The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-09-08
STATE FAIR IS
now HISTORY
GREAT EXPOSITION ON STATE
FAIR GROUNDS BROUGHT TO
END YESTERDAY.
Attendance Large on "Get-Away Day.
Despite Threatening Weather
Good Races.

The last race is run, the curtain has
been rung down. the lights are out and
the crowds are gone. The spieler's
voice is no longer heard. the buzzing
Of the wheels Of fortune have ceased
, their doleful sound, intermingled with
! the whizzing of the cider presses. The
Growing of the rooster. the believing
! Of the bull and the neightng or the
horse are no longer to be heard. The
big West Virginia State Fair and tx
position is over for 1917.
Taps were sounded last evening
shortly before o'clock, when the last
horse came in under the wire. The
rumbling of the wagons carrying the
hundreds of animals and fowls started
late yesterday afternoon to take the
exhibits home or to other fairs, while
the dozens of refreshment stand own
ers were carting their utensils home.
The hawkers packed their leftover
stocks into trunks and boxes and ere
darkness enveloped Wheeling they
had shaken the dust, or mud, Of the
city from their feet,
Big Last Day.
Yesterday was one OF the biggest
last days Of the fair for paid admis-
sions. 1t Is estimated by the officials
that 5000 persons passed through the
turnstile during the day. The crowd
in the morning was small and 1t
looked as If 1t was going to be the
'frostiest" final day in the history OF
the association.
During the afternoon the crowds be-
gan to arrive and by the time the
races were In progress the big grand
stand was we'll filled, while others
took the last look at the pleasure zone
attractions and enjoyed the various
amusements and sights about the
grounds. Just before the last races
were run light shower fell and when
the final bell was Tung the rain came
down rather heavily. The weather
man was kind in holding back the rain
until the program was finished.
Fair Was a Success.
Was the fair success? II was
from several standpoints. 1t is esti-
mated that $4,000 persons paid admis-
sion into the grounds during the i've
days. There have been bigger fair
weeks, but 1t Is believed that none
have been as large from the point OF
paid admissions, despite the threat
ening weather on the big day, Thurs
day. The entire week, excepting
Tuesday. was not typical fair weather
| III 1t were not raining the overcast
ing skies prevented many from ven.
turing to the grounds. A notable fea-
ture of the fair was the Unusually
large number Of persons from the tri-
state section and farmer folk in at
tendance, not only on Farmers day,
Wednesday. but every day. They came
In automobiles. More motor cars
past five days than in any correspond
ing fair period In the thirty-seven
years Of the association.
The Fair this year, from the stand.
! point Of entertainment and enjoyment
was the best ever held in West Vlr-
ginia, barring none. The stockhold-
ers spent thousands Of dollars in the
new buildings and other improve
mer1ts, making 1t one Of the best fair
quarters in the country. The man
agement made special effort to give
everyone his moneys worth, and then
some. The thousands who came and
saw, left feeling that the management
had done its part.
There was no disorder on the
grounds and nothing to mar the hap
piness Of anyone. The Rutherford
Greater Shows did splendid business.
while all the refreshment stands, in
Guiding several conducted by various
churches, enjoyed large patronage.
The racing program was the best
ever pulled off at any fair here. The
running races were Of unusual merit,
| and the people Of this section love the
| bobtail runners.
The Big Cavalcade.
The program Of the day yesterday
started off with the cavalcade. all the
animals exhibited at the Fair march.
| ing twice around the race track. The
| parade was headed by the Fort Hen
ry band and Fair officials. The pro-
cession started at 1870 o'clock. At
1890 the races were called. Between
entries the audeville acts were given
In front Of the grand stand. The
last race wa >ulled off shortly before
o'clock, br. ng the West Virginia
State Fair for GIT to close.