The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-11
Crowds on Grounds VIII Smash
All Former Records.
Armistice Celebration Attracts
a Jam of Visitors.
LAST DAY OF HORSE RACES
Tomorrow and Saturday Auto
Events Appear Here.
Final Cattle Judging Contests
at Stock Pavilion.

Today was the banner day of the
record breaking 1919 Kansas Free
Fair The largest crowd Of the week
was on the grounds at o'clock and
the grandstand packed for the last
day of the horse racing. 1t was in
deed Big Thursday"
The crowd began arriving early in
the morning and continued in a steady
stream into the grounds The swine
barns appeared to be among the most
popular places this morning and thou
sands stood around the pens in which
were hogs Weighing eleven and twelve
hundred pounds. The Wild Mexican
log on the outside also drew many
spectators.
Ground men on the automobile trail
and Mt the gates said there were many
more auto visitors today than Wednes-
day when there were $4,000 persons
on the grounds. Motor hall had its
biggest crowd of the week and at
times it was impossible to get thru the
main aisles. The benches and shades
and water fountains seemed to ap-
peal to almost as many visitors as the
exhibits and there was never a time
after IL o'clock that seat or a COM
Portable place in the shade was to be
had.
Big Program Today.
Men in charge of the big Avery ma
chinery exhibit said today was their
banner day and that they could not
ask for better crowds than they were
having. Stockmen also said that the
crowds were larger than they had ex-
pected.
Today's program was one of the
longest and most interesting of the en-
tire week. The final cattle judging
contests were held and the crowds at
the stock pavilions were large from
the calling of the first ring at 8
o'clock. The stock competitions have
been unusually keen and the judges
who have awarded the ribbons have
had some real expert work to do in
almost every class. Today's events in
the cattle rings determined the sue
cess of the individual exhibitors and
gave the herds their grand prizes.
Last Day of Horse Races.
Also, this was the last day of horse
racing and the most successful run
ming and harness events were brought
to a close with a card fitting to wind
up the four days of the sport of kings.
There were five numbers on this aft
ernoons card-a 2:17 trot; a 2:25
pace: a free-for-all pace; a furlongs
running and a furlongs running.
Armistice day was fittingly celebrat-
ed this morning at the Peoples pavil-
John A. Dean and Col. A. NJ. Harvey.
This evening in the Peoples pavilion
Gov Henry ]. Allen was to deliver an
address at a meeting at which Charles
Dillon was to preside.
There was the usual band concerts
on the program. one this afternoon
and one tonight and at 1880 tonight
the grand livestock parade will be held
in front OF the grandstand. Following
this there will be the entertainment
by the ModOcs. the feature acts of the
Cadoras and the fourth presentation
OF the popular fireworks spectacle,
''Victory at st. Mihiel."
The wortham shows did their best
business of the week today. keeping
their performances going continuously
and often having their tents jammed
II. Large crowds also filled the art
building. the agricultural display
building. the government building and
the poultry , ouse. In fact, there was
nothing on the grounds today that did
not draw big crowds and many of the
visitors who could not get near enough
TO see the things they were interested
in spent their time very pleasantly en-
loving the crC Cwds and the pushing
and jamming and jostling OF the good
natured sea of humanity.
Auto Races Tomorrow.
As soon as the horse racing pro-
gram was over this afternoon, the fair
officials planned to put men to work
5 on the track preparing il for the auto
mobile races tomorrow after Don.
The drivers and their cars are already
in the city and toda. was spent tun-
ing up the speeders and making final
preparations for the flying start to-
morrow afternoon at o'clock
In addition to being automobile day
tomorrow will be Old Settlers day and
Women's day and while officials
doubt that they will be able to equal
today's great crowd they are looking
for a large attendance.