The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-02-06
COUNTY FAIR
A NECESSITY.
Correspondent Takes Issue With
Those Who Oppose 1t.
BAD WEATHER THE CAUSE

1iditnr NeMs-Demncrnt,

Editor News Democrat:
My attention has been attracted to an
article in your Semi-Weekly issue of
January 90, which is calculated to place
the Stark County Agricultural society
and it's financial status as well as its
officers. in a false and undeservedly un-
favorable light before the people of the
county, and 1 ask your permission to
make a few remarks on the opposite
side of the case. 1 have not the article
before me as l write, but Will endeavor
TO recall it from memory. While the
article does not seem to take up arms,
editorially against the fair and its
managers, it quotes solely from those
who are feminist" it, and, If nothing
be said on the other side, it's personal
incines the reader to the opinion that
there is no other side, which would
be an egregious error.
1t is stated that the society has
about $50 900 invested in grounds and
buildings, which is about correct, also
that it is about $40. 900 in debt, which is,
] believe, also about the right figure.
How much was paid for the present
site of the fair grounds 1 am not in a
position to say, nor as to the cost of
buildings, fencing, constructing race
track, etc, but it could have been no
small sum. AS the fair has occupied
it's present location only six years con-
slider a debt of only $4,000 rather
small affair to make big kick about.
As to the society increasing its debt
at the rate of $1,000 a year, 1 am in
formed by those in a position to know,
IL nf he
truth. You probably have files contain
ing the society's annual reports, Cor can
have access to the same upon request)
to either attempt to prove or disprove
the statement. I am assured that, but
for the very unfavorable weather last
fair time, (for which neither you, nor /,
nor the siciety, nor the disgruntled
persons who clamor for the abandon
ment of the fair, were responsibility the
books would show a decided reduction
of the debt. 1 am informed that the
board has just wiped out a $4,000 debt
for which the members had assumed
individual responsibility. But this
question of the financial status of the
Agricultural society can best be set
tied by reference to the figures, to
which anyone interested can, no doubt,
have access upon request. My main
purpose in addressing you is to argue
in favor of the continuance of the fair
in perpetuity, upon the grounds of it's
value as a member of the social fabric,
if l may so speak, and against the sale
of the grounds and abandonment of
the annual exhibition. In the closing
portion of your article you say the
board of directors will not disband, and
that the fair will be continued Qn-
definitely This in conjunction with
the preceding recounting of the Vio-
lent and widespread CD opposition to
the fair proposal to put the matter to a
vote of the people, is calculated to place
the board before the people as lot of
mulish, bull-headed, or obstinate
persons, determined to continue the
fair in the teeth of all opposition, as
though there was money in it for them
which, the good Lord knows, there isn't.
If there We're good sound reasons for
disseminating the fair I doubt not every
director would be willing to step down
and fall out of his remunerative CD
position. But the class Of men who
usually compose fair boards are men
of broad and liberal views, men of
foresight, and who look at matters from
broad and impartial view, and not
from a narrow and mercenarY one,
whose limits are CircumScribed by those
of a paltry penny-and who do not
allow their whole beings to become
warped by the mere failure to capture
the blue ribbon on big pumpkin or a
great lummiX of a colt, or calf of very
fine inferior breeding-which, l fear
accounts for the animosity of many of
those who seek to have the fair grounds
sold and the money placed in the county
fund, with the ultimate object in view
of having their taxes reduced Chow
much? l wonder),
To revert to the 81 900 a year deficit
$50 called.) Suppose that $1,000 were
annually laid upon the tax duplicate
and collected by direct taxation. How
much do you suppose it would cost
any individual taxpayer? / do not
know the grand total of the county's
tx duplicate, but, for convenience in
calculation, let us say it is 800, 900, 900.
A levy of l mill on the dollar would
produce 81 on each $1,000; $1,000 on each
81 900, 900, or 100000 on the entire county
duplicate of $1OO0OO,OOO. AS we only
want $1,000 we must make the rate
1-100 of a mill, or l cent on each $1,000
valuation, so that q farm assessed at
$1,000 (and valued, very likely, at $4,000
would actually pay only the value of
a postage stamp per annum to keep up
the fair.
For shame!
Mr. Editor, feel It my duty as a
citizen to lift my voice and use my pen,
and cast my vote, and exert myself in
every way within my ability (here as
in other localities where / have lived)
for what deem the best interests of
the people at large and in general. /
am not now, but have been, engaged in
a business in which men become
trained to look at affairs in broad and
liberal way. And / want you to let me
say TO the people of Stark county that
the sale of the fair grounds and the
abolishment of the annual exhibition,
after holding 1t for so consecutive
seasons, and with an investment Of
$50. 900 in grounds and appurtenances