The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-06-22
Features of skowhegan's Fourth

feAIureS of SkOwhegan's Fourth
Everybody goes somewhere on the
Fourth; this year it's Skowhegan.
skowhegan has had some big days in
the past, not nearly as often as she
ought to have had. but the crowds who
have come here to help us celebrate
have been we'll entertained and will be
ready this year to come again. The
people who managed the previous cele-
brations gained much from experience,
and when the committee came to be
formed this year every department
could be put in charge of men whose
previous training had made them spe.
cialsts in the work that would fall TO
them to do. The whole affair has been
handsomely backed by the citizens; the
guarantee fund has been raised TO near
ly $1,000 and it is quite possible to make
it $1,000.
Plans have matured so that some of
the features may be mentioned. There
will be two balloon assensions; one in
/ ShO NOblOl Ol AhO AOUh III AhO AOlChOObf
and one at the park in the afternoon
An ascension is spectacular to the limit,
and is always interesting from the time
the aeronaut commences 10 fill his
monster bag with hot air till he comes
sailing down from his trip to the clouds
a nd lands again on earth. There is also
an extended program of athletic sports,
and other features that will occupy
every minute for the entire forenoon.
Another feature of this years pro-
gram will be Letner in his great Slide
for Life. This is simply trip from the
highest obtainable point to the ground,
suspended from a wire cable by his
teeth The cable in this case will be
swung across the Kennebec river, from
the highest building that can be found,
to the opposite bank. Letner has made
this same trip across the Niagara river
at the famous falls SO that no height or
distance that can be arranged for here
will dismay him.
A new element ia to be introduced in
the parade this year in the shape of the
military companies from the cities of
Wateryille, Gardiner and Augusta with
our own military organization, Company
<, all under the command of Maj. Fen
b. Thompson of Gardiner. Their
marches, tactics and evolutions are of
themselves worthy to be the principle
features of any fete day program
Other departments of the great parade
will include school children on floats
singing patriotic airs, the different COM
panies of the Skowhegan Fire depart
ment, Skowhegan Trade Unions and
floats and teams representing Skowhe-
gan's mercantile and manufacturing es-
Establishments. There will not be an idle
minute, and these features are all en-
tirely free and 80 arranged that the
thousands of people who are sure to be
on hand can readily view them. AT one
thirty the program begins at the park.
The purses for the horse racing are liber
al and in all the history of Fairview
Park there has never been 80 good a
prospect for good field of starters and
warm contests in each class For base
ball there will be games between teams
picked from two of the visiting military
companys and also between the Madi.
sons and Skowhegans. There will also
be vaudeville performances, trapeze and
tumbling acts SO that things will be as
busy as a four ring circus.
Though not in connection with the
celebration, but suggested by it and by
the historic memories associated with
Independence Day, there will be servic-
es of a patriotic nature in the Methodist
church Oh the Sabbath evening proceed
ing the Fourth, Sunday evening, July
End, with an address by the Rev. F. A.
Leitch. 1t is also suggested that the
singing of national anthems by large
chorus, which has been a striking and
appropriate feature of past celebrations,
be repeated this year as a part of the
program for the forenoon of the Fourth
and steps are now being taken to that
end.
All preparations are being made for
safety and comfort of the big crowd.
There will be special trains on the
Maine Central and Somerset Railways,
and special cars on the Somerset Traction
Company's line. All the hotels and
eating houses are making special pre-
parations. There is a special committee
on the care of the streets and they are
to cooperate with the police department
to avoid the possibility of accident and
to 80 order events that every feature of
the program can be seen to the best adj
vantage.
Gan roads lead to Skowhegan on
July Fourth" 1t is laid out to be the
biggest day in Maine,
Searches at Fairfield.