The Benton democrat. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1871-18??, 1873-01-11

ARE PAID-GLooiY PROPHECIES
AS TO THE PERMANENCY OF OUR
FAIRS ~ SHALL THE MATTER BE
REMEDIED.
A correspondent who signs himself
"W. G, writing from some point in
this State to the San Francisco Spirit
of the Times, makes the following stric-
ture in reference to the policy of the
managers of our State Fairs in neglect
ing the interests of horsemen
Butthe State Fair, with its crowd of
never. less than five thousand people
day, is the only institution in the State
which does not do horsemen justice.
And here I will say that if the William
ette Faaaner was anything of fair
minded paper, instead Of the personal
organ oF the sordid little clique that
controls the State Agricultural Society,
I never would have trespassed on your
columns with this communication. The
receipts of the State Fairs average
about $l3, 900 per year, of which over
$4,000 comes from licenses for booths
and shops erected ON the grounds. The
circus of John Wilson, alone, paid $500
for the privilege of playing one week
on the grounds during the Fair. The
printing certainly does not cost over
$500 per year, and the salaries of Off
GERS about $4,000 more. including entry
clerks and ticket collectors. No repairs
of any kind have been expended on
the stands in four years, and all efforts
to have the track put in safe galloping
order have been unavailing. 1t was in
consequence of the hardness of the
track that the celebrated stations, Doc
tor Lindsay and Jack Minor, both be
came lame at exercise, when an outlay
of 5000 would have put the track in
good order. Yet their aggregate OF
purses never exceeded $500 or 5000, for
the entire week, notwithstanding the
significant fact that the crowd is always
greater just at race time than any other
part of the day. IF Albany can afford
to give ST 500, and Hillsboro $1,000
certainly the State Fair ought to give
50, 500 for the encouragement Of breed
ing trotters aud thoroughbreds. Its re-
ceipts are three times as much as those
of any other Fair, and its expenses only
trife heavier than Hillsboro. Yet the
cry is, ssno money" on all occasions
, Two years ago, a gentleman of this
city won two purses, one of 800 and
the other $50, at the Fair which was
held in September. He never got his
warrants from the Secretary until the
following January, and when he pre-,
sented them to the Treasurer, that off.
cial said there was not money enough
in the safe to pay them, but he would
give him $135 for them. Being away
from home, under expense, and not de-
string to go there again, the man sub.
, mitted to the discount of ten per cent
When the annual report came out, these
warrants were charged at their full face
on the credit side, and not a word said
about discount. Where all the money
goes to, it would be hard to tell. Ger
tainly the exhibitors don't get over a
third of it. The fact that one of its
Presidents declined a nomination for
Sheriff, with certainty of being elected
shows that he had better thing in run.
ming the Agricultural Society. The
trotting horsemen, as well as the own.
ers of blooded stock. have about made
up their minds not to exhibit or race
any more horses at the State Fair, un-
less more reasonable and liberal purs-
es are offered in future. The two
mile heat race at the Fair was 800
less ten per cent. entrance, leaving the
lucky(!) winner ninety dollars, provided
he does not have to disgorge ten pei
cent more for getting his warrants cash
ed. The more such races you win, the
worse you are off Unless an entirely
different set. of men get hold of the of
. fees of the Society, the State Eairs vii
go down. There is no need of convert
ing an industrial exhibition into an aims
house for the benefit of anYman or set o.
men, and the quicker the present Board
are ousted, the better. IF they contro
the Society two years longer, they will
be compelled to knock men down and
haul them out in carts to attend the
Fairs, for no sensible man will go other
, wise.