Bridgeton pioneer., 1897-02-04
ANNUAL MEETING.
Aittie General Interest Taken in the Meet
Ing Of this Once Aggressive and
Popular Organization,

~
In comparison with years past the an
nual meeting of the the Cumberland
County Agricultural and Horticultural
Society, last Wednesday, was a tame
affair.
AS the older members can remember,
very often the attendance at these meet
1ngs tested the capacity of the Court
House. The debates were interesting,
aggressive legislation was enacted, while
the contest for election of officers was
spirited.
Yesterday violent snow storm was
raging, and may have had an effect upon
the attendance, there being less than fifty
persons present, and the business was
/ transacted in sort of perfunctory man.
ner
The recent history of the Association
has not been that of a successful organiza-
ton, and the general interest, once wide
| spread. is now confined to few people,
who are struggling to maintain the fair.
! The business transacted yesterday was
of little importance, and the election of
officers was without struggle, excepting
in choosing members of the Executive
Committee, and the effort expended in
this matter was in getting f1len to accept
! the responsibility.
B6If9ta B. Elwell, President of the
Society called the meeting to order, and
Secretary slsalley read the minutes of
the previous session. OF course these
minutes were correct, aud were promptly
approved by the little gathering.
Treasurer Joseph III. Powell then at
tracted attention for tims in making
ms annual report of the Socfety's fl
nances. 1t was not an encouraging re-
port, and the members appeared gloomy
as the figures were presented. The res
port showed that during the entire year
the whole amount of money that had
passed through his hands was S667O. AZ.
Ehls included a loan and the money re-
celved from the Cumberland Mutual In-
sorance Company, $1,000. The total
amount paid out was S6l97, "a. The
amount paid out would have been con-
siderable more. but from the fact that the
employees and others holding bills
against the Society received but S5 per
cent. OF the amount due them. Premium
winners were also noted as beiug paid
but so per cent. This left a balance in
the Treasurer's hands of S473,09, but very
few OF the premiums have been paid.
and this money would go bat a little way
toward relieving the organization from
it's embarrassing position.
Secretary Smalley then presented two
recommendation from the Executive
Committee. The first was that the So
ciety withdraw from the National Trot-
ting Association. The second was that
five per cent. of the gross receipts be re-
served to go upon the bonded debt.
The first recommendation was first
considered, motion being made that the
recommendation be adopted.
Mr.. Stathem of Hopewell, said that the
reason the Committee recommended the
withdraw from the Trotting Association,
was because the horsemen always got all
their money while other exhibitors re-
ceived only pro ratio. Mr.. Stathem said
further that he was opposed to having
another horse race on the ground, as he !
was satisfied that the trotting did not pay.
Chas. E. Sheppard wanted to know the !
advantage of leaving the Association. |
Secretary Smalley said that while belong
ing to the Association the Society had an
opportunity of getting the entrance
money even if the horsemen did not
pay it here.
Mr.. Sheppard said that he did not see
any advantage there was in leaving, for if |
the Society did not pay, the Association
could expell the track. In the meantime
theSociety had the opportunity of collect
ing the enterance money through the
Association.
This led w. w. Fox to remark, "Then !
you believe in robbing rather than being |
robbedo
Treasurer Powell said that the purses |
last year amounted to Sl065, while the |
entrance money collected was S475 The |
cost OF keeping up the track was $500
more, which was offset by the money |
taken at the grand stand. Mr.. Powell |
declared that the honorable thing to do
was to withdraw from the Association, |
arrange for South Jersey horse racing,
and bicycle contests and vast amount |
would be saved.
After some further debate, which was
not very clear, a vote was taken and the I
recommendation was adopted by a vote
of Is to 6.
The second recommendation was then
taken up. 1t was to the effect that per |
cent of the gross receipts should be taken |
to pay upon the bonded debt. This debt !
was $4,000, in addition to the mortgage of |
S55Sl. This bonded debt was personally /
carried by the individual members of the |
Executive Committee. There are twelve
members of this committee and they are |
responsible for $3.50 each. This debt was /
accrued by borrowing money in the past /
to pay premiums. The recommendation |,
was unanimously adopted
Without debate the Society resolved |
that the fair of 1897 should be held two !
dayS