The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-01-17
A Suggestion Concerning our County Fair.

A Suggestion Concerning our County Fair.
That the December meeting of the Board
of Directors determined to receive PROPOSE
tions, looking toward the removal of the
fair grounds to more convenient place,
leads me to suggest some innovations in the
matter of fairs.
Assuming that the present association has
assets amounting to seven or ten Thousand
dollars above its liabilities, let it erect
building somewhat after the pattern OF the
Coliseum in Chicago, on reduced scale
commensurate with the difference in popu-
latien between Chicago and Owosso, and
erect the same at some convenient point on
street railway on the Corunna road. This
building could be put no and maintained
cheaper than the forty acres and fence as
sured TO be a necessity now for the fair
ground. 1t obviates the expense of in
Vulnerable police, also the cost of maintain
ing a race course, and the present track
might be retained to allow the question to
be settled as to whether the fair supported
the "Racing" end, or vice versa. This
would afford separation of the feature OF
fairs that is Objectionable to many, and
probably one of the burdens that the pres
ent association has had TO bear. 1t would
also bar out that class OF flake" shows,
shady games OF skill, sellers of cheap jewel
cry and the whole mob of fair followers
that are disgrace to socalled "Agricul-
tural Societies." and why they have been
tolerated so long, may be one of the reasons
why fairs are not more patrOnized, and con-
sequeHtly are now with diminished gold
reserve. 1t may be said that the State fair
recently has had such malodOrOus side-show
attractions as no decent Snowman, like
Barnum and Forepaugh would have tol-
Grated. The coliseum idea would, by its
compactness, diminish expense in manage
ment and prevent the disreptuable, simply
because it would be impossible for this class
to operate, unless they can have room, and
it would be as much out Of place for them
as in an art gallery, and fair should be
gallery of science and art. The live stock
would be in suitable sheds, somewhat after
the manner of the Columbian exhibition,
and restricted to the most perfect animals,
rather than to great numbers, to lill classes
There should be, at least four days com
plete fair and the building lighted at nigh
and cheap admission for evenings, com
mensurate with the program which should
be arranged for nights as well as for the
ipfr al n
musical program for an evening, confer
ences and addresses on agriculture, etc,
might prove a success. The fact of such
fair under roof would do away with the
fears of inclement weather. as when once al
the fair it would be comfortable, and as the
day might not be spent with profit on the
farm It could be at the fair. The attendant
expenses of advertising special attractions
would be done away with, as the mere facl
that such a fair was to be held would be
SUFFICIENT County fairs have had their
time Ike camp-meetings, and If they main
tain their primitiveness and do not advance
with the people, they die. They cannot
dwell in wigwams and sheds and succeed
especially with the parasites of fakirs and
jockeys that now torment them.
If the Shiawassee County Agricultural
Society will erect permanent building anc
discard the features that everybody recog
nizes as Objectionable, and have the aim t.
instruct, educate and build up, 1t can have
fifty thousand admissions during the fair
III the expense in advertising with litho