Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1920-11-11
DIcKINSON'S FREE FAIR
Farm Paper Tells of Success Oi
Show

The Mail & Breeze this week hai
a story of Dickinson county's fre'
fair written by a special correspond
ent. With it is a picture Of th'
crowd at the fair grounds on the biz
day. 1t says:
! One Of the real problems OF thu
average county has been. its fair. Tht
efforts that have failed and the dis
appointments that have come from
| experienced have iessened the interes
, in what should be the greatest o.
benefits to community. Dickinson
county, Kansas, a rich agricultural
county, went through 1t all. 1t held
fairs for years with the usual progam
Of horse races and premiums and
saw the deficit steadily mount higher
and higher. Finally the fair asso-
citation not only lost its capital stock,
but its grounds were mortgaged and
the property was sold to the city of
Abilene for a park. The slate was
wiped clean and the association had
nothing left but its charter. The
county fair was declared a failure.
Then Abilene merchants offered
full support If the association would
give free fair. As a beginning they
signed agreements to meet any def
cit up to $4,000 and the fair was
started. The first fair was held in
the autumn Of 1919 and was a four
day entertainment with horse races
every day for four days and automo-
bile races for the fifth day. When
it ended the expense called for $S,-
200 assessment and so well were the
business men pleased that they
promptly requested that the free fair
be continued. ...-
The New Plan Succeeds
The managers learned something
about free fairs that year and this
season an altogether different plan
was followed. Instead Of race
schedule that cost more than $4,000
only one day of horse racing was
given and that was for home horses.
Farmer boys entered their running
horses and the fast trotters OF the
tried their PAGES. The first
day was devoted to American Legion
and it was featured with athletic
contests. Troops from Fort Riley
were an additional attraction. A
baseball tournament
with teams from the towns Of the
county started and something was
1oing every minute. The second day
was set apart for children and prizes
we're given for the school having the
argest attendance. Nine country
schools had every pupil on hand. Free
ce cream was served to the children
md 5000 cones were distributed.
The horse races came that day and
fireworks and free acts constituted
he evenings entertainment, togeth-
II with good band music. The third
lay was devoted largely to automo-
,ile races, fireworks and the hot nm
sh of the baseball tournament. The
argest crowd ever seen on the
was present and motor cars
we're parked In every available place
md hundreds Of others were parked
outside Of the grounds. In addition
o these attractions were a carnival
company, many concessions and
pecial display of farm products, for
which premiums were given.
Receipts Were Large
The receipts Of the fair amounted
o s3,40O. How did they get the
money, perhaps you ask7 The gates
we're free, of course, but q charge
vas made for the grandstand. which
vas filed with visitors every day and
yepfng. also a charge was made for
he Quarter stretch. The concessions
kewise paid a percentage Of their ,
eceipts to the associations, and that
ras all. Yet the income was nearly
8 large as the total receipts from '
he gate and other charges when q
az fair was,held. This was on ac-
punt Of the larger attendance This