12 OBSERVATIONS ON EASTERN FARMERS AND EASTERN FAIRS. 



a director. They have races for harness horses, but none for runners. 

 They do not, and never did, permit pool-selling or bookmaking on the 

 fair grounds, and all gambling devices and intoxicating beverages are 

 excluded. All their attractions are within one inclosure, a park of 

 115 acres, located two and a half miles from the business center of 

 Columbus, a city of about 200,000 population. They do no exploita- 

 tion work, but spend about $5,000 a year for advertising. The price 

 of admission to the grounds is 50 cents and 25 cents, with grand stand 

 seats extra. This year the grand stand netted $3,800. For side 

 attractions they paid this year $3,000 for an airship and $1,000 for 

 other features. They issue no exhibitors' tickets, but require all 

 exhibitors to pay their way the same as other visitors; exhibitors' 

 helpers are given free admission. They make no charge for space, but 

 in the live-stock departments they impose an entrance fee of five per 

 cent of the amount of the first premium. The conditions for harness 

 races are five per cent to enter and five per cent of the winnings. The 

 one central aim of the Ohio Society is to help interest and educate the 

 farmer. 



Their buildings are practically all brick, except the grand stand, 

 and when I was there the old one was being torn down to make room 

 for a new one to be constructed of steel and concrete at a cost of 

 $50,000. To accommodate their machinery and implement exhibits 

 they have three buildings, each 100 by 400 feet in dimensions, and 

 ten acres of outside grounds. 



The State Highway Commission conducts annually an exhibition of 

 practical road building on the fair grounds, the machinery for the 

 purpose being gladly supplied by the manufacturers. 



Their sheep barn, with open sides and slate roof, is 180 feet square; 

 the swine barn is of the same size and built on the same plan. Their 

 poultry house is 120 feet square; it is built of brick, with open sides 

 above a wall about four feet high, with wooden shutters to close the 

 openings when required. The cattle barn is 240 feet square and will 

 stall 600 cattle, and the horse barn is 332 feet square with accommoda- 

 tions for 500 horses, including about 100 single box stalls. This is for 

 show horses; their race stables are separate. These buildings each 

 have a center court for judging purposes. The courts have gallery 

 seats for the people. Their horticultural building, agricultural build- 

 ing, vehicle building, merchandise building, textile and household 

 building, and fine carriage building are constructed of brick, and are 

 each 100 by 200 feet in dimensions. Their women's building is used 

 exclusively for the display of women's work, and their art building 

 for a combination bazar and fine arts display. 



