The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-11-28
[For the PREssl

IL will be remembered that, when, two ,
years ago the present board took charge of
The society, it was financially distressed,
and had all the preminitary symptoms of
a speedy dissolution. Almost hopelessly in
debt, and in bad credit,it wos no ordinary
task the board assumed, viz: to reinstate it
IN favor, and put il on . sound financial
basis. To receive it from their professors
an almost "demnition moiste body" with
no external signs Of life, and undertake the
business of again infusing healthy blood
into its exhausted system, and through its
financial arteries was the task imposed.
The result shows the work to have been as
hopeless as it was thankless. With lau-
dable ambition to save the fair TO the COM
munity; believing the people really wanted
one, they con6dentially appealed to its
friends TO rally to its support. We were
agreeably fattered in 1877 with good fair
The work and trouble necessary to attain
this result are only known to the board.
The net proceeds of this fair were applied
TO payment Of debts most threatingly i'm
snent. Old creditors with executions in
thier hands. were clamoring for their pay
the moment the fair closed. To satisfy
them the funds were exhausted and the
members of the board borrowed money on
their individual obligations, with which
to pay premiums, delinquent taxes &c.
Having spent their time, money, and en-
erey to thus freight il over the breakers
that threatned to engulph it, they had
right to expect the liberal support of the
people who had assured them they wanted
fair, and looked forward hopefully to 9
second fair that would secure the augmen.
ted patronage Of the community. With q
bountiful year-enormous crops, and splen'
did weather, glorious fair was anticipated
But the number Of enteries were slim and
r the attendance meager and to gather refec
ted no credit upon the County. That th'
board of directors feel this neglect keenly
is not strange. Having exerted them
: selves to an unusual degree; often neglec
ting their own private affairs, and incurrinl
J pecuniary obligations for which they ar
personally liable to secure what they con
+ ceived to be public boon they at best coul
only share in common with ALL that the
had right to demand and expect bette
J treatment Nine men composing a boar
I cannot make fair, they onley can act fo
the people who are responsible for its sue
The II
# emits bills of credit. If the people fails t
furnish the sinsws Of war, there can be q
prosperous fair. Many persons, whom II
board expected to be present at the fa
last fall staid quiely at home, and as SOC
as it was over; as if they expected the i,
8. habitants of the Georgium Sidus or SON
es other planet, had turned out and filled Il
vs Golfers of the soiety of society with fuu
= set up such q clamor for any lit
n chronic balance as was due them,
~ was frightful to contemplate. The a
=. surdity of this is apparent, and the pa
lr- fence Of the board is exhausted. The
he actions being an exponent it is doubt
a. whether the people really want fair, al
~, in the absence of miracle it will soon be
= thing of the past. That fair is valuat
~ to community can not be SUCCESSFULLY d
ne MED, and that but few try to keep this o
of up is equally as true.
n The board disires to thank all those frc
M whome it has received real sympathy Al
- support, especially does it design to tha
|, ~ the ladies and gentlemen who went to
he fair grounds and rendered valuable ass
tance in decorating the Halls &C., prep,
MS atory to the fair. That there will be
Id fair next year we hope. That there W
m not be without general awaking
know.