Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1906-09-21
BIC STATE FAIR ENDS.
ACCOUNTING WILL BE MADE AT
MADISON III ABOUT THREE
WEEKS.
PROFITS ARE $4,000
John l. Beggs Says Board Should Map
Out Comprehensive Programme
to Follow for Ten Years.

MILWAUKEE. Wis, Sept I5.-The
biggest and the most successful state fair
fair ever held III Wisconsin came to an
end last night. 1t has been favored
with ideal weather and big good-na-
tured crowds; it was held at the concIu-
sion Of the most prosperous season Wis
consin farmer have ever experienced;
it netted more money than any previous
state fair; it offered visitors as many at
fractions as the grounds could accom-
modate. and it set pace i'll every way
that will be sufficient incentive for some
serious work in having fair next year
that will beat it in any way.
AS every year, there were some
''kick5." Most Of them were Of d minor
nature that effected d few persons each.
But they are all worthy Of enough con-
sideration to encourage the management
! to find a way to avoid them next year.
I For Instance, many WomenS dresses
were spoiled, and thousands of people
were made more or less uncomfortable
by the fact that the grandstand had not
been cleaned this year and the dust was
a quarter Of an inch thick on the seats.
The reserved seats there were the sub
leCt Of many prOfane words Tickets
were sold after all seats were taken.
Those who did get tickets could not find
the seats because the ushers did not pay
any attention to the numbering of seats.
/ The ones who got there first had their
choice regardless of reservations.
Ticket Problem Proved Perplexing.
The ticket problem has been comment
ed upon frequently, and some deep think
ing will be done about the passes and
the advisability of selling seats down
town as we'll as continuing the use of
the cash turnstiles. The race track was
not put in really good condition until
Thursday morning. Racing men could
not get proper quarters for the horses III
many instances.
The great lesson taught by the fair,
however. is the necessity of mapping out
a future plan of action, so that none OF
the ground will be wasted, and proper
ent action upon future fairs
The state fair should be mana ged
like the big permanent institution that
it is, rather than as a temporary fair,
said President John |. Beggs of the
street railway company, in commenting
kindly upon the weeks showing.
The men in charge are doing the best
that they can, and | believe that they
are honest. earnest and hard working.
But they have not been trained to man
age such fair, where there are as high
as $4,000 or 10000 people to be enter
tanned in a day.
Favors Permanent Manager.
"There should be some capable man
engaged to devote his entire time to this
fair for weeks ahead instead of having
the work of preparation confined to
about a week ahead. Al office should
be maintained down town for at least
month. and no details left to be decided
upon during the progress of the fair.
r1r0 crJ'a1
be mapped out, contemplating the ac-
complishment of a certain scheme OF
grounds arrangement at the conclusion
of Il specified time, say ten years. The
exigencies Of the immediate present are
not enough to meet
The arrangement of the buildings is
an important feature. When there is
nothing but an agricultural, art, county
and wOman's building, it matters little
where they are placed. But the location
of those buildings and Of all succeeding
ones must be seriously considered when
it is understood that eventually there
will be 4 score of permanent buildings on
the grounds, and that exhibits and con-
ccssiOns Of all kinds will increase each
year.
Room Was Wasted.
Better arrangements should be made
for resting spots. The Indian village
this year used up the best part of the
the grounds can be found on days like
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
That section of the grounds might he
nicely parked with seats. eating tables
and soft sod. The trees are there. and
that always is the hardest thing to get.
There should be shelter provided, as
there is no place now where Il big audi
ence can go in case of rain.
But the real demand is concerted,
systematic intelligent, comprehensive ac-
ton in carrying out a programme of i'm
proyGments for the betterment Of the
fair as a permanent institution. This
cannot be accomplished by a few DAYS
of consideration each year by men whose
principal business is farming, we'll mean
ing though their intentions may be-
They must realize that they need
trained, expert help
Receipts Show Big Increase.
The total receipts from the fair for
an increase Of $4,000 over last years
fair. The expenses have hot all been
figured up but it is believed that the
surplus will be about 3d. 900, possibly
running over that figure
The total attendance on Friday was
12,S19, of which 300 were passes. The
days receipts were S60o9.
The work Of removing exhibits was
carried on all last night and by this
to show the size of the fair. The last
piece of machinery will have been hauled
from the grounds before dark tonight.
it is expected, and then few horses
will be the only reminders left.
FARMERS IN A COMBINE.