Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-09-20
ATTENDANCE RECORD
THREATENED; RAIN
lNTERFERES
AUTOS PACK LOOP
WHILE OUT AT GROUNDS "A MIL
LION DOLLARS" WORTH OF We
AjClES ARE pARkED-DRIzZlE
CAME AT WRONG TIME.

A battle of aeroplanes would not
have attracted more attention in OF
tawa this morning that did the garb
of mourning donned by he skies just
about the time the premier day of
the La Sale County Fair was getting
nicely rounded into shape Crowds
swarmed down town streets and
while a storm was evidently in the
making nocks were craned heaven
ward in an effort to read the signs"
Never in the history of the local
exposition has Ottawa been overrun
ny so many strangers. The people
began coming at an early hour and
by noon the police We're having hard
time keeping up with the traffic as a
guard against accidents. Traffic Of
ficers were stationed at the princi-
pal intersections in the "loop." Their
work or regulating the autos was
made the more difficult by the condi-
throngs of fair-goers there were no
mishaps reported mp TO press time,
Hundreds upon hundreds Of farm
ers, residing in radius Of twenty
miles Of Ottawa, hravad the threaten
ing skies and came to the city TO take
in the fair. regardless of weather, At
noon 1t was estimated there were
eight thousand within tho grounds and
half that many down town preparing
to go to the fair AT | o'clock when
the rain began seemingly in earnest.
the attendance began to shring as the
visitors decided to take to he roads
and make home at the earliest pos
s'ble moment
That $1,000 would have been a fair
estimate Of the number who would
have taken in the exhibits during the
day Is generally admitted had il not
been for the late coming downfall. In
the loop" an evidence Of the mum
UtI vi flNtlOI y 10 tohttd III tlt HhNi
ber of autos parked about the streets.
A Free Trader-Iournal representative
counted 200 on all four sides Of the
court house, every inch Of available
space being occupied on both sides Of
all four streets by cars Of every type
and make These were not an Incl
dent compared TO the hundreds Of
machines that poured into the fair
grounds from early until late. A mil
lion or more dollars worth of auto
mobiles were in Ottawa today, re-
marked one garageman, Restaurants
and lunch counters were kept on the
jump from early til late.
5000 Out Yesterday.
Fully nine thousand people were In
attendance at the County Fair yester-
day. Over $500 admissions were paid
at the gates not including any of the
season tickets The exhibits continue
to hold crowds of interested specta-
tors around them all the time. The
flower show this year is probably the
best exhibition of its kind ever seen
in this part OF the country.
The interest shown in the fair this
year certainly knocks Hat the state
ment made by number Of people that
a county fair could not last over three
years. From the continued large at
III thn In SalIn
County Fair was to be a permanent
affair.
Many stockmen have gathered from
all parts of the country for the live
stock show and parade that was held
at 1880 this afternoon This parade
was one of the most important feat
ures of the fair and some of the finest
stock that has ever been exhibited on
the fair grounds was seen this after
noon.
Tonight in addition to the fireworks
and the free acts will be the pony show
and the driving horse show. Many
people have already had the pleasure
OF seeing all the ponies and driving
horses and are hooking forward with
keen interest to the display of horses
tonight.
In addition to the pony and horse
parade there will be many extra fire
works added to the rgular display Or
account of the bad weather last night
the fireworks started at seven o'clocl
instead of eight and only half the al
lotment was shown on account of thu
rain. hTe other half will be showl
tonight In addition to the regular dis
play Of fireworks.
Several new dealers exhibits wer
added yesterday to the exhibitions
-Four new automobile exhibits, the kis
sci Car, Liberty, Client and Jeffer
have been added to the exhibitions i
Machinery hall. Deering tractor ha