The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-16
COBURN TO LEAD.
Topeka State Fair Must Have
New Organization.
County Commissioners Will
Then Levy Tax for Buildings.
BIG PLANS ARE MADE.
Fair will BE the Most Import
ant Event of the Year.
Commercial Climb tn Raise Money
BIG PLANS ARE MADE.
Commercial Club to Raise Money
for Catholic Hospital.

Preliminary steps were taken at a
meeting of the commercial club last
night, looking to the permanent estab b.
lishment of big state fair at Tope-
ka.
A permanent committee was ap-
pointed consisting of J. w. Robinson,
w. l. Miller and E. H. Crosby to take
charge of the campaign for state ap-
the state fair. This committee is en-
powered to appoint subcommittee to
do whatever work develops.
The county commissioners will be
asked to levy special tax with which
to erect permanent buildings on the
fair grounds. which they may do in
accordance with an enabling act pass
ed by the recent session of the legis-
lature.
1t is not considered likely that the
county commissioners will levy this
special tax and turn it over to what is
now known as the Kansas Exposition
company, the corporation that has
been in charge of the so-called fairs
past few years.
1t is considered doubtful by many
that the commissioners would make
this levy unless the orga nization of
the Kansas Exposition company was
broadened, so as to have the affairs
of that company handled by some per-
son whose name will lend prestige to
the movement all over the state and
will cooperate with and bring together
all interests.
1t will be necessary that a few pri-
Vate interests in Topeka relinquish all
claims upon the proposition as a pri-
vate business enterprise for private
business gain.
If the Topeka Commercial club can
prevail upon such a man as F. D. Co
burn to head the organization to do
the preliminary work, it is evident
that the county commissioners of
Shawnee county could have no hest
tency in levying the special tax for the
beginning of permanent fair, and
they would have no doubts but that
the money would be wisely spent, and
a good foundation laid for the con-
summation of the long-che rished plans
for a real state fair.
AS has been suggested heretofore The
committee selected by the Commercial
club last night will endeavor to secure
the cooperation of the park board of
the city of Topeka, to the end that the
park board do considera bic work in
improving the beauty of the fair
grounds with funds for park improve
ment that are in the hands of the park
board, in exchange for the use of the
fair grounds as AZ park for the benefit
of the people of the city and county at
all times exceptgwhen in use by the
fair.
The committee will doubtless IN
deavor to secure pledges from the BUSH
ness men of the city of Topeka 10
guarantee a fund of four or five thou
sand dollars for prizes for live stock
and farm products this coming fall.
The members of the Commercial club
at the meeting last night decided 10
raise by subscription the sum of $500
to purchase the property formerly own
ed by Captain ]. B. Johnson on West
Sixth avenue, but now owned by NJ
Heery, and donate the same as the
site for a hospital to be erected by the
Sisters of Charity.
Father HAYDEN appeared before the