The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-05
Patronage Would Doubtless BE Very
Light on Account of the EXPOSE
tion at st. Louis.
EXPERIENCE A GOOD TEACHER
MONEY LOST BY THE BOARD THE
YEAR OF THE CHICAGO FAIR.
Secretary Downing Returns from
Meeting OF Association of Fairs
and Expeditions.

There Is a possibility that Indiana may
have no State fair next year. This state
ment was made by Secretary Downing, of
the State Board of Agriculture. who has
just returned from Chicago. where he at
tended meeting of the American Associa-
ton of State Fairs and Expositions. At this
meeting the ACCESSIBILITY of any Of the
States giving agricultural expositions next
fall was seriously discussed, and it is
likely that many of the States will abandon
their plans for next years fairs.
The worlds exposition to be held at ST.
Louis. 1t is believed. will stand in the
way Of prosperous State fairs. 1t is we'll
known fact that the year of the worlds
fair the Indiana State Board of Agriculture
lost heavily. The great bulk of Indiana
people went to Chicago to the exposition
and thousands of them went there in pref
erence to coming to Indianapolis to the
State fair. This was the experience of
many States. Secretary Downing says that
If 1T is decided to hold the Indiana fair
IT will take place week earlier than usual,
on account of the fact that many Indiana
people will want to be In ST. Louis on In
diana day, which is set for Sept. 10.
Should the Indiana fair be held it will
probably be the week of Sept. 5.
CITY PEOPLE AT FAIRS.
Secretary Downing read a paper before
the American Association on the topic,
How Can Fairs Secure City Patronage %
In his paper Mr.. Downing called attention
to the Indiana State fair and to the fact
that Indianapolis people do not attend as
faithfully as the State board would have
them. Mr.. Downins's theory is that city
people, realizing that transportation is
sometimes not comfortable and that i'm
mense crowds will pack the street cars,
decide to give way to their country cousins
and remain at home. Mr.. Downing says
the remedy for this He suggests that
business men renew their interest in the
State fair, make exhibits each year and
give their employees half holidays. The Sec
rotary believes that the only way to get
city patronage for Indianas fair is to IN
terest the indianapolis people to the extent
that they will patiently bear the discom-
forts of travelling in crowded street cars
in order to attend the fair.
While in Chicago Secretary Downing and
members OF the State board appeared be-
fore the American Trotting Association in
the appeal case that was taken up by c. T.
Powell and Henry Schnellbach. This case
grew out of the inability of the fair man
ayers TO conclude two races that were be-
gun on Tuesday of the last fair. These
were a 2:30 trot and POS pace. One heat
of each was finished before ii began &c
rain. A rainy week followed and the board
decided that the track was not in safe
condition for these races, which were close
ly contested. 1t was feared that If the
horses were allowed to start some one
would be injured. The purses were di-
vided according to the results of the two
heats run on TueSday. The action of the
board was not satisfactory to all the con
testants and an appeal was taken. The
American Trotting Association, after hear
evidence. decided
Indiana board.
In fixing the dates for the week oil
| Sept. Secretary Downing says ii Is felt
that If the fair is given there may be
a possibility Of avoiding the rainy sea
son that often begins about the middle
of September.