hours brisk rain early in the aft
ernoon softened the race track so badly that
only one or two heats of the afternoons
programme were driven. A fairly good
sized crowd gathered In the grand stand to
see the races and listen to the music Of
the Indianapolis Military band, but the fact
that the rain prevented most of the races
did not detract much from the success of
the opening day of the fair for most OF
the people there did not want to see races
and did not care very much If it did rain
a little.
The young boys and girls from the city's
public schools and all the boys and girls
from over the State who were so fortunate
as to go TO the fair really had a better time
than If the weather had been bright all
the afternoon. So long as they did not
have TO stay at home the school children
did not much what happened They
were inside the fair grounds and could go
any place they wanted and what happened
after they got there dldn poll the day Tor
them i'm the least.
And the old soldiers had about as good a
day of il, too, as IL there had been no rain.
for there was plenty of band music all of the
afternoon and there were plenty OF places
provided for them they would not have
to tramp around in the rain That the mum
-I1 30 lnO IaoG nd Irn0
each year is seen very plainly I'm these
crowds of veterans at the State fair each
year There were not as many of them
Yesterday as there were last year, and
when next year rolls around there will be
a still smaller number of the old men in
faded blue uniforms for the State Board
of Agriculture to honor by inviting TO the
State fair.
INDIANA EXHIBITORS.
President Thompson says that fully two
thirds of the prizes i'm all departments will
go to Indiana exhibitors. Most of the prize
awards will not be announced until toward
the end of the fair.
Cattle will be judged to-day. The cattle
exhibit this year is made up OF about 90
of the finest Aberdeen-Angus. Herefords.
Shorthorns PolIed Durhams, Galloways.
Red Poles, Jerseys and other fine breeds in
the country One of the most valuable
herds exhibited this year is the Shorthorn
herd of Il. w. Christian & Sons. OF In
dianapolis. At the hcaC OF the Christian
exhibit of Shorthorns is Royal Avalanche,
the finest Shorthorn bull I'm the world.
ANON the Herefords the herd of j. &.
Adams, of MewcaQua, H.. II among the
best Great Dale. the champion hereford
bull of the world. is exhibit with the
herd Great Dale is valued at $1,000. j. @.
Robins & Son of Horace. Ind. are promi-
nent exhibitors of Shorthorns- j. O. Robins
a Son are known all over the country for
their fine bred Shortborns Following are
a number of the exhibitors:
C. H. Gardner, Blandersyille, Ill. Aber-
decn-Angus: Brookside Farm Company. Ft.
Wayne, Gailoways; Rosemary Farm. Mar
ion county, Red Poles; r. w Bowen.
Delphi Ind. Shorthorns: q. Harris, Harris,
Mo-, Herefords; w. NJ. McHenry, Denison.
Ind Shorthorns: Howard Cook. Bcloit. o..
Aureshires: /. V. Axteil. Lake county.
Cuernseys: c. w. Anderson Greenbfier
county, West Virginia. Ingieside Herefords:
w. s. Scott, SCOTS Station, ny. Jerseys;
NJ l.. Hessony. Nora. Ind. Jerseys; East
cattle; Oakland stockfarm. weedsport, n.
Y. Holsteins Norman & Miller. Winches-
ter, Ind, Shorthorns: T. r. Soucrs. War
Malott Park Ind, Polled Durhams, Oscar
Uadlev Plainfeld. Ind. Poled Durhams:
A. C. Wood & Sons. Pendleton. Ind. Polled
Durhams: Glenn Graves Bunker Hill. Here
fords. n +. Watson Edinburg. Ind Here
fords; j. +. Ratcliff. Newcastle. Ind. Here
fords. and David Studebaker, Warren. Ind.
JUDGING SHEEP.
Southdown and Ramboulet sheep were
Judged Yesterday afternoon I'm the main
sheep barn just north OF the main entrance.
George McKerrow. of Sussex. Wis. took
the two champion prizes on Southdowns
and several other prizes. Frank Harding.
of waukesha. Wis. took the majority Of
the best prizes on Ramboulsts. oxfords.
shropshires and Costwolds will be judge1
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