Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-11
RICHMOND DAY IS
FEATURE OF FAIR
Crowds Only Slightly Smaller
Than Last Year, Despite
Overhanging Clouds.
DAY IS THOROUGHLY ENJOYED
Directors Are Greatly Pleased
With Evidences of Apprecia-
ton on Part of Public.
DAY is THOROUGHLY ENJOYED

Day at the 1917 Virginia State Fair
the banner day OF the week--was a
great success yesterday, despite the
tact that dark clouds had hung low
over the city until noon, threatening
torrents of rain at any moment For
time people feared recurrence of
Tuesdays weather, and then the Dil-
Grimage TO the grounds began. and did
not end until long after dark. The
day was remarkable; the crowd was
orderly; there were no accidents, and,
after having a thoroughly enjoyab bic
afternoon and night, everybody went
home last night agreeing that vir-
ginia's fair this year is the greatest
in its history.
Directors of the association expressed
deep qualification last night at the sup
port OF the people of Richmond and
Virginia. in view of the extremely un-
satisfactory weather, and declared with
favorable weather to-day will surpass
all previous days of the week, and
will more than equal Thursday OF last
year. Instead Of Richmond Day prov
ing the record breaker this year, to-
day will probably draw the larger at
tendance. having been designated Sol
dlciS anu lamp Lee Lay. SpeCldl at
fractions have been arranged, feature
Of which will be 700 men from Camp
Lee in an exhibition drill in front of
the grand stand about noon. Major
General Cronkhite. commander of
Camp Lee. and his staff will be among
the prominent visitors to-day.
ESTIMATES PLACE CROWD
AT $4,000 TO 10000 PEOPLE
Estimates made last night OF the at
tendance on Richmond Day placed the
crowd at between $4,000 and $4,000.
and these figures were said to be ex
tremely conservative. Official figures
were not available, and General Man
agcr Saunders would make no estimate
for publication. lie merely said that
the attendance was almost as large as
on the same day last year, with every
indication that to-day would prove
greater than yesterday OF Thursday
last year. OF one thing. however. there
is no doubt. and that is the steady
clicking of the turnstiles as the thronG
poured into the grounds.
Figures furnished by the Virginia
Railway and Power Company shortly
after midnight, showing the passengers
moved from the grounds by the elcc-
trio cars during the day and night.
were slightly less than on Richmond
Day last year, but the operation OF
jitneys was extensive, and the num-
ber OF private cars in the grounds yes
terday was greater than in any pre-
vious year. Last year the attendance
on Richmond Day. it was said yester-
day. was $4,000 people. and the crowd
daclared he per
cent as large.
Everything was in readiness FOR the
openinE yesterday morning, workmcn
having labored in the rain Tuesday
that every detail might be arranged
for the big" day. in order that there
might be nothing to mar the event.
And so 1t was. BY midafternoon there
was a comfortable crowd in the grand
stand, which later in the afternoon and
last night was filled to capacity. and
there was a sizeable crowd along the
Midway. Last night that thorough
fare was packed and jammed with
great mass Of humanity.
RICHMOND DAY AGAIN
PROVES EVENT OF FAIR
Richmond Day for years has been
the really one big" day at the State
Fair and an event looked forward to
during the entire year. It is mu-
nicipal holiday. by proclamation of
Mayor Ainslic. practically every busi-
ness and manufacturing es.ap. ishment
closes for at least a part of the day.
and every one goes to the fair. But
Richmond awoke yesterday to find a
dark, overcast sky, with Gray-black
clouds flying low and fast. and touch
OF cold still in the air from Tuesday
Rain seemed to be lurking in the oftng.
Just as the sun stood directly over
head a few rays trickled through the
clouds, and few minutes later it burst
forth in all it's glory. Coincident with
this there was n psychological sigh
OF relief from all Richmond.
AT noon there was a szeable. crowd
in the grounds. and it was steadily in
creasing. BY o'clock the grand
stand was fully one-third filled, and
every street car and automobile
brought it's load of human freight.
with people arriving in thousands from
all directions. An hour later the grand
stand was comfortably full. the .Iid.
way was filed almost to congestion.
and the exhibit buildings were packed
with interested sightseers. Late in tao
afternoon practically every seat in the
stand was taken, and there was large
crowd gathered in the paddock and
around the oval on the outside of the
stand.
GOVERNOR STUART
Is GIVEN OVATION
Governor Stuart was among the
early arrivals in the afternoon. md
followed the numerous a:in.s events
with great interest. He was recog-
nized b, the crowd a!mos: as soon ns
he entered the gates, AMI was loudly
applauded. With him in mis- box were
H. J. Tate, Mrs. Tate, w. L. Dennis.
clerk of the Circuit Court OF Buchanan
County: Mrs. Scott, of Smyth County,
and Mrs. Greever. of razewell. Mahy
other prominent men AMI women of
Richmond and Virginia wcre seen in
the boxes and others in the paddock.
CONTINUED on Third Page.)
SEE RlCHMOND'S AUTO FACTORY
while ut the Fair--opposlte the grand stand.
Kline Kar Sales Co.