The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-10-09
ARMY OF WORKERS MAKE
BIG STATE FAIR READY
None Permitted to Enter Grounds Sunday Except They Had
Business Inside Busting Scenes Everywhere Shows
on Midway More Numerous and Exhibits Better

expected by all to be the greatest in
the history of Virginia, will open its
gates at s o'clock this morning. At
that hour the public will be admitted
for the first time to look upon the
combined efforts of an army of people
to make the exhibition epochal.
Hundreds fiocked to the grounds
yesterday morning and afternoon and
many of these made an effort to get
inside the gates. However. so thor
oughly had the management of the
fair worked out the scheme of Sum
day admissions that none but those
who were directly interested In the
completion of work on the grounds to
be in readiness for the opening this
morning, were inside the tall white
fence that surrounds the stage of the
big show.
Special officers were present on the
ground to keep outside youngsters.
who. in their enthusiasm to see wha.
was inside, were willing to ruin Sun
day clothes and climb over the fence.
These were promptly expelled. The
day was a remarkably quiet one,
owing to the small number of people
who gained access to the grounds.
But this advantage assisted the work
men to gain Roadway in putting on
the finishing touches.
Jitney drivers reaped a harvest OF
money yesterday. Many charged
hungry public ten cents each way for
a trip to and from Robinson and
Broad Streets to the Fair Grounds
Despite this. however, the people took
advantage of this mode of travel
Many lined the roads outside the big
white fence and peeped through the
holes.
Be In Full Blast Today.
,NapaCer Saunders aDnparpd IN his
general office and announced that
nothing was out of running order. and
thought that the fair would be in full
blast. by the opening hour this
morning. He felt much encouraged
by the beautiful weather. His office
force was busy yesterday attending to
ticket matters and other pressing bust
ness. The visiting performers and
show people swarmed his head
quarters.
The race track, on which will be
run some of the fastest events ever
held at the fair. is in the pink of
condition Many improvements were
made yesterday. and there Is reason
to expect some speedy events to-
day.
workmen we're completing their
labors on the grandstand stages and
the fence around the grandstand yes
terday afternoon Hey VIII pTpbduiS
be through with this work early to-
day,
Some Conversation.
Hey. Slim. get a lift on the other
end OF this rope. will yer? Can't
YOU see that l can't lift the bloomin'
tent all by myself? II Mr.. Oftern-
dinser would see you. ! bet he'd give
you the pink slip in couple Of min
utes. Come on. get lift on this
rope"
.whassa matter, whassa matter?
A guy can't be doing everything at
once. I've got to AK those seats. haul
water for the snakes, and get that
platform up. haven't /? Get Harry
to do it
But. Jim. can't you see we ain't
got much time? Can't you see?''
"oh. close up on the megaphone
stuff. Al; we'H get to that in jiffy."
"Tha's all right all right. but
we've gotta finish up on this Job by
tonight. l know that"
The above Is just a particle OF con-
versation picked up on the Midway
Tin construction), Wahoo Lane, or
any other name you wish to call the
mile of side shows at the State Fair
grounds.
owing to heavy traffic on nearly all
railroads. many of the syndicate
shows. which will line both sides OF
the Midway this year. did not arrive
in Richmond until early yesterday
morning. The trains were being I'M
loaded by hundreds OF workmen yes
terday morning and afternoon. some
OF the workmen even continuing their
labors until late into the night The
show folk like to- get their fixings
straight as soon after their arrival
as possible and there were countless
violations OF the Sunday law.
The Midway did not begin to take
on its regular shape until about
o'clock yesterday afternoon. After
many OF the glaring canvas signs had
been put in place and some of the
tents put up the amusement road be-
gan to look real natural
More shows on the Lane.
There are more shows on the lane
this year than ever before. The line
of amusement piaces extends from
the lunch counter near the entrance
gates almost to the exhibition hall.
On both sides OF the broad path will
be shows OF every description, includ-
ing freaks OF nature. animal shows.
minstrels, diving girls. mosquito cir
cuses. and a Wild West show. Scat
tered freely about are innumerable
hot weiner counters which Will
doubtless be In full blast. beginning
this morning. The carpenters and
show people on the grounds yesterday
were dependent on the hot tamale
counters for their wherewithal. SO to
speak. And the proprietors of the
feed stalls were only too glad to give
attention to those present. They were
prepared with extra walters and
sufiicient number OF rolls to go around
and all were eaten.
There's only one thing missing from
the Joy path this year. That IL the
presence OF the popular doll baby
stands and wheels of fortune. Many
believe that the absence Of the wheels
will take a listle spice out of the fair;
still others believe that it's a good
thing for the association to keep them
OF the grounds. But regardless OF
what others feel or believe, Attorney
General Pollard's ruling that there
shall be no wheels of fortune this
year will be observed. There's not a
wheel on the Midway and there are
but few games Of chance. These are
for trivial prizes and are in the ma
ture of novelties. in which. for ten
cents, q person gets as much fun out
Of his investment as he does II he
wins q prize.
arc .cxya~~I nayrr chorvS