The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-09-18
THE TOPEKA FAIR.

| Topeka's fair experience of this year
| where the receipts fell short of the
| expenditures because bad weather GU
| down the attendance, is not an unusua
one in the history OF the big fairs Oh
| the country. All of then have met
| with reverses. But none of them have
thought of giving up the ghost on. that
or any other account. There was a
debit side of $50, 600 when the books OF
the Minnesota fair We're balanced two
years ago 1t rained there steadily
during the entire fair week. Missouris
fair of last year suffered a loss of 800
900 from the same cause. Nebraska S
fair of this year ended with deficit.
But the Nebraska fair of last year
piled up a profit of $4,000. And the
other fairs mentioned have had many
good years when their profits were of
large proportions.
OF course these fairs are differently
situated from the Topeka institution.
Each of them has been built up by lib
era1 state aid and bad year with one
of them has been no more than an I'M
pleasant incident that it has been easy
to tide over, either with SURPRISES from
successful fairs or by state appropria-
lions. The Topeka fair has been de-
veloped and financed so far solely
through the liberality of the people of
Topeka and Shawnee county. This de-
velopment has been magnificent, really
wonderful considering the brief time
that the fair has been changed from
boss race meet into an agricultural
exposition that is commensurate in ev-
nd
ency of Kansas. and on par with the
best of the fairs west of the MISSISSIPPI
The Topeka fair is now made. Its
organization has been perfected to the
highest possible standard in all of its
details So good is this organization
that the actual expense of the fair, OF
its conduct, was smaller this year than
it was last. The fair is in position
now to hold its own with any fa1r IN
the country. Many experienced 1alr
men were visitors in Topeka last week
Not a one of them but stated that the
fair was a credit in every way TO the
great state of Kansas, remarkable
fair. in fact, considering the untowad
agricultural conditions that prevailed
in the state this year With the pres
among exhibitors and also among the
people who have patronized 1t as Vlsl-
tors. the success of even bigger ana
better fairs in Topeka is assured
There has been a little talk during
the past few days that the hnanc1al
showing of the fair this year Will souno
rs death kneu. This must come from
he professional pessimists or perhaps
rom the small and purely sporting ele-
mont in the town who would like to get |
pack to the days when the fair was no |
more than a racing meet But their
innings in such a venture were not
marked with much success. In tact |
hev left a debt of 800 as an unde- |
;irable nest egg for the reorganized |
md present fair aSSocia ton to handle. |
Surely no talk that the fair is about |
o die has come from the substantial !
interests of Topeka and Shawnee |
county With successful fair in their |
possession and the prospects of max
ng II larger, more interesting and
more entertaining in the future if its
resent fine organiza ton is maintained,
hev would be lacking in the first ele-
nents of business acumen if they per-
nitted such a fair to slip out OF their
lands. 1t is the biggest and most prof
table advertisement that Topeka and
;bawnee county can have. Conversely
+ would be the biggest black eye and
he worst advertising that Topeka and
shawnee county could receive if the
air were allowed to die, or fall into
ny kind of a decay.
Topeka's Commercial club is in the
igor of a renewed youth. 1t is de-
oted most zealousiy to the advance
nent and advertisement of Topeka in
very possible way. 1t has the oppor-
unity of its life now to get right be-
ind the Topeka Fair association and
make Immediately certain a bigger and
etter fair for next year. 1t is we'll to
ear in mind that if even Thursday of
air week had been fine day the fair
-ould have done better than break
ven. And if the attendance had been
s good as it was last year. which was
of a record breaker, the fair would
ave made profit of about $4,000
,ther things besides rain, especially
he poorness of the agricultural season,
onspired to keep down the attendance
his year.
Under all of these circumstances, it
-ould be folly. worse than folly, not to
eep the fair alive and try again. even
something of a financial burden has
D be carried in the meantime.
|