Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 August 1902 — ABOUT THE MIDWAY. [ARTICLE]

ABOUT THE MIDWAY.

In our opinion the city council made a grevioua mistake in allowing the midway shows of the proposed street carnival to be located in the heart of the business section of the town. At all street carnivals that we have ever attended these attractions were located on some side street, thus allowing room for the people to get about the business section without congesting it greatly, and allowing the merchants room to do some business if there was any to do. We understand it is the intention to locate the biggest show the carnival people have, the “Streets of Cario,” on Van Rensselaer street, immediately north of Washington, and if the show is of any size it will probabiy block the street from curb practically closing the Chicago Bargain Store to country trade, which is perhaps what it is done for. The streets in front of a business man’s property are his, absolutely, so far as business purposes are concerned. He pays for the improvements thereto and his customers have a right to use them, and no city council, corporation or individual has any right whatever to close them to the public and turn them over to hoochecoochie or other shows. At Lafayette the midway attractions were located on North Fourth street during the Elks’ Carnival, outside the business part of the city, on practically a residence street, and almost every attraction was located upon vacant lots at the sides of the street, leaving the street practically free from obstructions. Had it been decided to place these attractions on side streets here, the south and east sides of the public square would have been ideal locations and they would have infringed on no man’ll business rights. We hope the management will reconsider this matter and locate them on those two streets.