Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1917-06-09
State Fair is
To Be Big one

The State Fair of Louisiana manage
ment certainly believes in bright pros
poets when they declare that they have
set their mark for a fifty per cent larger
and better show than was staged last
year and thev have the City of Shreyc-
port on the move preparing to take care
of 10000 people,
There are many reasons why i is pos
sihle for the coming fair 70 eclipse any
thing in its history. First the institu-
tion made some money last year; second
financial conditions are going 10 be
better, if the spending of one billion
dollars in this country during the last
two years by the Allies has created such
wonderful prosperity, we can at least
expect for as good or better while they
are buying 100000, 100000 worth Of
American products; and last but not
least, the management feels that il is
their patriotic duty as an agricultural
institution to do their utmost in the
encouragement of better farming, and
better livestock, which is the ouly legit-
innate aim of the fair.
improvements Promised.
About $50 100000 worth Of permanent
improvements will be made at the fair
grounds before the 1917 exhibition
opens. The necessity of these being due
principally to the EXPANSION necessary
20 take care of our rapidly growing live
stock and farm products exhibits. Three
| new cattlebarns are promised, costing
| about 100000 each. the walls being
| already erected. There will also be an
| addition to our already immense hog
| Darn that held over 500 hogs last fair,
| which will cost $l2,000G0 and a Judging
ing with seating accommodations for
| ;peetators to watch and profit by the
doing to cost S4,500.00. A new
s5,00000 sewer system has recently been
completed and q number of other ac-
| ;ommodations have been made for the
convenience of our visitors
Big Program Arranged.
An unusually attractive program
vhich will eclipse anything before Of
fered for the entertainment of our visi-
-Hrs will be shown. The crowds will
&c entertained by aviation stunts ex-
'cuted by the world famed Human
Night Hawk -, Louis Gerston, who will
give in addition to dav flights, night
'xhibits using sensational fireworks TO
'tartle and keep his observers expectant
crash to the earth at any moment.
The free acts In front of the grand
stand, which will cause all other such
acts formerly staged to pale into in /
significance, will he equal to a ring
'ircus. There win be auto or horse
aces every dav and with our track |
greatly improved the drivers expect a {
lew dirt record TO be made. Football 1
Tames, livestock parades, baby show,
National photo exhibit, and Jonny Jones
greatest midway shows, will be some
Of the many features of 1917.
Will the War Hurt the Fair?
The reports Of fairs in Canada shows
that last year was one of the most pros
porous in their history. With the de-
mand for foodstuff and better agricul,
tural yields greater than ever before in
he history of the nation; with need Of
he Louisiana farmer to learn the valu-
able lessons taught by farm and live
stock exhibits at the fair: and with our
rural population enjoying a veritable
millennium of prosperity, il is the con-
fdent belief of the fair management
hat they should prepare for record |
breaking crowds.
Canadian Fairs Not Hurt by War.
nr. Orr, president Of the Canadian |
f'iLIpld' I.Nl'NltlbH, WHITES III the last [
issue of the Billboard, "That the annual |
aRadian Agricultural Expositio.: has
been appreciated, is evidenced by the
act that its attendance jumped to
10000 people, and this, TOO, with
10000 men gone to the front from the |
Toronto district alone. Any suggestion
hat we close would be severely frown- |
ID down. Public officials pay it tribute |
for the service ii has rendered in war |
lines, and American fairs can in their
,wn way render as valuable service to |
heir district and nation. There are in |
Ontario alone 3s2 fall fairs and many |
more throughout the other eight prov
inces of the dominion. So far as I |
know not one of these closed down on
account of the war;
The State Fair appeals to the other
fairs Of Louisiana 10 be optimistic for
Aetter times are head