The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-05-05
MIDSUMMER CARNIVAL.
THE FIRST PUBLIC MEETING HELD
LAST NIGHT.
Prominent Business Men Present
and Good Start Made-Another
Meeting Called for Thursday
Night.

That the proposed midsummer carni-
val is beginning to take definite shape
was evidenced by the meeting of bust
ness men at Callers hall last night,
for although the attendance was not
large, the enthusiasm displayed by
those present was sufficient to war
rant the belief that substantial results
will follow after the preliminary work
is completed.
The meeting was called to order
shortly after s p. m. by Chairman
George A. Snow and Judge Colborn
was asked to explain the object and
the results to be derived from the
proposed carnival. The judge said he
had never had any practical expert
ence in the organization of carnival,
but had watched the results that other
cities, with no greater resources than
Salt Lake had obtained, and had be-
come convinced that there was no bet
ter way of advertising, and certainly
no way that a merchant or business
man could advertise that would yield
greater results than from particlpa-
ition in the parades of such carnivals.
The success of other cities in like VEN
lures and the proportion to which they
have grown is ample proof of the
benefits derived. The Denver carnival
of last year was a great success both
as an advertisement to the city and as
a source of revenue to the business
public. The people had f1ocked there
to such an extent that it was impoSSi-
BILE to obtain rooms in the city and it
was estimated that in the neighborhood
of $2,000000 was spent during the
festivities by visftors-$50OO being
taken in by a firm supplying masks.
while one of the large merchants had
taken in $751; 900 in a single day. Den
yer was now advocating that the Noun
tain and Plain festival be made per-
manent feature, such as the Mardi-
gras, of New Orleans or the La Fiesta,
of Los Angeles. Mr.. H. F. McGarver,
a gentleman of considerable experience
in such matters, having been actively
interested in the Midsummer fair and
most of the California carniValS since
that time, and one of the committee
that managed the first La Fiesta, of
Los Angeles, was introduced. Mr..
CARVE stated that the beginning in
Los Angeles was a small one, and very
difficult to make at that. The sub
scriptions to the first one amounted to
but $4,000 and it had proven such a
success that no trouble was experienced
in raising $25, 900 the second time, while
now S75, 900 is subscribed with but little
committee work.
He thought that with $4,000 a good
beginning could be made here. A three
days carnival would make an ample
showing with a distinct feature for
each day, giving for the first, for in
stance the history of the growth and
progress of Utah from AT to SO, repre-
sented by floates These, with the
foates supplied by the merchants and
the militia, fire department, secret So
cieties and other organizations would
make a display that would not only
draw the people OF Utah, but would fill
the city with visitors from all the
states and make a general
for tourists.
w. H Gunner, f. Auerbach, D. L.
Levey, j. w. Smell, J. H. Watts, l.. w.
Dittman and Walter Jennings were
the speakers of the evening, all
a strong effort to obtain
the desired capital with which to carry
out the work.
j. Wash Young reported that the
committee, of which he was a mem
Der, appointed for the purpose of feel
ing the pulse of the business COM
had met with promises of
hearty support all pledging financial
aid at the proper time.
A financial committee of five, con-
sisting of W. E. Hubbard, ]. Wash
Young, John P. Meakin, H. F. McGar-
vie and A. D. Katz, was appointed to
make a thorough canvas of the bust
ness community for subscriptions and
to report at an adjourned meeting to
De held at Calder's hall on Thursday
night at o'clock, when the business |
men of the city and all interested are
asked to be present.
A committee consisting of Chairman !
3. A. Snow, Walter P. Jennings and /
W. H. Gunner was appointed to agi- |
ate the matter in the press.
A motion to adjourn was carried, 7
With the understanding that each man /
present would act as a committee of .
me in getting large and representa-
i've meeting for Thursday night.