Semi=weekly graphic., 1897-11-03
THE FAIR ASSOCIATION
A Statement of lis Financial Con.
diti0n

Elsewhere in this issue we puBiish
 tue first annual statement oi the
 financial condition 8f he Jefferson
 County air Association.
 This statement eaaB0t faH 10 be
 gratifying to tbe stockholders of the | Assoelati9a and Che people q Pine
 Bluff who take m interest in the lefty $ material welInre
 This financial report shows that
 on the capital stock paid in, tnclud- ing fbe investments made at the park in the way os buildtngs, etc.,
 amounting 10 over $l,399el, the 1 Assoeiation has cleared q dividend
 on the very first year eff over 20 per cent ftis true that the Association Iisia debt some &500 CT 5000. but In that connection il must De remem- bcred that only 50 per cent of the l Icapital stock subscribed was actual- lily paid in, md that tho Association has oyer $t ,aa9 6l in permanent im- provements at the park Another thing that is to be said, and we say it with regret and to Che detriment of tbe patriotism of some of our local citizens. and thatis that nearly everyone who performed any service for the fair, after tAe conclusion Of that event presented an account considerably above what is common and customary for similar services. To be plain. there has been displayed in certain quarters T disposition to bleed the Association, hut many of these accounts will, and have al- ready been. considerably reduced by the Board of Directors of the Assoei- ation We regret te sec this selfish spirit manifested in dealing with an association organized for the public good and b2haot of all the citizens alike The fair hos been of great value to Pine Bluff ii brought hundreds and thousands of dBllars here chat were spent in the various avenues of trade, One of cur local merchants, and one who is not q stockholder in the Association, or dld not even Ratroniae it t6 the ex- tent of an admission fee, has testified that he sold over St00 worth of goods to "oat ef town customers during fair week Every line of trnde was benefited by the fair Every dolIar brought here and spent during fair week was inst that much additional money added to the wealth Of the city lf is true that there was net much buying done among tue local trade that week, but tHis trade is with us always They bave last SO mueh money to spend during the year, and tley spend it. Whatever else is added to Che aggregate trade Of the city Is just so much gained
 The gate receipts and entry and privilege fees, amounting to &3,145.35. give some idea of the amount of re,enne that the Association can expect annually. Considering the fact of the low price of cotton, the protraeted dronto aud the yellow fever fright, the gate receipts are highly gratifying aud indicate a much larger income iu the future under more favorable conditions. The fact that it WIS pinp Bluffs first fair nlso caused many to antici- pate that it would be q iailure, and stay away but since it was such q bowling success, which will be hcraldcd abroad, the attendance next year promises to be something immense.
 For this gratifying condition of the Fair Association we are indebted to President w. H. Langford, Secretary NJ. E. Bloom, Sup- erintendent H. F. Westbrook and Inc entire Board of Directors. all of whom worked indcfatigably for the success Of the fair and the eatertain- ment Of visitors That there were mistakes made due to inexeerienee cannot be gainsayed; but thfse can be overcome in the future. and the mistakes Of the past year will uoint to still greater success the next year
 Upon the success of the fair and the gratifying financial condition of the Fair Association, the GRAPnl' cougratulates the officers, directors and stockholders.