Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1915-10-20
ORT0Nv|LLE PUT ON
GREAT BIG SHOW
Attendance Was Not What Was
Expected, But Features
Were Good.

tonville last week was success from
the point Of exhibits and general ar
rangements, but did not draw the at
tendance that did the previous expo
sitions at Morris and Benson. This
was due largely to the backward sea-
son which prevented actual farmers
from attending by reason of the neces.
sity of using every fair day in the
fields, and also a lack of advertising
to bring out the village folks. The
special train which left Willmar on
Thursday morning was boarded by
three or four persons here and only
by very few at each station until
Morris was reached. The towns near
er Ortonville contributed somewhat
larger delegations. The West Central
Development Association has had won
derful luck with the weather. Both
Of the previous shows were held in
the winter but both had good weather.
That succession of three or four fair
days could be had this month is also
somewhat remarkable. In our opinion
the exposition must be made a winter
affair to attain it's greatest success, as
the early fall is too close to the coun-
ty fair season.
Ortonville had spent thousands of
dollars in decorations and other prep.
arations, and entertainment features.
Eight or nine elaborate arches very
artistically put up with grains, bloom
ing plants, flags, pennants and electric
lights, and bound together with long
robes Of alfalfa hay, filled the main
street and led to the entrance of the
city park in wooded ravine which
had been enclosed with a wire fence
The exhibits were housed in tents
within this enclosure. While the corn
exhibits naturally were not equal in
quantity to former years, a surpris-
ingly large show of corn was made
and the quality was fine. Grant coun-
ty, South Dakota, had fine exhibit
in a separate tent. The list of prize
winners was not available for this is
sue Of our paper, but will be given in
our next.
The speaking session in the natural
amphitheatre in the park was an en-
thusiastic occasion, and was listened
to by large crowd. Gov. Hammond
made a splendid address, as did Gov.
Byrnes Of South Dakota. Gov. Hanna
of North Dakota was prevented from
attending. A number of bands fur.
nished splendid music The entertain
ment features included some native
Hawaiian singers and a band of Sis
seton Sioux Indians encamped within
the enclosure. They were the real
tepee Indians and they gave exhibit
tons of their dances arrayed in all
the glory of Indian costumes of feath-
ers, beads, skins and cloths dyed in
all the hues of the rainbow.
We understand that the exposition
will be better financial success than
had been feared. Ortonville certainly
did herself proud in the preparations
her citizens had made to entertain
and care for the crowds. No one need
go hungry or lack accommodations.
Mr.. G. Hennings and We editor from
Willmar attended on Thursday. Judge
G. E. Qvale was there presiding at a
term of court. The editor had fine
time renewing acquaintances from all
parts of the district. We were nicely
entertained at dinner by Mr.. and Mrs.
Samuel A. Paulson, formerly of this
county. Mr.. Paulson is the manager
Of the Pioneer Store Cooperative
Company, which is one of the leading
enterprises Of Ortonville and has a
fine building consisting Of basement
and two stories. They did gross
business Of 100000 last year.
In the evening we took walk down
on the fiat south of Big Stone lake,
crossing Lac qui Parle county and the
State line into South Dakota in order
to get good view Of Ortonville which
is built on the side hill overlooking
the lake and river flats. On the Op-
posite bluffs is the village of Big Stone
City in South Dakota Big Stone lake
extends northward for thirty miles,
but is not very wide. The lake is not.
ed for its annual chautauqua and pic
turesque scenery.