The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1919-09-12
WISCONSIN NEWS
STATED IN BRIEF
Geographic Chronicle of State
Happenings.
HUGE CROWDS AT STATE FAIR
Attendance on Opening Day Surpasses
That of a Year Ago by Nearly
6,0oo-s5, 900, 900 Show, With
$4,000 Exhibits.

Milwaukee, Sept. 1O.-W1Sc0nSin'S
sixty ninth state fair, $5,OO0,OOO
show with $4,000 exhibits, opened to
record-smashing crowd, which gives
the fair flying start toward new
attendance record. The mark to be
eclipsed is 188,887 in 1917. The at
tendance figures are as follows: First
day, 1919, total, 56,743; children, 49,
1852; gate receipts, $3,814.90. First day,
1918, total, 50,603; children, 41,352;
gate receipts, $2,312.25. The EXPOSE
tiOn, bigger, brighter and more educa-
tiOnal than in previous years, tells the
story of a forward looking state OF
prosperity, Industrial development and
prOgressiveness. WiscOnsin's fair this
year excels the great Minnesota fair
long recognized as the premier of ag-
ricultural shows in this country. The
records prove it. The banner exposi-
ton opened with Children's day. The
kids, many of them wearing keep
smiling" badges, poured through the
gates when the show opened. At noon
the attendance was q, $40, increase OF
5000 over the same hour of last years
fair. At two o'clock Monday aftern0no
the attendance had reached 40,18O, an
increase of IL 900. All morning and I'M
til late in the afternoon the mob con-
tinued to stream through the gates.
Other thousands came for the eve
ning.s performance and were thrilled
by the flying stunts of Louis GertsOn
and Lieut. Walter Pack, who flew in
illuminated airplanes. Then came
the battle of Chateau-Thierry, which
was staged in fireworks. Tuesday was
Overseas day, and all overseas men In
uniform were admitted free. One hun
dred and fifty wounded men from Fort
Sheridan were guests of the fair. Dur
ing the morning and afternoon the ex-
hibit buildings were damned and the
grandStand was taxed to the limit
when the horse racing began. Music
was furnished by the Thaviu, White
Hussar and Jackie bands. Twice as
many swine and three times as many
sheep are being exhibited than ever
were shown at the Minnesota fair.
Wisconsin also excels in cattle and
horse exhibits. The airplane battle in
the sky, and reproduction of the
fighting at Chateau-Thierry In fire
works give the fair spectacular war
touch. The. war trophies from Euro
pean battlefields, ranging from big
German guns TO canteenS, add color
to this phase of the exposition. In
the sky battle at night Gertson and
Pack circled above the crowd for the
position of top man." side sliding, dip
ping, looping and bombing as they did
in the fight on the western front. Cert
son, travelling full speed, gained the
top position, only~tO lose 1t again to
Pack. as fire flashed from both ma
chimes Higher and higher they
climbed with both birdmen banging
away. Suddenly Packs machine burst
followed by GertsOn. Close to the
ground, just over the heads of those in
the grandstand, the planes righted
themselves and sailed away. They put
on thrilling show by means of cleo
trical equipment and fireworks. The
battle of Chateau-Thierry is no less in
teresting. The governments exhibit
is housed on top of old machinery hall,
one of the features being an American
dugout showing the signal equipment
of a division, arranged to direct the at
tack of 10000 men over battle front
miles in length With the army exhibit
is the naval exhibit which was brought
here from the Minnesota fair. 1t in
cludes miniature cruiser, nine feet
long, and valued at $4,000. This rep
resents the San Diego. The county
dairy exhibits and live stock exhibits
with all the others are greater in num-
Der and finer in quality than in any
other year. Every inch of space has
been taken.