The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1873-12-11
MISSISSIPPI STATE FAIR.
Socretary's Report.


late Fair have left me but little time 10
prepare an extended report
I submit, first, Financial Statement,
the Receipts and Expenditures Of
the Association since the close of the Fair
of 1872 to date. Exhibit A. of the
Statement shows the collection in Decem-
Der, 1872, of S556 %, chiefly to meet an
obligation on account of the Arena, ana
the disbursement of said amount for that
and other purposes.
Exhibit B. shows the receipt and dis
bursement bv warrant on the Treasurer
of the sum If S9,0l4 %, on account OF
late Fair.
Exhibit G. shows collections by Secre-
tary since account was closed with Treas
urer. to the amount of $177 30, and the
disbursement by Secretary of $500 90.
Exhibit D. shows the amounts still due
for premiums and other demands against
the late Fair, amounting to about $500, W
The Fifth Annual Fair, considering the
times, was decided success. The san
guine hopes of the management, how
ever, that the special Plan devised for re-
lieving the Association from debt, would
accomplish that most desirable object,
were doomed to disappointment. The
public is already informed of the result,
and we realize it in "hope deferred. =
The Special Committee having this par
ticular enterprise in charge had every rea-
son to believe that fully thirty thousand
tickets would be sold, but of that number
printed 23,917 remained undisposed Of
when the distribution took place. Had
one half the tickets been sold, the Asso-
citation could have paid fifty per cent. on
the debt. So far as the Plan went, it
gave general satisfaction, because while
the premiums were diminishedin amount,
the chances Of ticket purchasers were cor
respondingly increased. The greater por-
ton of the two thousand dollars set apart
for the payment of premium coupons has
already been discussed, and all others
will be cashed as fast as presented.
| would suggest that if any similar
Plan be undertaken hereafter, that a
special act of the Legislature be applied
| for. in order to remove all doubts as to
the authority of the Association to sell
tickets and distribute premiums after the
manner of the last Fair. Or the Missls-
sippi Agricultural, Manufacturing and
Educational Aid Association, of Nicks-
burg, would doubtless undertake the man
agement of the whole business, and might
| do so under their charter. To Messrs.
English & Stone, the managers of said As
ISOLATION, we are greatly indebted for the
valuable assistance rendered at the last
Fam. Their appliances and personal at
tendance were given without charge.
At the last meeting of the Stockholders
a resolution was adopted requesting the
Directory to get up the Indebtedness OF
| the Association, and issue notes, &c, fol-
the debt, then estimated at about 50, 600.
Nothing was DONE No notes have been
| issued, but in the meantime suits were
instituted in the Circuit Court by several
creditors, and will be pressed to judg
ment at the approaching term unless some
arrangement is made to satisfy the credit
ors. If each stakeholder would double
his stock, it would nearly pay every de
mand against the Association. In my
last report, l suggested that the stock
holders and citizens of jackson generally
should extinguish this debt, in view OF
the local &C vantages resulting from An
nual Fairs here. Or, if the Association
would issue bonds, payable in one, two,
three and four years-one-fourth each
wear if the business of the Annual Fail
| Justified, and if not, then by assessment
upon the stock. But something must be
done, and that speedily, or the property
will very soon be placed beyond our con
troll.
Embarrassed as the Association is, the
| position of Secretary is most unenviable.
| I fbaf
pacity. Too much is expected. Toe
many are t. be pleased, and too many
are more than ready to find fault. Jus,
tice to my personal interests demands that
| should retire from the Secretaryship. ]
said so in my last Report, but you were
pleased to overruie me. [ beg you now
to relieve me. If you viii insist upon
my further serving you, then | must in
sist upon the payment of the debt, and
must also appeal for the payment Of de-
mands against the last Fair, for which
due billsare now being issued.
In conclusion, l beg to submit a few
suggestions for the government of future
Fairs, as the result of close observation
of myself and others in whose views |
concur.
1st. Exhibitors should not insist upon
the payment of awards before thirty days,
or until the Reports of Committees are
carefully trans ierred to the books, and
conflicting awards reconciled. At every
Fair that we have held, Committees make
mistakes in certain departments, by CIV
ing one premium to two competitors,
thereby creating unpleasant feelings, and
generally resulting in extra expense to
the Association. Exhibitors at distance
from jackson should first be paid.
I'd. There should be a Board of Ap-
peal, consisting of three of the Directory,
who should decide by themselves or
through a Committee of their appoint
ment, all matters of dispute, and who
should order a review of all awards where
manifest injustice is done to any exhibitor.
3d. The several Committees appointed
at the last meeting should be set aside,
and the Board of Control re-established.
1t should not consist of more than seven
members of the Directory, with four as a
quorum. There are too many Commit
tees and too little work.
4th No animal should be allowed to
enter in more than one ring in any one
Fair, and no premium should be paid in
any department unless there is competi-
ton; and in the event there is no COM
petition, let the entry fee be returned.
Nearly one thousand dollars was paid out
during the last Fair to blue ribbons. I'M
worthily awarded under the loose rules
now In force. In the Needlework and
in some other Departments, exhibitors
who have once taken the honors of the
Eoir should he avoIudad f-ov, v,,ol-;... .