Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-17
WAR WILL NOT PREVENT
VIRGINIA STATE FAIR
Plans for t0f. Exhibition Most AM
bilious Yet Attempted by
Association.
FOLLOWS cANADA's EXAMPLE
Success OF ENpositions in Ontario
Since Outbreak of Great European
Conflict Indicate That Interest Has
Grown Instead of Diminished.

ambitious plans are being made for
tho 1917 Virginia state Fair. with
every indication that the tremendous
farming activities resulting from the
necessity Of increased food production
will put the exposition far ahead OF
amy of its predecessors. Large crops
mud larger live stock operations, it is
believed. will mean better specimens
for exhibiting. while the demand for
farm products. together with good
prices. Will stimulate interest and at
tendance from the rural districts.
War. the experience Of Canada has
shown. has had no effect on the fairs
m the Dominion other than TO make.
them more interesting and better The
Canadian National Exhibition, at TO
Tonto Ontario, OF which Dr. Orr is
general manager. has been Il huge
success since the outbreak of the wal
in Europe. in which Canada is play
ing such conspicuous part. Dr. orr
VAS made an interesting announce
mon, in regard 30 Canadian fairs dur
nS the war.
NuT 4 SINGLE EXHIBITION
IL CLOSED RN WAX
n Orrs rcpor; states that there are
Sc exhibitions of fairs in Ontario
alone ana that as far as he knows
not one OF them closed down on ac-
count o. tho war. all following the
precedent established by the Canadian
National Exhibition. and. notwith
standing ;he fact that $1,000 men had
gone TO The front from Tho Toronto
HsstTlct alone and the tremendous pat
-poaEe Of American tourists and Wis
i:ors entirely eliminated because OF
SHY -umors that visitors to Canada
must have passports ami that they
we're liable 70 military service II they
entered Canada. the attendance al the
Toronto fair jumped to $4,000 in 1918.
Nf increase of 1000 over the at
tendance Of 1914. while the attendance
IN 1915 amounted TO 10000.
The outcome Of our 1915 fair was
awaited with deep interest continues
rr. urrs report. "and the eyes OF the
nation were Claddcncd by the most
stimulating sight they had witnessed
since tho opening Of the war. The
Increased attendance was not the most
significant thing that year. The real
important. uplifting aud stimulating
development was tho spirit of tho Ca
madam people. After viewing the
ovcrtlowine livestock stables. tho
hountiful results of the harvest JUS,
over. tho whirrinE wheels in tho Pro-
cess Building. the display at mcr-
rhandise and manufactured goods. the
crowds left the grounds with new
confidence. now respect for the
worker. the manufacturer. the farm
or, and y more abiding faith in Can
ada's ability to hold up her end. no
matter how long tho war lasted.
do not claim the exhibition was on
tircly Responsible. hut immediately fol-
lowing tho patriotic year event il
1919. general trade and business show
cd signs of revival and cont inucd t.
Improve. until to-day IL has attained
tremendous volume and momentum"
TO EyPLOIT MILITARY
ideas Al STATE FAB,
Tho 1917 Virginia state Fair will
make the military theme the leading
ono Everything possible to cHalt mil
itary service and emphasize The i'm
portancc OF keeping things moving at
home while the boys at the front are
doing their part, will he done.
The Virginia state Fair Association
has gone straight ahead with its plans
for the 1917 fair. Appropriations for
premiums in the important livestock
department have been doubled. There
has been a corresponding increase In
many other departments. and every
thing is being planned on a scale never
before attempted The James T. Clyde
World at Home" shows have been en-
gagged In their entirety: splendid pa
,riotic features are being arranged.
The fair association is issuing a news
paper OF its own to interest exhibit
prs an advance list of thir,y-two
pages OF livct.rock premiums has been
mailed out;.Aana the largest premium
rA;aloG ever issued by the association
IS now in the printers hands and will
nc ready for mailing out in a few
days
That these efforts Ia make the forth
coming fair 81 record breaker are meet
ing with success, even at this early
late. is evidenced by the daily activity
which Is seen at the fair associations
Offices. Already double the number of
county exhibits entered at last years
fa,r have fled applications for space
~ the next fair. and as for individual
exhibitors IL VIII unqucstionably be
problem with the fair directors TO
louise and take care OF tn. exhibits
thaf viii hc rendered