Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-01-06
SUCCESSFUL YEAR
ECOUNTED AT THE ANNUAL MEET
ING OF THE FAIR SOCIETY.

ne ASSOCIATION III GOou f1nanc1al COnu1-
tion-The Last Fair "a Record-B Breaker
in More Respects Than One-Darwin
Rider the New President.
The ANNUAL meeting of the Addison
County Agricultural association was
leld at the Addison House on Wednes-
day forenoon. The meeting was called
70 order at / 80 o'clock with President
A. w. Wilcox of Bridport in the chair.
Secretary c. S. Dana presented his re-
port, which was as follows:
Secretary's Report.
Gentlemen: The 54th Annual Fair of the
society was held at Middlebury Aug. 80, 81
ind Sept. /, 1898, and was financial success.
There was n very large attendance on both
Wednesday and Thursday, and the receipts
were the largest in recent years. If not in the
history of the society. All premiums and all
bills contracted in 1898 have been paid in full.
and for the first time in a number of years
there is a surplus in the treasury. Under the
energetic management of your General
superintendent, the ground rents amounted
$l75, which is more than they have been in
the past and he had the track in much better
shape than usual, which helped Geo. st.
Glare, entered by W. A. Harwood of Ben
nington, to lower the track record, the time
being 15L, which was about the fastest
time made at any fair in Vermont during
1898. except at Burlington. had written
contract with the La ROsas of New York to
give four acrobatic performances in front
of the grand stand and they fulfilled their
contract. The acrobatic performances, the
reg and bicycle races, and the band concerts
N the forenoon were new feature and
tended to largely increase the attendance.
People attend a fair to have a good time;
they want amusement; they want to see a
good horse. race to hear good music, ride on
tha ma ar.rX onr nd and 70 of ffpr rha
heat and burder of the summer. And speak
ing of music, we probably had more and
better music than was ever heard on the
Middlebury fair ground before, and the
music was a feature and a drawing card at
he last fair. Both the Middleburv Citizens
band and the Bristol Military band acquitted
themselves with much credit on the fair
ground and at the excellent concert IN the
evening, which was given free to the citizens
bf the county and was enjoyed by large
toncourse of people. We had a written con
ract with the Bristol band lodged in the
own clerks office in that town to furnish
music at the fair, signed by A. c. sumner,
nanaf er of the band, Vice President W. A.
lawrence and myself and so far as | know
Ell parties fulfilled their part of the contract
o the letter, as did the management of the
Iiddlebury band, and the thanks of the
kociety are due both bands for the excellent
usc furnished and also to the Bristol
Ililroad for reduced rates and running an
Ctra train TO connect with the Hyer north
d also to W. A. Lawrence for his liberality
Il assistance in making the fair a success
q last Burlington fair came out badly in
BIT. 1t costs a COOL deal of money to run "A
ccessful fair, and II large amount of hard
)rk; but with good weather it can ne done.
ne last fair I think came the first of any
ir in'vermont, and while it was a little early
secure as good an exhibit of fruit and
egetableS as later | think all things con
dered 1t is Il good idea, as after people have
zen to one or two other fairs they are not
apt to attend their own. A little objection
liehy by people who never do anything to
Id the fair, has been made to n 30 cent ad
ission, but many more people buy members
ckets, and after seeing ii tried both ways
ilieye we can raise more money by keeping
g admission where it is. If the citizens of
fiddlebury and Addison county would CO.
perate with the officers of this society, we
Buld have better fairs than ever before,
lch as would reflect credit upon the county
nd be second to none in Vermont. | make
70 mention of the damage done on the fair
ound by the elements, except to say that
might have been much worse, had it
cured during the fair the result would have
en- appalling. As it occurred after the fair
can more properly be treated in ne Xt years
port Wishing the members of this society,
happy New Year, hope that our members
Id finances may continue to expand until
e the American republic our resources, our
edit and our prosperity shall be unbounded
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES 5. DANNA, Secretary
The treasurers report was then read
y j. A. James, chairman of the board
auditors. 1t was as follows:
Treasurer's Report.
RECEIPTS
sh on hand ! Gas
A. Lawrence, check, $500
5. Dana, 6i374