The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1894-01-16

Total indebtedness, Sl4,359
Amount OF debt last year, 1906 u
Increase of debt. $3.50 4,
Examined and approved by
$ss5 : S i S|ss"' Finance Committee
The report was accepted, and President
Budd read the report of the Directors, as
follows:
To the Stockholders of the Burlington County
A 0ricultlraE Society I'm this, the 4Sth year OF
our existence. we should be able to congratu.
late ourselves upon something. so we Will
proceed to say that our society has longer
contin uous existence than any similar organ
ization in the United States.
Since we made our small beginning in The
Court House yard AZ years ago, thonsands OF
teors, have flashed only for limited period
across the agricultural skies, dazzling theiI
patrons, then sinking below the horizon new
Ours has been the sun, each year gradually
rising and shedding its benehcent rays to
enIiven the tillers of the soil, the artisan OF
the shop, and the seeker of pleasure, at times
shining forth in brilliant surprises, exciting
the wonder and admiration OF its patrons.
Then again the clouds of distrust would
spread overits fair visage and 1t would seem
ingly be obscured or cast into the shadow by
other bodies moving across Its surface. Yet
| faith, that great guiding star OF the world IS
hopes and miSeries, has possessed the minds
| of many of its friends so that when IL needed
helping hands many have come bravely TO
These latter days of our existence have been
| somewhat clouded by our members and their
| neighbors Welding their devotion to outside
gods There has been growing disposition
in the agricultural as well as in the political
industrial world to tire with our own prOduc-
lions and patronize those OF foreign produc-
ton.
North and south of us organizations have
started for objects different than ours, to
make big dividends for their owners and
stockholders, and neither particular as to the
means employed. So falling TO hold our pa
drifted into some of their doubtful practices.
! We hope, as the signs OF the time seem to in
dIcate, there will be neither chance nor OPP
portunity for any organization, agricultural
| or otherwise, to follow these doubtful meth
DDS either to pay big dividends to stockhold-
Our 47th annual fair, taken as whole, was
| one of the most complete and interesting in
the history of the society; The buildings
| were filed with a rich and varied horticul-
| tural and agricultural exhibit. Horses, dogs,
poultry, cattle, sheep and swine were the best
OF the finest and most useful breeds of the
land. Our entries for speed tar surpassed
| those of previous years and the contests on
| the track excited the admiration of thousands
possessed of fine discrimination in these
sports. The testimony of all was that at no
other exhibition had they seen such close and
honest racing.
Yet our admissions or visitors were ten
thousand short of last year and 1892 was 5000
short of the previous year, making our at
| 1877, when it was 1864. In the Centennial
year-ls76-our admissions were 69l4. From
1877 to 1888, our admissions averaged about 25,-
600 per year. In 1888 they jumped to 4l,337,
and for three years averaged 1900. In 1886
the admissions raised to $500. In 1887 they
were 1851, then for two years averaged "a, oOO;
in ls999 800; 1892 81, l6S; 1888 23.3l2 For the
| decline of the last three years several causes
might be given. all of which will apply TO 1898.
The daily attraction of the Gloucester races
| no doubt diminished our attendance nom
Camden and Philadelphia. The Interstate
/ Fair, because of its easier access, has drawn
from us 10, 600 visitors who from Trenton and
vicinity, formerly patronized us, and VINO
came TO us because there was no other falr SO
attractive.
