The Detroit times., 1908-09-03
STATE FAIR Gates
THROWN OPEN
= TO CROWDS
BIG SHOW is ON FULL BLAST
1T BETTER THAN EVER WITH
IMPROVED ACCOMMODATION
FOR THE PATRONS.
The Big Show is open.

Il ne big SHOW Is open.
Thursday morning the Michigan
state fair threw open its gates 20 the
public with the largest set OF exhibits
and attractions that has ever beer
shown at a fair in this state. The
steady progress of the fair since II
was brought to Detroit is shown by
the big Improvements made IN
grounds and buildings.
Some crudities which were notice
able last season have been done away
with and the officials of the Michigan
Agricultural society are already be
ginning to see their ideas OF an ideal
fair come true.
The permanent buildings already
erected are a contrast to the fiimsy
and htdeous structures usual to fairs
the country over. in their solidity and
good looks. Everywhere green lawns
occupy the vacant spaces and beds OF
blossoming flowers soften the severity
Of the conventional lines of buildings
and enclosures.
| An improvement which will be ap
preciated by all is the system Of ce'
ment walks leading to all the prin'
cipal buildings. These walks are
broad enough to accommodate big
crowds. and they extend to the race
track. through the Midway, along the
lines OF tents and exhibits.
Exhibits Mostly In Place.
BY far the greater portion OF the
exhibits were in place Wednesday
night, although there was some hust
ling left to do Thursday morning to
get everything ship-shape before the
big crowds arrive. Hundreds of men
and women were engaged in unpack-
Ing goods from boxes, lacking up
bunting and generally arranging their
wares to make the best impression on
the hundreds of thousands OF sight
seers who will visit the fair.
! Especially along the Midway things
we're lively. There are more shows
than ever appeared before at fair
In this part of the country-and bet.
ter shows for the most part, the man
agement has reason to believe SO
many applications were made for
space In this amusement village that
the undesirable and fake enterprises
had little chance to get in.
odiOue udHCeS are barred.
A half dozen different managers
wanted to put on the Salome dance as
an attraction. They were willing to
offer all kinds of inducements, know
ing that the fad would mean rich
harvest for them. But the manage
ment could not be assured that the
dance was to be strictly biblical az
fair and coldly rejected all offers.
One committee OF ladies waited on
tho management with a request 10 be
allowed to bring Mrs. Carrie Nation
to the Fair for a series of daily lee.
lures. They argued that she would
merely talk on moral topics without at
tempting to do anything OF a violent
nature that would make trouble. Blu.
the officials feared that VIOLENCE might
arise and withheld permission for Mrs.
Nation to crate.
OF Course, an Airshp.
Through the destruction OF Jack
Dallas airship by fire, the fair man
agement has had to make hurried ar
rangements for another airship. Lin.
coin Beachy. who has been making
fights In Florida. is the substitute
and he left hurriedly Wednesday
night to get here in time for fight
Saturday.
The hospital on the grounds has
been put in charge OF Peter J. Abt of
the East End ambulance.
Six-minute service is now being
given by the d. U. r., but this will be
increased as needed.
So great was the demand for tickets
in the state that the sale had to be
continued day or so longer than ex-
pected.
Detroit business men have mani
tested a spirit to cooperate with the
fair management which has gladden.
ed the officials. A number OF con-
Germs which have exhibits on the
grounds and would ordinarily be en-
titled to passes, have voluntarily pur-
chased blocks OF so or 100 tickets for
their employees.
I'm glad to find this liberality
among the business men," says Presi-
dent Postal. Free passes do not pay
for cement walks, premium lists and
improvements to buildings and
grounds"
Detrolters should feel an interest
in their fair and the disposition to pay
for tickets rather than claim them on
one ground or another Is a hopeful
sign of healthy interest.