The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-15
MONEY FOR THE FAIR.
Association Will Raise $4,000 More
for Its Improvement.

For prizes in stock show 50, 600
For prizes in agriculture. 49,. 1000
For addition to exposition hall. 1000
Total -..-.... --- -. $4,000
It was decided at meeting of the
entertainment committee of the Com
mercial club this morning to rase
the above amounts of money as addi-
tional backing for the Kansas state
fair to be held in Topeka the coming
fall.
1t is probable that the Parker
shows or some other similar collection
of first class attractions. Will be given
place at the fair grounds, to serve
as an attraction to the people who do
the strictly agricultural displays
in every way, it is planned that the
state fair of 1905 shall exceed any
former events of this character ever
held in the city of Topeka or any
where else in the state
Secretary Samson started the sub
scriptiOn to the fair with $50. NJ. a
Low contributed $50 more Commit
tees will be appointed to go after the
remaining $500.
Mr. Low made a plea to be relieved
of the duties of president of the state
exposition association.
Couldn't think of it, said all the
members of the committee.
But I am out of town so much that
can't attend to the work" said Mr..
Low.
well. let the vice president preside
when you are away"
But you ought to have somebody
who can devote plenty of time to the
work. said Mr.. Low.
I'VE want your name at the head
of it, even if you don't do any work, -
was the reply
Somebody suggested that the COM
mittee did not have anything to do
with the election of officers for the
exposition association, and so the mat
ter was dropped
Secretary Samson viii leave for Des
Moines. Iowa. on Friday evening, where
he Will attend a meeting of the secre-
taries of all the state fairs in the west.
4 expect to make strong effort"
said Mr.. Samson, Ito arrange cOmbi-
nation with the other fair associations
by which we can introduce a new and
clean lot Of sideshows at our state fairs.
The public does not realize the difficult
ty in getting good, clean attractions.
We have had some experience in this
matter. 1t very often is the case that
the shows are diSreputable and should
not be allowed to exhibit. But we are
tied up with contracts, and can't help
ourselves. The managers of state fairs
do not want such shows; they have to
take them That is one reason why the
Parker shows are proving so attractive.
They are clean and decent, and women
can attend them. I hope that We can
make some sort of an arrangement by
which number of good, clean, indie
pendent shows can be secured and put
on our fair circuit, to make all the
state fairs in the west
1t was decided by the entertainment
committee Of the club to make no eff
fort to solicit funds for the fair until
Mr.. Samson returns from Des Moines-
The committee will meet again next
Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock for
the purpose of hearing Mr. Samson's
report. and reaching an agreement in
regard to the nature of the attractions
which VIII be offered
There was no disposition to throw
overheard the state fair proposition, !
though some of the members suggested
the advisa bility of confning the efforts
of the association to a race meet. and
getting together a big aggregation of
fast horses. It was argued that since
the legislature had failed to show its
interest in a state fair by the aDDropri-
alton of $1,000 to help the thing along. I
the city of Topeka is under no obliga-
tions to continue to put up money for
the sake of giving state fair The
racing part of the state fair pays its
own way, and is generally considered /
one Of the most attractive features OF
the event.
The conclusion was reached. however. !
that the city would do better to not only |
continue to carry the live stock and /
agricultural features, but to materially |
enlarge these departments. With this
in view, it was decided to raise $1,000 /
for an addition to the exposition hall /
where the agricultural exhibits will be /
made, and another 81 .OG0 to be offered as |
premiums for agricultural exhibits
The exposition company now has /
about 81 900 in its treasury, and with |
the $4,000 to be raised, it is believed that |
an unusually successful fair can be /
held The admissions to the grounds,
and percentage in the profits from the /
Parker shows, or some similar attrac-
ton, viii swell the total revenues Of |
the exposition to about $4,000.
&c -, 70 11,e,v--
the right to take stock in the associa- /
tion in exchange for their money, if |
they so desire. In case the fair is
favored with good weather. and the
crowds are large, it is proposed to pay
back out of the receipts all of the mon
ey subscribed. The 81. 900 which must
be raised is therefore in the nature of a
guarantee fund