San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-10-18
THE FAIR AFFAIRS.

that San Antonio can hold fair, and
they have also demonstrated that to
make the fair financial success
change of some kind is necessary.
The bonus of the citizens and the re-
ceipts of this years fair would have
met all its legitimate expenses,
paid its premiums and left
no obligations. but the manage
ment was handicapped by the
necessity of meeting an outlay of
nearly $2O,00U before the gates were
opened that did not belong legitima-
tely to its running expenses. There
was debt of about 5000 for unpaid
premiums, the old interest charges
were in excess of Sc, 900 and there was
an outlay of $1,000 on this years, inn
provements. The receipts and the
citizens bonus of $50, 900 would cover
the expenses of running this year,
but only $4,000 of that $4,000 has
been paid and the press subscriptions
of nearly $1,000 were not
available cash. The present
debt of the association is about
$4,000. The property is certainly
worth at very low valuation $780,
600. The fair even as held to date has
been a paying institution for San An
tonic, though losing one to the as
ISOLATION. A change that will enlist
the merchants, and hotel keepers,
and real estate men, and rapid transit
men, and those who are especially
benefited by seeing large crowd in
the city, should be made and such
change is perfectly feasible. Here is a
property worth 500, 900. 1t is bringing
into this city vast revenue every
fall and will continue to increase that
revenue indefinitely under improved
conditions. What can be done with
it? This property is burdened with
debt OF $4,000. Why not do as
Dallas and other cities have done
under similar. circumstances? Bond
the debt. Let the citizens purchase
these bonds and placing the property
in the hands of trustees assume en-
tire control and management of the
Fair. Elect their own officers chose
their own managers, run the fair
in their own way and see VIII
they can make of it. The asso-
citation has tried it for three years.
Now let the merchants and other in
terested parties take hold for three
years or for five years. The situation
is much more favorable for success
now than ever before. The bonds
will free the property from encum-
brances and enable q new manage
ment to commence even and possibly
with some $1,000 or $4,000 in the
treasury. The interest on these
bonds could be secured by diverting
the privilege money to that object and
this has always been ample for that
purpose. 1t does seem as though
this might be done and that
in doing it there is no risk,
with the certainty of great
gain to our city. These bonds should
be issued in comparatively small de-
nomintions, say 500, so that men of
small means could west in them and
make their distribution more general.
Nearly every well.to-do mechanic
and business man in Dallas owns
stock in the fair association and it
pays and pays largely. Something
is necessary-to be done. The present
directory will not undertake the mat
ter another year. The LIGHT has
reason to believe that MISUNDERSTANDING
the apathy Of the city in sustaining
the fair this year the present directors
are willing to take their full share of
the bonds, as well as other citizens.
If these gentlemen would take a third
OF them it would only leave S35, 900 to
be taken by the rest of our people.
This fair can be made 10 return $780,
600 to this city every year and it is a
magnificent return for the outlay.
The time has come for San Antonio to
take hold of this fair. II she does
not fairs in San Antonio are
at IAN end. The property
will be sold to pay Its debts and
fair In this city for years to come
will be prevented. The merchants
and business men of all kinds who