The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-08-09
BURTON TALKS OF COMING STATE FAIR President Tells of the Big
 Attractions WILL BREAK RECORDS Authorities Are Going After An Alt tendance of 26O,OOO This Year.
 All Are Co-Operating in
 the Work

bama State Fair association is greatly pleased with the prospects for the ap- preaching state fair, which he says are the brightest for many years past. MT race entries, more prize stock, and more | free attractions have already been se- cured than in any previous year, and that the high class of the entries. exhibits and entertainments is such as to insure success.
 MT. Burton said: We have every req son to believe that the fair will be grand success for we are starting out under the most favorable circum- stances. Although 1t is about 60 days before the fair opens we are two-thirds ahead with our exhibits. We have sold at this time 50 per cent more conces- sions and from indications every inch of space will be secured both for ex- hibits and special concessions. "Our free attractions are all of | high character and comprise many unioue and novel attractions. We have secured the services of Innes' orches- tral band of 40 musical artists. In this | connection I might say we were spe- | cially favored in securing the serv- I Ice of Professor Innes, as his previous engagements have been confined to con- certs and music festivals Another feature Is the Morsoff troup | of Russian dancers, which is consid- cred one of the finest attractions be- fore the public today.
 "Of course the most spectacular fea- ture will be Pains pyrotechnical dis play, "The Battle of the Clouds" which will represent a fight between the planet Mars" and mother earth, !n which aeroplanes will play quite a part.
 "The Midway or rather the Plaza" will be filled with clean and enter taining shows.
 "The prospect for the agricultural ex- hibits is by far the best in years, due | in part to the statewide interest and to the increased appropriation from the state for this purpose. We have the hearty cooperation of the state de- partment of agriculture under Capt. R. F. Kolb and the several county fair as- sociations of the state. Another thing in this connection. Not only are bump or crops reported all over the state, but they are weeks ahead of previous years, giving time both to prepare the exhibits and the opportunity for the farmers to visit the fair. 'The live stock entries have been so numerous that we are contemplating building additional stalls. These exhibits will be of interest to all classes, the city man as well as those from the rural districts.
 "The horse races will be better than ever from the fact we are offering bigger purses which will consequently attract better stock. The motorcycle and other races will include the best in the .coun- try.
 "The aeroplane feature has not been overlooked, and we are at this time con- sidering several propositions. We are holding off little that we may secure the very best to be had, One we have in mind consists of three kinds of flying machines, the balloon with the passenger basket, the dirigible airship, and the aeroplane types of flying apparatus, will be in the air at one time. representing the different stages of the conquest of the air.
 I've are also considering proposition from the president of the Macon, Geor- gia, State fair, to exchange messages by aeroplane from Macon to Birmingham and return.
 Another gratifying feature Is the | ''esprit de corps" among all who are working for the success of the fair and have had their hearty cooperation in all matters connected with it.
 'Tn order to take advantage of any op- portunity to add to the attractiveness of | the fair, John L. Parker, chairman of the executive committee, Secretary Frank P. | Chaffe and myself will visit the fairs at l Knoxville, Nashville and Memphis while they are in progress and secure addition al features if desirable.
 "We are on the way to success and are striving to break the record attend ar1ce We have set the figure at 26O,OO and we are going after them. The rec ord now stands at 206,00o'