The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1913-05-08
THIS YEARS. FAIR u
''THE II BIS BV E|'R''' I
nany improvements A. Eatsr'
talnsd for RIohland County
Falr Fof Ysar se1s.

land County Fair by Geo. w.
Woods, secretary Of the fair as,
ISOLATION. F Furthermore, he in
tends to carry out what the slo-
gan implies: that this years
fair is to be 1.-THE best ever"
which means that it will be the
best county fair in the country.
In a letter recently sent to
manufacturers, jobbers and whole
salers throughout the United
States, Mr.. Woods informs them
Of the 1913 fair in the following
language:
.sDo not confuse this fair with
an old time exhibition Of Beard
ed Ladies' and 'Dog-Faced Boys
held on Main street in Podunk-
Vile. Our side shows are merely
incidental to our exhibits Of
blooded stock. poultry, farm and
dairy products, machinery, manu-
facturers' articles and handiwork
and educational displays"
OF course not all people attend
the fair TO inspect and admire the
cattle, swine and sheep. All
visitors like some sort of enter
tainment; some of them look for
nothing else. The problem is to
secure attractions which will
merit the approval Of those who
pay to see them. Every fair man.
ager has this to contend with.
The problem this year may be
solved in a novel way.
Mr.. Woods goes on the theory
that the Richland County Fair be-
longs to the people. They make
the fair and they ought to have
voice in its management. He
intends shortly to sound public
sentiment, with the cooperation
Of the newspapers in the county,
by inaugurating a coupon voting
contest to enable persons inter-
ested to desigate their choice in
the matter Of free attractions.
Also to permit them to suggest
along what lines the fair might be
improved.
Everyone knows that publicity
is most important to make a
financial success of an exhibition
like our fair. All sorts of clever
schemes have to be adopted to
get the crowds. One OF these
schemes that the secretary has
decided on sto get the co-opera-
ton Of the travelling men who
either reside here or. make this
territory. They will be supplied
with thousands of stickers to
paste in railway stations and
other conspicuous places, an
nouncing the dates of the fair
Sept. 30,, October 1, and g.. All
Of the knights of the Grip" who
have been approached on the
matter have enthusiastically ag-
reed to do their share.
But while it is trine early to
book attractions and get out the
display posters announcing the
fair, there is other important
work to do. The premium list
must be arranged, the heads of
the various departments must be
selected, the, prospective exhibit
tors must be enthused and urged
to prepare their entries, a racing
circuit must be formed, the track
and grounds must be kept I'M good
condition, the buildings must be
Overhauled and the important
matter Of financing the fair must
be worked out. These matters
are still pending, although much
preliminary work has been done.
One thing which is we'll under
way is the matter of beautifying
the fair grounds. Almost every
evening for the past few weeks
Mr.. Woods and, DR.. F. M. Gil
breath, secretary Of the CONNER
+cial club, have been making flow
er beds in various parts of the
enclosure. Those plants have
been selected which will bloom
about fair time, SO that instead
OF the usual bare patches Of Gin
ders and long grass there will be
beds Of fragrant flowers which
will show up to advantage against
the background Of white build
ings. pse