Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-09-13
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LOCAL COMMENT /,


Marshall county's fourteenth annual
fair has come To IA close AZ the most
successful venture in tho history OF
the got-together organization formed
In 1906, In every way the fair has been
n better and bigger exhibition than ever
has been held. With an Improvement
noted each year it Is Interesting TO
look forward and speculate on what
the future holds forth. for 1t would
seem that with limited ground space,
already too small, there must in time
be an end to expansion. II the fair Is
to grow additional ground must be Sc
cured. or present space conserved by
encouragement Of buildings.
q
There Is n chance TO conserve some
space by the building of additional:
structures to house exhibits that are
annually on the grounds. Tents erect
ed here and there must have space be-
tween them, ana this space could be
utilized If there were another building,
similar to the present merchants build
ings. Buildings, too, enable the eNhib-
itors to display their goods to much
better advantage than is afforded in Il
tent, and in cases of bad weather there
is much less danger af loss TO cxpen-
sive wares that may be on display. \
machinery hall should be built. large
enough to meet the needs, and space
will always be in demand
When the Marshall county fair gets
big enough, and the association feels
that it can afford to do with less con-
cession money, many of the cheap
concessions now allowed on the
grounds should be done away with.
There are entirely too many catch
penny" devices on the grounds too
many concessions where the public is
playing the other fellows game" and
the ordinarily wise know THAT n man
can not be beaten at his own game. OF
these concessions bring to the
fair association a great deal of extra
but on the other hand some of
them draw from legitimate merchan-
dising channels at home, where real
values are given for the money IN
vested. in proportion to the invest
ment.
To the people who pay for grand
stand seats to view the rates or free
performances. the fair association
should give full value for their money.
They arc entitled to see the finish OF
the races. and from the choicest seats,
opposite the wire, the view lis totally
obscured The judges stand and the
hand stand should he moved 10 the OPP
pos:te side of the track. in order that
every grand stand seat be a good one.
With the judges and band stands NOV
ed across the track there still would be
room for the platform from which the
'ree performances are given.
To the annoyance of most people in
the grand stand during band concerts
and the free performances. candy
butchers" and vendors of other con-
SESSIONS are continually in the way of
the view of the platform, and their
,ries interfere with announcements and
he music. A rule prohibiting the SELL
ing of wares during the time that the
acts are on would be a gracious con-
alteration of those who pay for their |
seats.
Another suggestion that might be |
made. and one which would add to the
features of the night performances,
would be the addition of attractions
for the night shows. The night enter
tainments are a source of much rev.
enue to the fair association, but the
programs Of the free attractions at |
light are a duplicate of those given
Turing the afternoon. One doesn't care |
to see repetition of tn. |
acts, and the addition of a few feature
lcts at night would perhaps stimulate
he night attendance.
One of the really good features OF |
the fair this year was the baby beef
contest. Not only is it interesting to |
breeders of cattle. and Of sufficient !
Importance 20 attract the buyers for |
he big packing concerns, but ii serves
o interest the boys and girls of the |
county in becoming feeders Of live
stock. The educational value Of the
eature is worth far more than it costs, |
md if it will do no more than keep boy; |
md girls intol ested in the farm it will
nave fulfilled it's mission.