The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-20
NEEDS OF THE FAIR.

The completion of a most successful:
Free Fair brings to light many of the
needs of this growing institution.
In the first place !. must be\ re-
membered that the fair does not make
money. All last week when the
crowds were swarmihs 10 the\ grounds
and the highways leading to the cap
ital city were thronged with motor
cars this expression was heard on
the. streets: 'The fair certainly is
making money this year"
The fair does not make money-it
simply attempts each year to pay for
itself. The bigger the fair. the more
tempting the attractions and exhibits,
the more pretentious the entertain
ment-the greater the cost.
The Free Fair really is at the limit
of its revenue capacitS as the plant
stands today. One hundred thousand
week would have meant very little
more to the fair association.
Now it must be remembered that
the fair is a county and state insti-
tution-not an Association" The as
ISOLATION simply directs the exposition
and steers its funds right back into its
maintenance and improvement. The
association" makes nothing
The fair this year was indicative of
one serious necessity-that of caring
for the crowds. The exhibits and the
entertainment cannot be excelled. The
facilities can and must be enlarged.
And now is the time to do it. Next
summer will be too late. Next spring
may be too late. Next winter is out
OF the question. Action must be taken
now and it is up to Topeka and To-
peka business interests to awaken.
In the first place new grand stand
must be built. This is not the same
old cry of the last five years. 1t is
an actual demand of today. The grand
stand must be built. The fair will pay
for it. There will be no loss or mis-
placed investment. The fair cannot
pay for it today-nor next year, nor
the year after. But in a proper length
OF time 1t can be paid for and will be
paid for.
The only real source of revenue is
in. the grand stand The Free Fair
gates stand open. At other fairs there
is a general admission charge and also
shows. In Topeka the farmer and the
visitor may. enter the grounds, see the
exhibits, attend all of the places of
interest without one cent cost. If he
wishes to add a little vaudeville or
horse racing or automobile racing or
fireworks to his program he must pay,
of course He doesn't expect to get
that free.
With the present grandstand the
Free Fair handles 100000 persons and
only 10000, or 10 per cent, can find
places in the stands during the week.
There is no advantage in greater
crowds il the revenue producing per-
centage cannot be cared for.
A modern larger grandstand would
bring additional revenue to the fair.
With the additional revenue the fair
could make more improvements, more
engagements and grant better con-
veniences.
The fair must borrow the money\ta
build such a stand. Topeka must go
en- the note. The added revenue will
will pay off the indebtedness.
That's all there is to it.
Topeka owes this movement to the
officers of the fair who have made
such a wonderful record. The Free
Fair since Phil Eastman took hold OF
it has paid off all old debts, has re-
gained the confidence of the public.
has enlarged and. improved the ex-
position, has been more generally rec
ognized over the United States and
has kept its slate clean each year.
Topeka's acknowledgement should
be new grandstand.
In fact. there MUST be a new
grandstaHd.
I The appear days have passed. 1t IS
now a demand"
Before the gates are closed for the
winter season let's finance this grand