The Oskaloosa herald., 1903-09-17
HANDICAPPED BY RAIN
Fair Will Show a Deficit Due to
Unfavorable Weather.

The Mahaska County Fair closed
its forty-eight annual meeting at its
grounds in Oskaloosa Saturday after
noon. Rain spoiled the afternoons
pleasures and cut down the attend
ance. The racing program was in
terfered with by the rain that came
late in the afternoon and couple of
running races that appeared on the
program could not be pulled off.
Saturdays attendance was about
one thousand. 1t would have been
three times that but for the interior
ence of the bad weather.
The Fair was not a success flnan-
cially and the association will be los
er by many dollars. The advertising
and expenses of preparation will rep
resent the loss, the other expenses
having been met.
The meeting was handicapped from
the start by the rain of the week
The Fair was postponed for three
days on account of the weather and
at one time the management had de-
cided to declare the meeting off alto
gether, but the sun came out with a
vengeance Friday and it was deter
mined to go on with the program.
Had the elements not interfered the
Fair would have been the best, both
in attendance and exhibits, that has
been held in a number of. years. The
management had reason to be mucn
encouraged by the showing that had
been made. In spite of the discour-
agement attendant upon the bad
weather, a good program was had on
Friday and Saturday and those who
came had an enjoyable time.
The stock exhibits were the best
that have been seen on the grounds
during number Of years. Entries
were recorded in every class and in
some instances the competition was
quite sharp. The poultry exhibit at
tracted attention the first time in a
number Of years, as did also the
sheep.
In the art hall an excellent show
ing was made and Miss Mabel Down,
ing deserves special commentator
for the exhibits secured. The young
lady asserts that there is no reason
why still better showing cannot be
secured for next season and she de-
clares that If she has anything to do
| with it next year she will put forth
much effort to secure entries and
more extended competition in the
several classes.
The exhibits of cream separators
attracted considerable attention this
year. Four companies and their
agents were on the grounds and dem
onstrated the workings of their sew
eral machines.
Many of the stand and privilege
men who had come to the city from
a distance expecting to do a good
business left the city Thursday when
it was thought that there would be
no Fair, but those who remained on
the grounds did a good business on
the two days Of the program.
i Country Store. -
The ladies of the Woman's Club
had a country store" that was liber
ally patronized by the crowds and
| the ladies Melted several dollars fol
their donation toward the enlargins
of the city hospital fund. The store
furnished much amusement and fur
for the large crowds. Several police
officers were enlisted in the service
of the ladies. The charges would be
preferred against individuals on the
j grounds and the officers would arrest
the parties and bring the culprits be
fore the ladies' tribunal. Conviction
OF the charges preferred followed II
every case and the penalty imposed
was fine that was expended at the
store. Carl Johnson was arrested
and brought to the stand. He was
fined the price of a number on tins
large rocking chair. He drew the
i prize. This is compelling the smiles