Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-09-28
1922 STATE FAIR
CALLED GREATEST
$4,000 SEE MICHIGAN EXPOSE
TioN-EDucATlo EXHIBITS
HOLD VISITORS INTEREST.
G. W. DICKINSON ANNOUNCES
PLANS FOR NEW BUILDING

Establishing new attendance rec
ords that may stand for years-includ-
ing a wider rangeh exhibitions than
ever before and successful from the
view point of diversified entertainment.
the seventy-third annual Michigan
State Fair which recently came to an
end at Detroit marks the beginning of
O new era of fairs in this state.
The fair accomplished the purpose
outlined for il by G. w Dickinson, sec
retary-manager, that of being of some
educational value 10 the farmer. for
whom fairs originally were created
and for whom the present fair admin
istration seeks to do some everlasting
good.
Modern Buildings TO Replace Sheds.
With the close OF the fair which saw
the new coliseum building, erected at
a cost of 100000, put into use, Mr..
Dickinson announced the plans for
new sheep and swine pavilion to cost,
when completed, $4,000. Construc-
ton OF this is TO be started almost i'm
mediately
The necessity of modern buildings
to replace the run down wooden sheds
and barns which still are to be found
on certain portions OF the fairs l69
acres will be recommended by Mi.
Dickinson in his annual report to the
board OF managers.
Handicapped by the rail strike and
the threatened outcome of the coal
situation the fair horse department
esta blished a new record for entries
955 OF the finest draft and light horses
In the middle west going on exhibition.
40 more than the previous year. This
disproves that the horse has given
way TO machine power
In the cattle department more than
1000 animals were exhibited Before
the fair got under way 709 OF these
animals taxed the capacity OF the en-
larged cattle barns and several hun
dred more were brought in by the boys
and girls clubs from various sections
Of Michigan.
There were approximately 1880
sheep and 100 swine on exhibition
and about POO chickens. Few grain.
potato, fruit and flower exhibitions in
this section OF the country have been
as complete as the Michigan Fairs.
In the flower shows. amateur displays
predominated.
Machinery Of 1s4e and 1922 Shown.
There probably never was assemb-
led such a display OF modern machin-
cry as housed in the machinery hall
and individual tents on the fair
grounds. Thousands were drawn into
Henry Fords exhibition which occu-
pied more than 1900 square feet of
space outside There the motor king
had on display not only all OF his own
products but farm machinery from as
far back as 1S49, the year of the orr
ginal Michigan fair.
Besides the broad exhibits by the
United States department OF agricul-
ture, American Jersey Cattle club and
hundreds of Independent exhibitors,
the dairy building drew visitors with
its butter sculpture work. Baking OF
pies, cakes and instruction in canning,
etc, brought many to the domestic
department.
A federal government exhibit, the
Michigan Agricultural college work
which embodied lectures. the state de
partment of agricultures display and
exhibitions by counties and individuals
made up the show in the Agricultural
building. Garment making judging Of
poultry, canning and cooking were
other educational features.
An important adjunct OF the fair
was the work carried on by the boys
and girls clubs and the Boys State
Fair school. All of the boys were
quartered in tents in front of the adj
ministration building while the girls
were housed In a bungalow on the
grounds.
Clean Entertainments Afforded.
The egg laying and milking contests
probably drew more attention than
any OF the competing novelties at the
fair. The Better Babies contest was
much bigger, AZ babies being exam
ined the first day of the fair compared
to seven for the. corresponding day in
1921. Next year the entire east end
OF the Woman's building will be de
voted to this affair
The Dog show, with more than $50
canine aristocrats competing drew
10000 visitors In three days and was
followed by three-day cat show
equally interesting. The wild life ex
hibit near the educational building
held the interest OF the children. In
the educational building were the aero
exhibits and aquarium. The Womans
Work department with it's hundreds of
fancy articles and pieces of needle
work was also center of interest
Rubin & Cherry shows afforded
clean entertainment. big program Of.
vaudeville was offered before the
grandstand and in the coliseum build.
ing each Afternoon and evening. There
were six days OF running races, three
daya af aufo racinp and pfpa pfUbtc ne