Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-15
THE FUNDS
l.. A. MEEKER OF HEpRlcK, PUSH
ING COUNTY FAIR PRO.
JEcT.
Asks Financial and Moral Support in
Giving ottumwa One of the Best
Fairs and Race Meetings in the
State.

81 am confident that with proper sup.
port from the citizens of Ottumwa and
the residents of Wapello county we
can have a fair in this city that will
eclipse anything of the kind in this
part of the state" said l.. A. Meeker, q
Hedrick, today. Mr.. Meeker is in the
city working among the business men
and merchants in an effort
to interest them in the project of hold
ing five days agricultural fair and
race meeting in Ottumwa August z
to T.
81 am meeting with some difficulty"
said Mr.. Meeker, from the fact that
many of the members Of the firms
whom have approached have not con-
sidered the fair proposition together
and are not prepared to say what they
are willing to do. The time Is getting
short. To get our buildings erected
by the appointed time must order my
material not later than the coming
week. 1t will greatly assist matters
if the members of firms will get to-
gether and be prepared to let me know
at once what they are willing to do"
Mr.. Meeker holds a long term lease
upon the property west of the city
known as the fair grounds and owned
by the Wapello County Agricultural
society. Appropriate buildings, sheds
and equipment are to be erected there
according to the present plans to
make the place one of the finest fair
grounds in this section of the state.
The track is to be put in first class
condition and a tight board fence about
seven feet high is to be erected on the
north, east and west sides of the
grounds.
An Amusement Park.
The grounds are to be used by the
Ottumwa baseball club for its games
during the season and 1t is probable
that the Old Soldiers and Old Settlers
association will adopt the grounds as
their permanent meeting place. In the
fall the football games will be played
there and it will form much needed
place for holding all kinds Of athletic
meetings. The idea is to form aside
from a first class fair grounds much
needed place for outdoor sports and
amusements within easy reach of the
business part of the city.
A Public PROJECT.
t'This is public project" said Mr.
Meeker, 81 have leased the ground and
have taken upon myself the responsi
bility of conducting the fair. The
kind Of fair, the kind of amphitheatre
buildings and sheds which will be
erected will depend largely upon the
financial and moral support given me
by the residents of Wapello county ant
the citizens of Ottumwa. So far the
merchants and business men are sub
scribing literally to the fund for the
erection of these buildings and I an
hopeful that within a few days l will
have secured a sufficient sum to war
rant me in going ahead with ordering
the lumber needed for the improve
ment of the grounds,
"Our plan calls for the erection of {
good amphitheatre about 200 feet long
and large enough to accommodate 2,
500 people, a floral hall, horse and cat
tie sheds and hog and sheep pens. The
amphitheatre and the fence is to be
completed by May 2 in order to be
ready for the first of the Iowa State
League baseball games. All subscrip
tons are being taken with the under
standing that unless these improve
ments are completed by May the sub
scription is void One-half of eacl
subscription is to be paid May AM
the other half after the close of thu
| first fair