The industrial depression also largely di
minished our attendance, especially from the
large cities. Many of our most liberal patrons
were, as early as last September, out OF en-
pIoyment ana consequently out of money fol
any but the barest necessities. The Colum
bian Exposition was also responsible toi
But the most depIorable cause for our deple
ton is the absence of so many of our own
county people. We naturally would think
that county pride would stimulate them tc
make our show 1.-THE greatest on earth but
instead over 5000 were, by wagon and rail
liberal patrons of the Interstate Fair II oul
own people desert us how are we to succeed
Another cause for our diminished attend
ance may have been our largely decreased
outlay for printing and advertising. Our ex
penditures in 1892, for these items were 50 629
20 and in the years of our greatest prosperity d
The Interstate on the other hand plastereC
the country several times over with its i'm
mense bills and boards and filed whole side
of city newspapers with pictorial advertise
mepts, at an expenditure, 1t Is said, OF owe
5000.
tract many, making them believe the utter
most wonders of heaven and earth are to b.
portrayed. But we are often amused, after re
turn at heari ng visitors say; "It is the las
time will be fooled. Why. after being ex
hausted with jostling with big crowd, all
could see was what is witnessed ut any county
fair. There is ten times more enjoyment ant
profit at the Mount Holly Fair than at any
/ ever attended" But new recruits for antici
ward, and 1t is a question whether expensiv
fair advertising pays. as much of It tails q
9 gather y bakers dozen from many stations.
Our principal losses were as follows:
: RECEIPTS.
1892 1898 Loss
Entries, s3.8bl.O3 So 2Sl.05 s4l9.s
Admissions to grounds. soS6t 6.922-65 2.sss. !.
Rsfresnment stands. &c. .IlO.sS 5,97s2l l,i37i
e From all sources
EXPENSES. De-
y 1892 1898. creas,
= n all directions except
h Premiums, l3,l95.75 lO.75s.59 2.462l
Onr dining room for committees and guest
) gave $50 meals at cost for labor and foot
q 81 sl9O35. The lunch counter, at cost
s2l457 returned 1854 SO, profit of $6l.38 b.
sides giving $50 tickets for coffee and rolls
employees. About $4,000 of insurance on II
Z, buildings was renewed this year ut cost
70 In our report for 1892 we recited if tor an
J, reason we must expect a diminished atten'
ance we should decrease our premiums an
r other expenses. In The causes above enume
u ated you see we anticipated these condition
and reduced our outlays. But the severe tal
ing oil in our attendance and resulting loss
receipts from other sources kept pace with OF
reductions leaving small deficiency OF q
penses over receipts in our operations for u
T" If our citizens still further desert us, v
re must still further reduce our premiums, no
ing that as in the seventies, our exhibito
VIII make fine displays without hope OF gre
, money reward.
Il Finally we insist you shall elect n new an
If Younger board of directors. Many of Us a
worn out in the service. Much executive alb
e ity, new bloodand more enthusiasm and mo
original methods are needed to attract al
intoxicatc the people; directors who Will IA
-, be afraid OF responsibilities, financial or otht
" wise A lew OF have, for the past thr
az years, borrowed on our individual notes Il
working capital necessary 10 keep us ailoa
er Several OF our directors will not endorse q
- society's notes therefore we are debarred fro
" obtaining money on the sOcety's paper, AS q
lie banks very truly and pointedly inform
that al your directors are afraid why shou
o. you ask MS to take rtsks ?"
=, 1t is our opinion we have passed the darke
ce year OF our history, so let us, with young
Il blood Infused into our direction, fresh
bu skle on our armor, overcome all obstacl
re and enthuse our people so that their uplifti
w arms will , ace us in higher position tn
,r storms or competing fairs or floods cannot {
danger us.
The nomination for directors to ser
ly the ensuing year was next in order.
Dr. Judge Wills moved that the old boa
rs be renominated, and DR.. w. C. Par
Ic- seconded the motion.
&c. Samuel ii. Chambers said that he "
mt not eligible for reelection. as he had sc
M hta ahare of atock
| a DIR. Parry thought that the old boa
to should be elected and then if vacanc
en- occurred they might easily be filed.
so j. G. Kingdom took issue with DIR. Par
it, on one point He did not see how
would be possible to elect Mr.. Chambe
who is clearly ineligible, not being
ne stakeholder. W. Budd Deacon coincid
rse with this view. The only proper way v
M to elect eligible men and then, If any
. sa them refused to serve, the remain
on members could fill the vacancy. II
meeting was called for the purpose