Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-09-20

10 me IuOHc /:
The undersigned, officers Of the
Grant County Agricultural Society,
deeming it due to the citizens of
Grant County, and to ourselves,
make the following statement of facts
relative to the failure of the balloon
to ascend on the fair grounds on the
10th inst. as advertised Messrs. j.
D. Davis d Co., of Cincinnati, in
May last made proposition to the
officers Of the Society to make a bal
loon ascension at the then next an
nual fair. The officers after due con-
sultation, believing that it would
tend to promote the interests of the
society and furnish an attractive ex-
hibition which many had never be-
fore witnessed, in good faith accept
ed the proposition of Messrs. Davis
x Co. The bills which were circu-
lated through the county were all
prepared and furnished by said Davis
4 Co.
The officers Of the society made
all the arrangements and did every
thing required by Davis & Co. to
make the balloon ascension a sue
cess. That it was miserable fail
ure, the officers can attest as well as
the thousands who were present land
none feel more sensibly than they
the imposition practiced upon them
selves and upon the community at
large, not only because their reputa-
ton is impeached, but because the
failure will endanger the welfare of
the society in the future.
The additional fifteen cents col
lected on that day was to be paid to
Messrs. Davis & Co. as their COM
pensation for the balloon ascension.
Messrs. Davis Il Co. having failed to
comply with the contract, by the
unanimous vote Of the officers of the
society, the Treasurer has been in
structed not to pay the money re-
ceived for balloon tickets, or any
part thereof, 70 the said firm, but to
refund the same to.the purchasers of
such tickets. The money is now in
the hands of the treasurer of the So
ciety subject to the order of all those
entitled to the same
We have acted conscientiously and
have served the public and society
faithfully and to the best of our abil-
ity. We used our best efforts to
make the balloon ascension a success
and none regret more than we the
failure for which we were not re-
sponsible and which we could not
avoid. In justice to ourselves and
to the friends and patrons of the So
ciety, who have upheld and made it
success, who have stood by it in
good and evil report, we publish the
foregoing brief statement of facts.
We have acted throughout in good
faith and shall continue so to act, and
shall refund the money received for
balloon tickets to all who may be
entitled to the same, though at the
end of law suit now threatened us
we may be compelled to pay it to
Messrs. Davis & Co. We feel con-
tident that the people of Grant coun-
ty will sustain and stand by US in
our action, and we appeal to the
calm thinking men of the county
not for one moment to harbor the
thought of aband oning the society
because an imposition has been
practiced upon it, but in after years,
as heretofore, to rally to its support
and make it more usueful and bene.
fetal than in former times.
We shall make arrangements for
the next annual fair-shall expect to
greet you then again, and shall do
our best to see that your happiness
on that occasion shall not be marred
by accident or humbug.
d t PARKER, President
BURR, Secretary
-, ROBE, Treasurer
ROBERT NEwx,N
THOMAS WEIR, Executive Committee.
GEORGE UrT.