The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-11-22

A reporter for the Eagle called upon
Mr. c. s. Smith, secretary of the State
Fair association yesterday. and said
There is a great deal of talk about the
fair coming out behind this year, and
limitations that everything is not as il
should be concerning the management
VIII you please say for the benefit of
Inc stockholders and creditors what the
condition Of the association is and why
1t did not pay out?"
Mr.. Smith very pleasantly said: why,
certainly / will, and give you full re-
port TO publish in. addition, together with
the report of the auditing committee
who examined everything and took great
pains to find out where every cent came
from and where ii went to Three year.
ago the Old Wichita Mechanical and Ae-
ricultural Fair association changed its
name and took out a new charter under
the name Of the State Fair association,
with a debt Of about $4,000 out against
the old association. The first, in 1894,
the association lost about $1,000; in 1895
the deficit was about $4,000, with the old
debts all paid. The executive board
borrowed enough money to pay % per
rent Of the debt. The president one
member Of the executive board and the
treasurer signing the necessary security
TO get the money. This year. which is
unquestionably the hardest one ever
known for fair associations, there was a
determined and united effort on the
part OF the execptive board and officers
&c cut the expenses to a minimum and
try to pay out, and / do not think there
ever was any fair conducted on more
economical plan. but the receipts show
that the people of this vicinity are lik.
those all over the country-either too
poor to attend, or else the old-time fairs
are out OF date. The experience of the
State Fair association is only repetition
Of the experience of other fairs all over
the country. None of them, so far as
am able 10 ascertain, have paid out this
yesr. and complaint is heard from all
over the country that the people do nor
appreciate fairs any more l think this
is true. myself.
NOW as TO the transactions of the Off
GERS tnis year, no contract was made
and no money paid out without author
ity Of the executive board, and every
cent was accounted for, both by the sec
Rotary and treasurer. The tickets were |
numbered consecutively from No 1 I'D.
and were all counted by two men AMI |
turned over TO the treasurer Mr.. J. NJ |
Moore, and all tickets and cash was ac- |
counted for by him to a farthing.
THE receipts for tickets at the gates, |
grand stand and quarter stretch on |
Wichita day, amounted to |
s., $4,000. which shows that about 1000 |
people paid admissions to the grounds |
that day, when ii was reasonable to ex-
pect at least 5000 from Wichita alone
A race meeting and carnival mignt |
pay. but a fair will not Now, in con-
ciusion. you may say, If any stockhoIder
viii call at my office in the city building, |
will take pleasure in showing him any,
hing he may care to see. and they are |
IL cordially invited to all. If those who
are repeating what some one else says
will make en effort 10 get the facts a.
-he secretary's office, / think I can sat
sly them that they are doing a gross
injustice 10 the management. and not
Wichita by talking about a
acme Institution in the way some of
hem are. Get facts. talk facts, if any,
hing, and don't say anything unless you
ave facts to talk about, is my advice 20
hose who say SO much"
The association owes about 5000.
.hich is an average. of $4,000 per year
or the three years, 1S94-5 and S. and the
'ent Of the grounds. tents, etc, and re-
'airs on the old buildings and grounds
amounts 10 very nearly that amour.
ZACH year. In other words, if the asso-
,iation had owned the grounds and had
suitable buildings it would be out of debt
oday. but nearly $1,000 is thrown away
each year.
The following is a full statement Of the
accounts Of the association: