The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-29

from the country as well as the city,
and without trying to make any money
by charging admission, give them a
royal good time in the old-fashioned
way.
Yes, there might be some objection
to a free dance, on account of the fact
that the undesirables might come to
monopolize it, but that could be over
come by issuing invitation slips and
distributing them among the city and
country stockholders and patrons of
the fair, they to hand them to whom
soever they desired to have in attend
ance.
with the square dance prominent,
there would not be the incentive for
the youngsters to hold the floor to the
exclusion of the older people who used
to dance and would dance again if
they could find their kind of dances.
It would be great fun"
Institution Is Growing.
Secretary Cook is elated over the
| progress made this year IN the matter
of improvements and the installation
of new buildings on the grounds.
Every day he takes an auto trip over
the grounds and plans further addi-
lions to the permanent facilities for
housing exhibits and making the
grounds attractive.
This institution is growing, I tell
you" said he. Before long we will
have modern and model equipment for
our fair that will put i in the same
class with Iowa, Minnesota and Iln
nois. Just stop and think what has
| been done in the last year and a half.
A State Fair is essentially a. concern
of the people and by the people and
we are determined to make for the
people the biggest and best fair that
we can, to the end that Kansas will be
pointed to as the model for them all.
Kansas will have a State Fair in the
future. Topeka has it cinched."
! The improvements
/ The new main entrance. being put
UP by Cuthbert and Sons, will be some
what similar to the entrance at Gage
Park. 1t will be constructed of cut
block stone with arch over the
driveway On each side of the arcn
will be entrances over which will be
hung four rustic lanterns. Work of
laying the stone commenced this week
and will be finished by August Is.
On your right as you enter the
grounds is the new Arts and Mercan-
tile building. 1t is built on the Span
ish mission style, with an outside finish
lof rough cast cement The feature of
this building is the large number of
windows, there being one hundred and
sixteen of them which VIII give plenty
of light and ventilation. This building
is now entirely finished with the ex-
lception of the interior booths.
Back of the Arts and Mercantile
building are four newly built swine
and sheep sheds. There are thirty-six
the room necessary for this kind of
stock to be exhibited.
Across the race track directly oppo-
site the grand stand there has been
constructed two modern barns for
stabIing the race horses Each barn
CT iIc 41-if1 n
ltilating windows in every stall.
| The steel wire fence, put up by the
american Wire and Steel Co, encircl-
ing the grounds and also the race
track is nearly completed. Secretary
H. L. Cook said this morning: up to
date there has been two hundred and
sixty horses entered for the races. The
track has been put in fine condition
land with the new steel wire fence on
the outside of the course it will be the
finest race track in the west
1.-The old buildings are being re-
modelled and the Live Stock and Horse
IPavilions put in ship-shape order
by September IL everything will
have been made ready for the gates to
swing open on one of the best State
Fairs ever held in Topeka"
Fine Arts Department.
There should be no difficulty in as
surfing for the Kansas State Fair this
Year. continued Secretary Cook, "such
a display in the fine arts department as
has never before been seen in Topeka.
1.-The objection heretofore has been the
inadequate facilities for properly
Ishowing paintings, decorative art
pieces, pottery, china, ETC.. and the in
lsecurity of the buildings used for that
department. This has now been over
come, and the new arts and mercantile
building is admirably adapted to the
safe and proper exhibition Of this val
Irr-al h .11 Of
I'm the new building, splendidly
lighted, and of brick and cement con-
istruction, there should be no hesitancy
on the part of the owners of priceless
art treasures to give others an oppor-
ltunity 10 enjoy them One of the
greatest boons to mankind is the last
ing lessons for good taught by some
wonderful painting, but how few, COM
paratively, are permitted to learn the
lesson except through cheap reproduc-
tons or by reading stories of them.
Topeka has some art connoisSeurs
whose collections would be a reveal
ton to the thousands of visitors to the
State Fair, and who, if they permitted
their exhibition would be, public bene-
factors. 1t is hoped by the fair man
Iagement that some of these art treas
, ures will come to the fair this year
: That they will receive protection in
the splendid new art building is as
; sured. They will be carefully watched
night and day by guards assigned tc
that building.
Miss Catherine Lindsey is in charge
) of this department. a yourg lady whose
: work has received high commentator
! by art critics. and whose appreciation
l of the value Of such collections as viii
come under her supervision is sucl
that they will receive the most careful
l and judicious display. She has pride
in her department, anG probably M
. one is more thoroughly n touch will
the location and ownership of eollec
] tions of real art in Topeka than she.
: THE premium list has been revised
/. to include much that has been omitted
lin the past. and it is urged BY the sec