The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-13
FIRST FREE FAIR
IContinued from Page one. ]

Agricultural hall owing to the
jam. The ball was cleared before
more people were allowed to
enter.
The gates of the first free fair in the
world swung open today. AT o'clock
when the gates were opened unofficial
" thousands of TopekaIIS and visitors
rom all over the west surged into the
grounds The weather is ideal. AT
IL o'clock, Arthur Capper. governor
of Kansas, unlocked the gates to the
grounds at the main entrance ana with
a sweep of his arm threw the key far
over the heads of the crowd Ihen
the gates were torn from their hinges
The official opening followed mann
moth public parade of fair boosters on
Kansas avenue which was led by the
executive board of the fair associa-
ton and Governor Capper nd Mayor
House.
Encouraged by the finest weather
that has ever greeted "a Topeka fair.
officials of the association estimated
that 5000 persc- ere on the
grounds a few minutes after 3 O'Clock
this morning Shortly after O'Clock
Samuel Ink president of the free f3iI,
announced that all doors were READY 10
open.
Topeka Sets a Record.
With the. opening of the gates To-
nation over. Every inch of space in
all departments is taken up by ex-
hibits and displays while additions
have been built to the live stock pa
vilions.
Every precaution is being taken 20
handle the hosts. Special trains be-
gan pouring into Topeka ct IN early
hour this morning. They were Jammed
with visitors. Extra equipment is be-
ing added to all regular trains on
roads running into the city. Forty
extra conductors and motormen have
been placed in service ~ the street
CIV mo n
trailers are running over practically all
main street car lines. a special switch
has been built at the fair grounds TO
handle the companys traffic
Plenty of Police There.
The grounds are being policed by an
army of guards under Sheriff L. l..
Kiene and Harvey Parsons, chief OF
police. At 10 o'cloc,- the SunflOwer
trail opened and an hot and nan
later the weeks musical program be-
gan on the plaza with a concert by the
knights and Ladies band.
The grounds of Topeka's mammoth
exhibition are equipped with every
convenience for the public. An ener-
gency hospital is being maintained by
the Kings of this city Information
bureaus. local and long distance tele-
phone booths, refreshment stands ana
even a postoffice-all are being main
tanned. Two information bureaus are
installed on Kansas avenue by the
Commercial club. A superintendent is
in charge of every department and de-
tail CT the big fair and it is his duts
to extend every courtesy to the peo-
ple-it is their fair.
Besides the Commercial club 1nfor-
nation bureaus number or others
are scattered through the business dis
tr;ct of the city.
Parade to Fair Grounds.
The parade this morning was led
by an auto carrying the board OF di-
rectors of the Kansas State Fair as
sociation. In the car were; w. W.
Webb L. NJ. Pencil, S. J. Hodgins,
A NJ. Patten, Charles L. Mitchell, Phil
Eastman and r. T. Kreipe. \ext in
line was the Knights and Ladies OF
Security band in the Hinkson and
Rebkopff trucks. A car carrying Gov
ernor Capper, Mayor House and Sam
ueI Lux, president and general man
ager of the fair association, followed
Next in line were the county commits
sioners and the officers of the Com
merciaI club. Six autos carried the
Modoc club.
Citizens in autos strung out behind
for several blocks. A number of the
cars were decorated and driven by
women. The Fair association awarded
a prize of two box seats to the woman
driving the best decorated car. The
tickets are good for the entire week
to all track events and the horSeshow.
The procession formed at Eighth
avenue and Quincy street and at 10
north on Kansas avenue to Gordon
street in North Topeka and then dou
bled back to Tenth street. From
Tenth street the parade moved west
to Topeka avenue and south to the
fair ground gates. Here Governor
Capper officially unlocked the gates
and threw the key away.
Addresses by Capper and House.
Following the entrance ceremony
the governor made a brief address
from the bandstand. His talk was
followed by an address of welcome by
Mayor J. E. House and a talk by
Samuel Lux.
Governor Capper in his address, in
which he dedicated the free state fair
movement and Topeka's exhibition,
said: People of Kansas have never |
assembled under more favorable social
and financial conditions. While lands |
are being laid waste across the waters, |
Kansas is building bigger school
houses, bigger cities and bigger inSti- |
buttons of all kinds.
1.-THE first free fair of the nation is |
a fitting monument to the states pros |
perity. On these grounds are exhib-
duce.
at is not strange that Kansas
should be the first state to inaugurate |
an institution of this kind. Kansas is |
in progressiveness. 1t can be safely |
said that this celebration is twice as |
attractive as any ever held by any |
state.
Tribute to Lux Eft Al.
FLATS should come off to Sam E. |
Lux and his associates who originated |
the idea of the free fair. They have |
worked as good citizens and not for |
financial compensation. They deserve |
the loyalty of the town and state If |
we had more men like them Topeka |
would be a city of 100000 inside of |
three or five years"
Mayors Short Story.
Following the governors address |
the address of welcome on behalf of |
the city was made by Mayor House |
Said the mayor. 81 am like the re-