Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-10
richmond Will
BE event OF FAIR
With Promise of Clearing Wealth
er, Directors Prepare for Rec
ord-Breaking Crowd.
RACING BILL Is DOUBLED
All Events of Yesterday Called
OFF Because of Continu-
Gus Rains.
RACING BILL is DOUBLED

iHS tne pOStpOnement OF the racing
program and the free open-air per-.
formances yesterday at the Virginia
State Fair. Shortly after 4 o'clock
tho rain had almost subsidized and the
weather began to clear. but the cold
wind continued. and the management
announced the abandonment of the
program last night. Clear weather Is
forecast by the Weather Bureau for
Richmond Day. and the attendance is
expected to break all previous records
With the approach OF night and tho
passing Of the Aack clouds which
had hung low over the grounds during
the day. fair officials became optimistic
and declared to-day would be one long
to DO remembered. Extensive plans
have been made. and mang features
have been arranged for the big" day
OF the week. Downtown there will be
holiday. more or less. while the out
of-town attendance. judging from the
arrival OF country people in the city
last night, will surpass that of last
year.
Mayor George Ainslie has issued
proclamation declaring Richmond Day
AT the fair to be legal holiday and
i practically every city office will be
closed. Only work absolutely neces-
sary Will be undertaken in the various
departments. in order that all city en-
ployces may visit the show during the
day. State Offices Will be closed. and
Governor Henry c. Stuart will be
among the prominent visitors at the
fair to-day. Many stores and manu-
featuring plants will observe the holi-
day, some remaining closed all day,
while others will work only until noon.
OILED ROADwAYs
3, PROMPTLY SHE'D WA rIrU
OF the many improvements made this
year there Is ono for which the people
OF Richmond and Virginia should COM
mend the directors OF the fair. In
other years the dust. or mud in ratny
weather. along tho Midway has been
probably, the most disagreeable fea-
tyre Of tho show, !, !Wahoo Lane and the
Ballyhoo several weeks ago received
heavy coating OF tar and oil. over
which was spread top coating OF
~ coarse sand and gravel. The rain yes
teraay beat this down to a hard top
: surface, and there is no mud The
water drained or the thorouEhfares al
most as quickly as 1t fell. leaving them
dry and without a trace OF mud
1t will be unnecessary even to use
roller on the Midway to-day before
the arrival OF the Richmond Dav
thronss. With the loss of yesterday.
the showmen announced last night that.
with any kind Of weather under which
business would be possible at all. their
amusemcnts Will be opened early this
morning, and the fair Is expected to
get In full swing long before the noon
hour.
with tho postponement of the racing
program yesterday, these events will
DO run Off to-day and interposed in
the regular bill for Richmond Day.
For this reason the program will be
almost doubled. and followers of horse
racing VIII have SO per cent larger
anc better bill for their amusem ent
Other special features for to-day in
clude additional acts in front OF the
grand stand and elaborate fireworks.
both in the afternoon and at night.
EXPECT MISUNDERSTANDING
CROWD AT FAIR TODAY
Officials OF the fair have devoted con-
siderable attention to the handling of
the crowd to-day, and little or no dim-
Guilty is anticipated. Extra police Of
fcers will be assigned to the Fair
Grounds to guard against possible dis
order. Captain r. B. Sowell. in charge
of tho force in the grounds. said last
night he believed there would be no
trouble. There are also special of
fcers scattered through the grounds
and several headquarters detectives to
prevent activity on the part of pick
pockets.
Visitors to the fair will encounter
no difficulty in reaching the grounds
to-day. The Virginia Railway and Pow
er Company announced last night that
1t will operate through to the grounds
it's Main Street, Broad and Main, Broad
and Twenty-fifth, Clay Street. Oak
wood and Main and Forest Hill Park
lines. All cars going to the grounds
will be 50 marked. Jitneys will also
be operated, and the Boulevard. which
became wet and slightly muddy yes
terday will bs thoroughly rolled this
morning.
The attendance yesterday naturally
was much smaller than for the second
day last year. when the weather was
almost ideal, but the crowd surprised
the management, in view Of the ex-
tremely disaEreeable weather. Wa
hoo Lane and the Ballyhoo were closed
during the day and last night, the
showmen and showwomen, with every
thing in readiness for their opening
when the weather permitted, reveling
in q day of rest.
Probably the greatest Disappointing ent
Of the day was that expressed In the
racing stables over the forced post
nonement Of the various events.
Horses were said to be in excellent
condition. and the drivers were keyed
up to the highest pitch. anticipating
close and exciting finishes. Officials of
the fair, during the morning and
shortly after noon, were hopeful that
the weather would clear, and would not
definitely call of the races.
At 1 o'clock it was evident, however
that should the rain stop 1t would
he i,npossibleFto stage the races. and
they were called OFF. While the track
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