San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-02-10
SAN ANTONIO FAIR; NO. 2.
SAN ANTONIO CAN NOTE THE
EXAMPLE OF DALLAS AND
FORT WORTH.
The Fairs Held in Those cites Are
Not Self SupporttnG-The Same
Situation and Condition Elk
lists Here.

held this fall, was set forth. The pur-
pose of this paper is to show that no
fair can be held without the financial
aid of the citizens of this city, and
that aid must be pledged now in or
der to insure the immediate inaugur-
alton of the work of preparation.
The first fair he d, 1888, left the asso-
citation very heavily in debt and some
difficulty was experienced in seCur-
ing a settlement of the accounts. This
was done by the directors Of the fair
dividing the Indebtedness among
them and each becoming responsible
tor his pro rata. Last year a guaran-
lee fund was raised or pledged at the
eleventh hour and the lair held. The
receipts and the fund Combiued which
latter amounted to SIS, 500, were NOT
sufficient to meet the legitimate eX-
penses of the exposition and there
still remains of unpaid debts on ac-
count Ot last fall the sum o. 81 900.
AS will be Temem bered, the balance of
the guarantee fund was not paid to
the fair association, but was taken out
Ui their hand ana paid directly
to the creditors of the assOCa-
ton as far IA it would 60 to meet the
undisCharged obligations of the 1890
iair. The amount thus paid was 30
per cent of the whole. Had the funds
passed into the hands of the fair di-
rectOry steps would have been taken
to llquidate the whole amount, SO the
LIGHT was informed at the time.
he payment of this debt is one of
first things that remains to be
done, and now that the pres.
ident of the association has re-
turned, steps Will be taken to meet
that part of the debt which the guar
autee fluid did not pay.
AS for the fair this fall. something
or nothing must be done and that
pretty quick. Fort Worth found
from her experience of one year ago,
that it was necessary to raise the sum
OF $4,000 by public subscription in
order to undertake second Spring
Palace exhibit Waco is hanging fire
over her proposed water carnival be-
cause the S25 900 city subscription is
not Forthcoming without which she
cannot undertake that very laudable
enterprise. Dallas is holding a sue
Cessful tair every year, but, nOtw it'll
standing she has in a radius of $50
miles more than four times the pUpu-
laCiOn to draw pat OnNge from that
san Antonio has, she is not doing it
on the fair receipts. The city of Dali
las pays the Dallas State Fair assOcIa
tIOm stipulated sum Of SO many
thousand dollars every year, in con-
sideraGiOn of which the association
holds the fair aud meets all the tlman-
cial obligations incurred. That Dali
las State Fair has cost money, and IS
costing money, and its management
is stiIl III debt. Il Dallas and Waco,
and Fort Worth fiud il necessary TO
subscribe from S25, 900 to so, 600
year in order that eXpOstUOns may be
held, San Antonio cannot expect to
be made an exception.
The matter does not seem to be
fully understood by our citizens.
san Antonio has always been over
cautious and at times too dlatory III
facing the situation and opportunity
| is lost. A subscription of, no matter
what, even $40 900 would be value
! less six weeks before the tair date
! Whatever sum may be agreed upon
/
| association as equitable and right,
as the bonus to be given for holding
| the fair, should be at once agreed up
on and pledged over responsible sig
natures The amounts thus subscrl b.
ed to be made payable the day the
fair grounds gates are opened for the
| exposition.
If the objection is to the officers of
the association, change them. In
conversation with President Schry-
yer few days ago that gentleman
assured the LIGHT that he would
! gladly step down and out, q I'd il some
one acceptable and competent would
undertake the work he would give a
check If at least four figures for the
release and as a bonus to aid the fall
meeting.
There is no question that San An
tonic would raise the amount, what
ever it might be, if the alternative,
bonus or no fair, was offered one
month before the proposed holding OF
the fair, but that will not answer.
The question is now or never and II
not now then never. 1t is not a ques-
ton of sentiment hut of hard bust
resS. 1t Is a question of fair or nc
fair. Can San Antonio afford to an
swer this question in the negative?
The LIGHT thinks not. There 10 too
much money in it tor our business met
for it to be gwen up. 1t advurtises
our city as nothing else does or can
It does not pay the expenses o
running itself and some aid, as il
other places, must be given the associ
AEON or the Fair gates will remain
closed. These gentlemen cOmpOsin!
the fair directory are as public spirIt