The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-10-08

SUCCESSFUL FAIR EDUCATIONAL AS WELL
AS ENTERTAINING SAYS PRES. BURTON
BY DOLLY DALRYMpLE

n
4 IF we had hundred men here like
Mr. b. b. Burton said a prominent
citizen a few days ago. the Birming-
ham spirit would oe felt from one end
of this southland to the othert"
Nice compliment and well deserved.
too. for the clever gentleman who is
THE Man of the Hour Just at this.
wrlting-for as president of the Ala
hama state Fair Mr.. Burton occupies
the unique position of being host to
the thousands Of visitors who willa
throng our gates tomorrow and FOR the
coming 10 days. as well as occupying
his usual position of representative cit
izen, enthusiastic, optimistic always
for Birmingham and Birmingham
prosperity.
Mr.. Burton has ed before in the
capacity of president of the FAIR, and
his administration has always been
marked with good Judgment, sound
financial ability and success. and the
predictions for the 1918 fair tend to
show that the browning event of his
career will be the magnificent show
that viii be presented to the people of
Birmingham and the state generally in
the efforts put forth this year by him,
by the board of directors of the Ala
,bama State Fair association and their
excellent co-workers.
Mr.. Burton is enthusiastic over the
opening tomorrow, and chatting with
him yesterday about the fair, he had
many interesting things to say con-
corning the various attractions and the
unique features which will be intro
dueed this year.
Il have had a great deal of expe-
rience with fairs" said Mr. Burton,
from the time when they were gotten
up merely to draw crowds and make
money; when there We're only a few ex-
hibits, and lot of fakirs connected
with the enterprise, and the people
We're lured hither for purely CONNER
cial reasons. Today a fair to be sue
i cessful must be educational as well as
entertaining, and those lines the
Alabama State Fair association has
worked increasingly
| 1T is easy for the observant person
to note just how the Alabama State
Fair has progressed within the past
few years along those particular lines"
l suggested.
To-day the Alabama State Fair" said
Mr.. Burton, bears the distinction of
lbeing the most complete and the most
tire southeastern territory. This is
! gagged by the appreciation of the pub
lie, which in the last two years has
shown its approval, by more than a
quarter of a million people each year
| attending the fair. This year tile num-
Der will be far greater, if all signs do
not fail, and there is but one thing
that can retard our success this season
and that is the weather. In this the
weather man, however. has promised to
do his best for us, and IL that promise
is kept. we are sure of a great tri-
umph.
at is amusing" Mr. Burton contin-
ued, ito know how many people think
that fair is thrown together in few
weeks time that practically no at
tention or time has been expended
upon it, when as matter of fact there
is nothing in the whole range of en-
tertainment that requires the thought,
the energy and the Judgment that Il
fair requires. Practically, when the
gates close one fair. the directors
begin their work on, another. Early
in January space is allotted exhibits
are classified and arranged, and the
board holds its weekly meetings TO dis
cuss the best ways and means to
finance the situation. 1t is d mighty
big job to bring all the different de-
partments up to a high standard and
reduce the whole matter to a practical
basis, and get it ready for the opening
day"
"rhe 1913 fair holds many induce
ments over previous ones does it not?'
| asked interestedly
ut can be truthfully said" LIr. Bur-
ton replied proudly, that the 1913 fair
will be the most complete thing of its
kind ever presented here. And another
thing, the directors want it understood
that although it is such difficult mat
ter to have everything in perfect order
and running smoothly on the opening
day, our fair tomorrow will be as conf