Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-09-21
BIG STATE FAIR ENDS.
ACCOUNTING WILL BE MADE AT
MADISON IN ABOUT THREE
WEEKS.
PROFITS ARE $4,000
John I. Beggs Says Board Should Map
Out Comprehensive Programme
to Follow for Ten Years

MILWAUKEE,, Wis, Sept. 15.-The
biggest and the most successful state talr
fair ever held in 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 conclu-
sion of the most prosperous season WIS
consin farmers have ever experienced;
it melted more money than any previous
state fair; it offered visitors as many at
fractions as the grounds could accom-
modate, and it set a pace IN every way
that will be sufficient incentive Tor some
serious work in having a fair next year
that will beat it in any way.
AS every year, there were some
''kicks" Most of them were of minor
nature that effected a 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.
For instance, many WOmen,s dresses
were spoiled, and thousands OF people
were made more or less uncomfOrtab bic
by the fact that the grandstand had not
been cleaned this year and the dust was
quarter of an inch thick on the seats.
The reserved seats there were the SUB
ject 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 dld 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 ACCESSIBILITY of selling seats down
town as we'll as continuing the use OF
the cash turnsties. 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
future plan of action, so that none OF
the ground will be wasted. and proper
regard will be had for the effect of pres
ent action upon future fairs
The state fair should be managed
like the big permanent institution that
it is, rather than as a temporary far,
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 a 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. An office should
be maintained down town for at least
month, and no details left to be decided
upon during the progress OF the talr.
"A comprehensive programme should
ho concentrating
compIishment of certain scheme or
grounds arrangement at the conclusion
of a specified time, say ten years. Inc
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 a score of permanent buildings on
the grounds, and that exhibits and CON
cessions 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
little grove where the only GOODNESS on
the grounds can be found on days like
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
That section of the grounds might De
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 4 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
Drovements for the betterment of the
fair as a permanent institution. This
cannot be accomplished by 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
the week were approximately $S1, 1T,
an increase of $4,000 over last years
fair. The expenses have not all been
figured up, but it is believed that the
surplus will be about $4,000, possibly
running over that figure.
The total attendance on Friday was
12,S19. of which 300 were passes. The
days receipts were S6059.
The work of removing exhibits was
carried on all last night and by this
noon little was left on the fair grounds
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.
T. sHEHrGo Ik nnhHNIhIr