Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-12-15

the County or District, Of sufficient
consequence to give the society char
acter, but II is seldom that any thing
more is expected from him when he
accepted the position--yet this Is not
always the case, for we know OF sew
eral presidents Of societies who are
worthy of the place and credit to
their societies, and without whose
assistance the societies would become
sickly and finally give up the ghost.
The Secretary is the man, however,
on whom the chief labor Of the socie-
! ty generally devoIyes, who must be
competent for his responsible posi-
tion-s' instant in season and out of
season"-because If he is not so it is
almost impossible to keep a society
in decent running order. TO secure
the right man, however, he must be
paid for his services, and that liber-
ally--and he is the only officer that
should be paid a cent, not even
mileage.
From our experience in the prepare
ton for and the management Of fairs
we are satisfied that if the plan we
have proposed is faithfully carried
out that with even tolcrabiy favora-
BILE weather it will result success
fully to all concerned, and be credit
to the County Or State i'm which they
are held. In many respects the
County fairs would equal If not sur
pass some Of the departments Of our
state fairs, for the latter too often, in
several important matters, exhibit
only the contributions Of the County
in which it is held, and partially
some Of the contiguous Counties.
MORE PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
In all the above, however, it is to
be taken for granted that there has
been sufficient accommodations pro-
vided for exhibitors and visitors.
Proper buildings are necessary-no
matter how plain--tO house and dis
play the articles presented for exhi-
bitioD; and sufficient number of
stalls and pens erected for sheltering
and showing the stock. These should
be permanent, for use aslong as they
can be made to last, so that an annual
expenditure would not be necessary
to provide them. In order to secure
IA fund necessary for these purposes
joint stock company should reformed,
with shares as low as ten dollars;
which would readily be subscribed
and paid by proper effort among
the farmers and business men Of the
County. From 81 900 to s., 900 would
be generally sufficient for this pur-
pose. A well digcstcd discriminating
list Of premiums, amounting to at
least $1,000 could safely be offered
and paid, with all the necessary ex-
penses, under the plan OF manage
ment proposed, and have a surplus
sufficient to pay ten per cent. at least
upon tE9 investment for improve
ments, and probably on the cost TT
the grounds also. If we had the
time to devote to the management
of fair we would be very willing to
take for our trouble all we could
make over and above the sums
named after paying all premiums
and expenses; and with four or five
fairs to manage good working man
could make for himself n comfortable
salary, provided he had their man
agement for a series OF years. We
have no doubt that some who will
take the trouble to read all the above
will call 1t bosh, for they have tried
to make fairs pay and failed. If
there is any one who has made the
systematic effort which we have here
proposed, and failed, under ordinary
circumstances, and can give us salts
factory evidence of the fact, we will
send him a copy of the Homestead
free for life. 1t never has been done,
or any other plan as efficient, with n
failure rs the result. Who will try
it:--IOra Homestead.