The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-12-21


that the present building with its
toilet equipment, should be made a
rest room for women and children.
This is a thing that has been needed,
and is just as necessary as some Of the
other things that have been already
provided.
The large stock pavilion was filled
to overlooking with cattle and horses,
and some sheep. The excellency of
the exhibits were mentioned by expert
judges, and the secretary was compli-
mented by Mr.. Lewis, Professor
Thompson, Mr.. McGarry and Mr..
Kramer on the high class Of the stuff
shown in all of the live stock depart
ments.
In the Poultry department we kept
up our record, and Mr.. Hess, of Wi
US last year as well as this, stated
that in all the county fairs and fall
mona, the expert judge. who was with
poultry shows in the northwest, of
which he visits over fifty each year,
he has never seen as high grade poul-
try exhibited by farmers as he saw
this year at our fair.
In the Horticultural department,
Professor Hanson said that our show
would be a credit to any state fair, for
this certainly was one good year for
fruit.
The Agricultural department was
not the equal of last year but the
ner in which the exhibits were handl-
ed by Mr.. Fry, the superintendent,
who was assisted by superintendent
Hanson OF the Dairy department, made
the display count for all it was worth.
If | have mentioned any superin-
tendents by name it is not for the
purpose of placing them on any pin
acle. The work of Mrs. Squirting in
the Women's department needs no
words of praise. 1t stands for itself.
Messrs. Duff, Yule. keck, Fem, and
DR.. Sayre who had charge of the liy-
ing things need no praise from me.
In the matter of the Speed depart
ment, it would seem as if w Were
handicapped by being off the main
travelled road of race circuits. In or
der to get the horses, we must get into
4, 1,nn,,; ,Iaal M .I;n.,Att. 49,.
short and the dates favorable to us, as
well as any other members of su,h
be profitable to a county fair where
the entries do not pay any more than
half of the purse. This is a matter
that needs attention. Because in the
past years our grandstand has failed
to pay even interest on the money in
vested. With the capacity of one
thousand paid admissions, and in fgur-
ing it this way | leave room for two
hundred fifty free tickets, which would
mean $3.50 per day, this year we
took in $21S and last year took in 1926.
The main use of the grandstand is to
afford a place for people to see the
horse races. and if We do not have
races that are filled, making the con-
test one of interest, the people will
not spend their money to sit and
watch races where only three or -four
hnrGnS N NO anntnctinr Tho ~ hor horn
of dilemma is that people are loosing
their interest in horse races. This |
do not believe, for any contest where
skill is required, appeals to the aver
age American.
In regard to the matter of attend
ance, this year gave us two days in
excess of last year. The second day
of the fair, which was Children's day,
and also the first for which tickets
We're sold. the gate receipts exceeded
last year by about $3.50. The third
day, which is always the biggest day
of the fair was $40 larger than las;
year. But the last day "a a woeful
disappointment falling nearly $500 be
low that of 1915. However the total
gate receipts including the grandstand,
night fair and exhibitors tickets, the
class of receipts known as gate re-
ceipts, was $1,000 over that of last
year. have been unable to satisfac-
torily explain the meaning of the last
days lack of visitors.
The night fair was the particular
bright spot in our receipts. The fire
works was the attraction that drew
the people out, and the money taken in
on these three evenings was sufficient
to pay for the fireworks and all the
other free attractions. The third
evening was like the third day, a dis
appointment. And as the fireworks
program was changed each evening.
and this change was advertised, and
well known, l am again at a loss to tx
plain why the third day turned out so
poorly. This was also Old Settlers