The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1915-02-18

The old settlers reunion, suggested
by Mr.. Killing, drew a large crowd
and was an important feature. This
should be repeated yearly.
The Queen of the Fair contest was
not a success, either financially OF
otherwise. The reason Of this Is that
it was started too late, that the com
mittee having it in charge did not
have time to do the work that they
had planned.' However while it cost
about fifty dollars more than il
brought in, it gave several ideas re-
garding such contests and was not
altogether a loss.
The horse races were in the main
satisfactory and the entry fees paid
nearly fifty per cent of the purses,
They should be continued this year
and some care given to making them
what they can be made. Without
races or some performances on the
track the grandstand admissions could
not be charged and they amounted
this year to 1915. The secretary of
the State Fair strongly advises joining
the Northwestern Iowa Fair circuit,
which now takes in Flandreau and
Huron in this state. Flandreau has
the week beginning August 81 and
Huron the week Of September 18th.
We have taken the week in between.
The cost OF this circuit is SIS per
member and 1t Is up to our directors
to consider the matter.
The flying machine was the best
drawing card this year and should be
given credit for giving us our success
The free attractions on the stage
were as good as the ordinary, but do
not seem to satisfy like they once did.
For the coming year it would seem
that the most profitable and safest
kind of entertainment would be the
engaging Of a carnival company on
percentage and the hiring of one big
free event, such as a loop the loop fly
ing machine, auto, or motorcycle; or
some other big drawing card that
would bring the people. Several small
or ordinary acts do not please the
great mass as much as some special,
thrilling single event. There are quite
a number on the market that would
do us at less cost than we spent in
1914.
The exhibits this year were not as
numerous as they should have been
and from talking with many people in
different parts Of the county, IL would
seem that they have been losing faith
in the association. This condition
should not be, and the board should
do all in its power to get again the
confidence of the farmers of the coun-
ty and get them interested in coming
and showing at the fair. Mr.. Cole
has suggested a plan that has con-
siderable merit and Is worthy of your
COHSlueIdllOH. IL 10 CudL ooihC ohC
representing the fair go through the
county and visit a number Of farmers
in each township and get them to
sign a promise to make some specified
exhibit at the 1915 fair. Fairly and
carefully presented this could accom-
pl'sh much and would make them
feel as being almost a partner in max
ing the fair a success. Other plans
and suggestions have been made and
are on file. But it is sure that some
thing must be done to blot out that
old feeling that Brookings city owns
the fair. 1t must be made a county
fair and a county spirit exerted to
make it a live thing.
Before another fair the retiring
rooms should be placed in the wo-
mans building and the hog houses
moved to a place north and west Of
the stock pavilion or somewhere
other than the valuable place they
now occupy. New coops must be
built in the poultry house and some
repairs made on the agricultural build
ing. The past year nothing in the
way of new building or any repairs,
except the most necessary, has been
done.
There are other ways in which to
use the property Of the association be-
sides holding TIE fair. A carnival
could be held of about three days TAX
ing in the 4th of July. Giving on that
day a small program Of races and
sports and charging no admission to
the grounds. The merchants Of the
city should give the amount neces-
sary to make up the purses less the
entry fees. Then the percentage re-
ceived from the carnival would go
to pay the association for the use Of
the grounds. Also II the place Is fix
ed up so that regular auction sales can
be held on The grounds, then the asso-
citation can obtain rent for the use of