The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-12
SPECIAL TRAINS
ARE FULL TODAY
Big Out of Town Attendance
SwarmS Thru Open Gates.
Free Fair Attracts Persons
From All Parts of State.
MOTORS FILL EVERY SPACE
Little Parking Room Over
looked by the Visitors.
And They're Not All FOrds,
Either, These Cars.
NIGHT FEATURE IMPRESSIVE
Patriotic Display With Soldiers
and Fireworks Tonight.
Rain Delayed the Races Only
for an Hour Today.

The races at the Free Fair were
postponed until 2:3O O'Clock tbs after
noon on account of the rain. Immed-
lately after the shower workmen be-
gan to put the track in order. The
night program will be carried out as
scheduled.
No change has been made in to-
days or tonights program at the KAN
sas Free Fair because of the rain that
has fallen today. Everything will be
given according to schedule, accord
ing to L. NJ. Penwell, president of the
association.
The rain did not damage the track,
in fact if there is no further fall the
track will be better today than it was
Tuesday. There was too much dust
Tuesday. Racing began at 2:3O
o'clock this afternoon.
Nothing was affected by the rain
except the crowd. Undoubtedly it
prevented many automobiles from
starting for Topeka. The threatening
clouds this afternoon undoubtedly
kept many Topeka people at home
Except for a record breaking crowd.
as had been expected for today, the
fair will fulfill every promise.
The heavy shower failed to dampen
the spirits of the fair visitors The
grounds. well drained and protected,
were crowded during the day. The
weather man promises clear warm
day tomorrow and a record crowd is
expected.
counties ESQ miles away are as COM
mon on the grounds as Fords. Farm
ers. stockmen, country merchants and
professional men have taken up the
space that was used largely Tuesday
by Topeka and Shawnee county peo-
pie. Topekans will swell the crowd
later IN the Gay and tonight.
1t is a big fair.
1--WE been making the Kansas Free
fair for several years." said a man
- I, v-f, f,fr- tod low
make Lincoln, Springfield. and the big
fairs in the north. Last year Topeka
was just breaking into the class of big
fairs This year she is in head over
heels. The free fair idea has put the
Kansas fair over. 1t is one of the
really big ones now"
The special trains arrived for the
first time today. Monday and Tues
day visitors had to be content with
extra equipment on regular trains but
today there was plenty of room. The
Santa Fe ran two specials, one from
Atchison and one from Halifax by
way of Burlingame, to Topeka. These
trains will leave for the return trip at
1O:45 tonight, giving the visitors an
opportunity to see the fireworks and
the rest of the patriotic program in
front of the grandstand tonight.
The Leavenworth & Topeka railway
ran special today, as it will every
day this week. The other railroads
to their regular trains and making
stops not on the regular schedule.
Good Roads and Fraternal Day.
This is Good Roads day and Fra
ternal day. People interested in good
roads problems have been urged to
attend the big meeting to be held in
the peoples pavilion and there was a
crowd on hand when the big tent was
opened The tent was made head
quarters for boosters for several indi-
ficers and friends of the Midland
Trail association and of the Horton
Topeka Scranton road
Addresses on the subject of roads
365-day-a-year roads-were delivered
by L. f. Davidson of Glasco, director
of the Midland Trail; w. II. Craw-
ford Horton; w. w. Watson, Salina,
president of the Meridian road; w.
S Gearhart, state highway engineer;
and E. r. Moses of Great Bend. Mr..
Gearhart spoke upon What Type of
Road to Build in Kansas and Mr..
Moses discussed Federal Aid"
Big Tractors at Work.
While the good roads program was
on there were a dozen or more trac-
tor demonstrations in progress. The
overflow from the pavilion watched
big tractors hooked up with road
building machinery demonstrate how
easy it is to make a good road with
the right kind of machinery. Trac-
LUIS AAllClASh u CullANdlOIS- PiONSs Alehl
rows, seeders and other pieces of farm
machinery also attracted their share
of the crowd.
There was a lun during the noon
hour when the dining tents and lunch
stands were filled to capacity. over
at the Con T. Kennedy grounds there
was no lull. Perhaps the performers
in the different shows eat but not
when other people eat. The whistles
We're blowing, the bells ringing and
the weird Oriental music in the Gar
den of Allah kept up a constant din.
Race Card Is Better.
The races began at 80 O'Clock.
Today's race card is a great improve
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