The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-04
MAY NOT HOLD STATE FAIR.
COMMISSION WILL MEET TOM0R-
row TO DETERMINE 1T.
Several Dimculties Said TO he In the
Way of Holding Exhibition Mt
Yakima, Chief Among which Are
Paucfty of Funds and Exhibitors.

Special Dispatch to the Post-rnteiligencer.
NORTH YAKIMA. Sept Alt is stated
on what appears to be good authority
that the attempt to hold a state fair here
this fall will be abandoned. The COM
mission win meet next Wednesday. and
unless there is a change In the situation
an Official announcement to that effect
will be made. At an informal meeting
last week the plan to abandon the fair
was discussed. and had there been
full board present 1t Is likely the an
nouncement would have been made then
II may be said with reasonable certain
ty that II state fair is held, It will not
be managed by the commission. but by
patriotic citizens of North Yakima who
believe that the town cannot AFFORD to let
the fair lapse.
The disposition OF the commission early
in the spring. before any work was done
for this years fair. was to abandon the
project and II probably would have been
done then but for the fact that the citi-
zens raised fund OF 81. 800 to guarantee
the payment OF premiums Then the
board went ahead, confident that things
would come out all right In the end.
The difficulties which confront the state
fair commission are very many. indeed.
Some OF them are that the funds availa-
BILE promise to be wholly insufficient:
that the commissions most strenuous
efforts have not resulted IN bringing out
exhibitors in any of the departments or
horses for the races: that Secretary Gum,
the most efficient and active member of
the board Is confined 10 his home by
sickness and has notified the board that
year, and that the time fixed by law for
holding the fair is wholly unsuitable.
Alleged waste of Funds
As TO the matter OF funds. 1t ia charged
by the critics Of the, commission that
they have been shAmefuily wasted
ar NJ G n
that the fair last year cost 1900 more
than the gate receipts and entry fees. or
about $1,000 The biennial appropriation
sion, therefore. at this time has but
s1.o00 OF the appropriation left: the 81 800
guaranty fund raised by the citisens. and
be taken In at the gate. on concessions,
promised amount to but little. the pros
aging 1t may be said in reference to
the charge that the appropriation for the
fair has been wasted that the commission
Of the appropriation last year was for
permanent improvements on the grounds
and track
II Is said tina, the commission has made
agricultural and stock departments. The
results accomplished by these efforts
amount to practically nothing The
have asked for an exhibit they have
been told by the farmers and stockmen
that they were too busy to take any
away $500 In premiums last year has
so much to do now that he has not time
to prepare an exhibit. The stockmen
tisenent they would get at the fair Tho
horsemen say there il nothing in II for
them, and not over half a dozen horses
who criticize the commission and they
are n large element OF the population. say
that the real reason why exhibits can
co o eu IN the eommsson ana h' hence
take no interest in the fair.
People Are All Busy.
The statutes flx the date for the fair
as the last week in September. 1t is
alleged .a that Woman at the ana s cha 10 Hsss
county Is busy. and cannot ind time eth
err TO assist In making the fair a success
10 attend y The lsss west ,s n Sem hem
picking season. The commission believes
that the fair should be held about the
middle OF October. in order 20 secure the
the gate last year were f1ts0. OF this
amount about 81. 400 was paid by residents,
abroad.
IL may also be said that there IL n dis
position on tee part OF the commissioners
this town OF 900 or 500 people. situated
n long distance from the centers OF popu-
latiou. Is not suitable place for holding
a state fair. II is claimed that IL the
institution IL 70 be a success financially
II ough. to be located where II will draw
large numbers OF people.
Whether the citizens will permit tho
fair to be abandoned this year cannot
be deanitely stated now. A number Of In
fiuentiaI meg are DESTROYS that I, should
| he held ard will probably make a vigorous
EFFORT 10 have II held and make the fair
better than II ever has been since, and
that the same results may be attained this
was appointed by the Commercial Club
last night To secure ofyicial Information
| from the commission as 20 It's intentions.