Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-08-27
GREAT FAIR SAYS
PRESIDENT REWEy
New Buildings Will be Better
Than any State Expo. Ever
Held
BY OLIVER G. REWEY.
president Wisconsin State Board of
Agricuture.)

The 1914 Wisconsin State Fair, to
be held in Milwaukee Sept IA, to IS,
inclusive, will be the greatest state
fair Wisconsin ever has conducted in
every particular.
Despite the fact that many build
ings We're demolished by a tornado
on May Bland many more We're burn
ed in the fire of Sunday. Aug. 2.,this
years fair will be housed in far bet
ter shape than any fair during re
cent years.
New buildings furnishing more ex-
hibit space than was furnished by
structures destroyed will be finished
and ready for occupancy. An army
of workmen is toiling on the fair
grounds now. have inspected the
work within the last twenty-four
hours, and know that all buildings, will
be completed by the date I have men
toned
WIN DC POyOOOsOOO GNpOSiliOfbs
This yearis state fair will be a.
So 900, 900 exposition the resour-
ces of Wisconsin There will, be over
one million dollars worth of horses,
on the grounds, over a million dol
lars worth of cattle and over a mil
lion dollars worth of machinery.
Secretary J. C. MacKenzie's rec
ords show that the exhibits in ev--
cry department will not only outnum-
Der the records of any past fair, but
they will su1pass former years in
class and quality.
Take the department Of county ex-
hibits, and it is a fair criterion Last
year we had about thirty counties
represented. This year over fifty
have already signified that they will
be represented, and more still may
come.
Our automobile department will
show all the 1915 models of cars,
sold in Wisconsin, thus beating the
automobile shows by six months. l
mention the automobile department
because it is going to be one of the
best departments of this years fair.
Mammoth Machinery Exhibit.
The so-called trust machinery con-
Germs are cutting out all state fairs
this year. Despite the fact that our
machinery exhibits will be shy the
big guns in this line, this depart
ment will be larger and better than
ever.
The big concerns somehow have
the idea that they can use the mo-
ney they usually spend for state
fairs to better advantage, and they
are trying it out this year. Wiscon-
sin, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa and the
other state fairs will not see the big
concerns in 1914.
But the smaller manufacturer with
the big guns out Of the way are max
ing hay while the sun shines, and
they are pouring their exhibits into
all state fairs.
While we would like to have the
big fellows, of course, we are not
suffering because they will not be
with US.
If I am not greatly mistaken, they
will be back next year. for the state
fair gives machinery concerns their
best opportunity TO reach the retail
dealer and buyer at the same time.
Grand Special Attractions.
In addition to providing the best
fair proper Wisconsin ever has Civ
en-, the Wisconsin State Board Of
Agriculture has arranged to present
| the best special attractions ever Civ
en- at a state fair.
On the opening day we will have
an entire afternoon program OF auto
mobile races which no auto enthus-
last in Wisconsin and adjoining ter