Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1913-09-10
FAIR NEXT WEEK
BIGGEST IN HISTORY
Thousands of Dollars Expended to
Make 1t Record Breaker.
AIRSHIP FLIGHTS AND
MANY HIGH CLASS FEATS
Fair Grounds Doubled i'm Size, Build
ings Remodeled and Everything
Possible Done to Make Them
Attractive and Convenient.

Next week the) )Winneshiek Coun-
ty Fair of 1913 will be held in Decor
ah, and it promises to eclipse any
fair ever held in this part of the
state. Early in the year the officers
and others interested in the county
fair determined to do all in their
power to make this years fair a
grand success, and the result of their
work of preparation has exceeded the
fondest anticipations.
In the first place nine of the busi-
ness men purchased the grounds
from Mrs. C. c. Bates so as to keep
them from being sold out in city lots.
Then the large tract of land just
north of and adjoining the grounds
was purchased from the B. Anund-
sen estate. which practically doubled
the size of the grounds. Then all
the old fences, the cattle sheds, the
pig pens, etc. were torn down and
removed from the front of the
grounds. Ample quarters were con-
structed near the northeast corner of
the grounds for all the stock exhibits,
so as to keep them together and
where they can be better taken care
of and more easily exhibited. New
fences were constructed around the
grounds, the buildings were remodel
ed and repaired, the grounds graded,
and in fact the whole property put in
to first class condition, at an expense
of in the neighborhood of ten thous-
and dollars.
For months past the officers have
been engaged in an effort to procure
the highest grade of attractions pos
sible to entertain the people. The
result is program such as has never
been offered by county fair in this
part of the country, and of the same
class of attractions as is usually
given by the state fairs. We say
without fear of successful contradie-
tion that the program and exhibits
offered will far excell anything CIV
en- by any county fair within a hun
dred miles and more, and yet the
neighboring fairs draw immense
crowds of people. Winneshiek county
gives better fair every year than
the neighboring counties and yet II
is not attended by one-third as many
people. 1t is reported that there
were 5000 people at the West Un-
ion fair one day this year, as many
at Waverly, 5000 at Elkader, and
so on, and yet none of them gave pro-
grams that would compare with ours
We say this because we feel that II
is the duty Of the people of Winnie
shiek county to attend and partici-
pate in their fair. The proper spirit
of cooperation between the farmers
and business men will make the fail
great success, and this spirit can
not be fostered and developed with
out being of direct pecuniary value
to every acre of land and every bust
ness in Winneshiek county. The
county fair can be made a great fac.
tor in the progress and development
of this county, and this can bt
brought about only by the active CO
operation of all the people. Now i:
the time and this is the year to join
in a united movement for Winnie
shiek county, for the best county il
the best state in the best nation or
earth.
The program is a splendid one
There will be many exhibits in all de
partments, in the stock show, in flor
al and agricultural hall, and through
out the grounds; and the program O.
entertainment fills every day from
morning to sunset. Tuesday, the
opening day, will be perhaps the bes
of all. With music by the Decoraf
Merchants Band; the comic aero
batic performance of the Rene Big
gare troupe; the addresses by DR.. G
III. Sumner, secretary of the state
board of health; by Miss Idaho Suth
erland Of the Ames college, and by
Supt. II. E. Miller on home study
two aeroplane flights daily, by MAJ
Lille, the famous state fair aerial
ist, in his biplane; the fancy shooting
act of DR.. Tanner, the motorcycle ra
ces, the scientific acrobatic perfor
nance of the Rene Biggare troupe o.
six people; the high dive from al
S5-foot ladder into tank OF water
the balloon and parachute jump
with these, and the various conces
sions and amusements Of other kinds