The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1904-09-07
The STATE FAIR A
GROWING INSTITUTION
All Indebtedness Paid Off and a Surplus
In the Treasury-0utside Com
ment

The Puyallup Valley Tribune issued
last week special edition containing
valuable information in regard to the
resources and advantages of the Puyal-
lup valley. The issue shows commend
able enterprise on the part of Robert
Mont gomery, editor and publisher of
the Tribune. An article on the Wash
ington state fair is interesting, an ex-
cerpt from which is here given:
Tine Washington state fair is located
at North Yakima, in the Yakima valley.
1t is maintained partly by state appro-
priation and by receipts from sources
incident to the annual events. There is
Il board of five commissioners appointed
by the governor for term of four years
to manage the institution. At present
they are all located at North Yakima
but one. and are as follows: President,
+. J. Wyman: secretary. J. f. Shannon;
l.. o. Janeck. W. l.. Wright and w. II.
Cline.
The institution is patronized each
year by u large number of people in
terested in the products of the soil of
the great state of Washington. 1t is
growing in Importance every year. At
first it was an uphill business to make
it a success, but of late years extra
ordinary efforts nave been put forth to
please the people and to make it the
success that such an institution should
be in a rich and prosperous common
wealth like Washington.
NO pains have been spared to bring
it up to standard with the state fairs
of the central west, where they have
reached a stage, of efficiency that places
them among those of historic fame of
Russia and other foreign countries. Since
the organization of the Washington
state fair in 1893. when the city of
North Yakima was a small, but ambi-
tious hamlet, it has grown and every
citizen of the state should take pride
in it.
"The commission announces that the
institution was never in such pros
porous condition as at present. All the
indebtedness has been paid off and there
remains II handsome surplus in the
treasury to meet all the obligations of
the next event. The improvements to
the grounds have kept pace with the
advancement of the valley. New build
ings have been erected at various times.
new fences built and the grounds kept
in the best condition possible.
During the summer stock arena
was added to the grounds. This is a
department that has always been needed
by the management to make proper
showing of stock There will be a large
exhibit of stock this year, making the
arena do service the first season after
its construction. A year ago two large
stock barns were built on the grounds
for the accommodation of the large
number of sheep and cattle that are
brought in for exhibit each year.
"Never before in the history of the
association was there such big exhibit
of stock as was seen there last wear.
From present Indications the number
will be increased this yeear. The prizes
offered in this department are sufficient
~ big to attract large number of
stockmen from all parts of the state.
The purses for the speed program
amount to over $1,000 this year. This
will attract the best horses of tine north
west to the tracks. Already some good
horses are in the early closing stake
races.
The county exhibit this year will
Surpass anything ever before tried here
The prizes are larger than usual. A
speciality will be made in county ex-
hibits. Yakima county will make full
and complete exhibit this year of her
products. Heretofore this matter has
been left in the hands of two or three
individuals and as a consequence only
a small percentage of the products of