Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-09-12
FAIR CAMP
GROUNDS IMPROVED
Many Changes For Better
Living Conditions Have
Been Made

Visitors and campers at the 1917
Oregon State Fair will find a changed
condition of things in the Tented City.
No longer does the water from the south
pass over or through the grounds ow-
ing to the improved drainage system
on the south side. The grounds were
dry throughout the winter. The sewer
system has been bettered. Old water
mains were taken out and new ones
put In. Water connection is now made
with the city, and this with the Fair
Grounds system will supply a city of
l0O,000 people. There will be water from
the driven wells, water from the force
Jumps and water from the Salem CITY
mains. The water system has been solv-
ed. The new toilet systems would be
g pride in any home. 1t is the best.
1t is perfect. The members of the Camp
ers' Association will be grateful and
thankful. The paving of Wisdom avenue
has put an end to dust or mud. The
lighting system is perfect. The pioneers
of half a century ago will have an OPP
p~ortunity to contracs the old with the
new. Word has gone out that the oak
park will extend the welcoming hand
as never before and $4,000 worth of i'm
provements have been made to make all
as comfortable as if they were in their
W parlor. Every available lot will be
occupied, and at this date only such lots
can be given out as were engaged by
people who find they cannot camp the
entire week. Those who have engaged
space and find they cannot come to
camp are urged to make it known at
cnce.
Any person knowing the name of a
regular camper who has died during the
past year is urged to send name to
A. A. Geer, secretary of the Campers
Association, Macleay, Oregon, Those
known to have passed away since last
State Fair arc Mrs. Mary Powers, Al.
bany, Oregon. whose camping place for
twenty years wal at No. % Downing
avenue. George Lazelle, president of the
Clackamas County Fair association, and
who had charge of the Clackamas ex-
hibit at the 1916 Oregon State Fair,
and whose lot is IL Moores avenue,
was struck by a street car in Oregon
CITY while motoring home with his wife,
and died from injuries received, Sep
TENDER first. T. G. Johnston, of Cor
nelius, a regular camper for twenty
years, died in Los Angeles, Cal, May
9, 1917. He was born in Red Wing,
Minny in 1869. Remains buried at Hills
boro. He leaves a widow. James Fl. Ross,
a former Salemite and who last year
was an officer on the grounds, died at
his home in Toledo, Oregon. Sept. 10,
1917, aged 81 years. The good mother
of Hon. Frank Ii. Porter, died at her
Linn county home last week. The Por-
tiers each year were proud to have their
mother with them.
A. L. Kirk, of Brownsville, who
eamped on the GROUNDS when his father
could reach the tops of the present oaks
trees, wants an extra space this year
Children s children are now old enough
to want a separate tenting ground. Some
member of the Kirk family has camped
every year during the life of the fair.
Hon. George S. Downing, for whom
Downing avenue was named, and who
since the very first Oregon State Fair
has been numbered with the members
Of the Campers Association, died at his
home in Salem since the last state fair.
Mr.. Downing was the father Of Hon. w.
H. Downing, president of the Campers
Association, and who also is a past pre-
sident of the Oregon State Fair. In his
enfeebled condition he called at the
mayors camp last year and left his
EEHAl II,r- ,r,,, --.-v - l. - -
next year, but I have always enjoyed
the camping feature, and l appreciate
the naming of one of the Tented City
streets after the Downings." Uncle
George one year donated five tons of
straw for keeping down the dust of the
Tented City's streets.