The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-21

but the state has suffered fairs to be
| woefully behind our neighbor states. Our
twin sister Nebraska expended over 500. =
600 in a permanent state fair grounds
| and Improvements four years ago while
Missouri has just appropriated $4,000 for
state fair 10 be held at Sedalia The
appropriation YOU mention, which was be-
fore the last legislature, limited the ex-
penditures solely to the products of the
farm I believe with the Eagle that the
association should include three times the
business men it now does, but also three
times the number of farmers and stock
growers. 1t viii take a vigorous and
strenuous effort to effect the result you
indicate by private donations. yet / have
no doubt that it can be done if Wichita
and Sedgwick county sets itself to the
task. And yet there are some hardships
in this method. Many of the liberal
business men and farmers have hereto
fore contributed literally toward our
fairs and doubtless viii again, but there
are always some by this method equally
able and equally benefited who do not do
their share The railroads and other cor
porations and nonresident property
owners receive their full share Of the
benefits and bear no fair proportion Of
the burdens. I therefore desire to add
to what the Eagle has said another sug-
gestion which seems to me to exactly
meet this case and is equally fair and
just to all and will not burden anybody.
We have the following statute in force in
this state:
IAN Act for the encouragement Of agri-
culture.
Section /. Money for fair grounds !
That the board of commissioners of every |
county in this state are hereby authoriz- /.
ed to issue bonds or appropriate from the .
treasures of their respective counties a
sum of money not exceeding in amount .
one mill and three-quarters on tlE dol !
lar on the amount Of taxable property in
said county, to be expended under the di- .
rection Of the agricultural society OF said
county, and with the consent of the
board of commissioners. for the purchase f
Of and inclosing and improvement of (
tract of ground sufficient for the wants
and use of said county agricultural So
ciety for the purpose of holding fairs and
for other purposes of said society. Pro-
vided. That said commissioners of any
county shall not appropriate the money
mentioned in this section until a ma
iority of the electors of said county vot-
ing on the question shall have voted to
make such appropriation at general or (
special election.
second. Paid in installments.
Third. The money authorized TO be
under the provisions Of this
act may he paid in annual installments
'n the prNhase and Improvement of
grounds for the use OF the county agri-
cultural society until the whole amount Of
'alu purchase money Is paid
Fourth. Property in trust That all
property, real or personal purchased un-
Ter the provisions OF this act, shall be
led in trust by the board of county com
nissioners for the use and benedt of the
county agricultural society. and shall not
'e subject to sale on execution or other
NAL process
1t viii be observed that by this act
'onds may be issued on tax levied d.
'ided over one, two or three years, as
nay be deemed best and that the
grounds cannot be taken or lost by any
-ssociation, but remain perpetually for
he people to use for fairs The assessed
'aluation of this county Is $iO.os7502 for :
he year 1899. a levy O: one and one
ialf mills on the dollar would WELD
l5.oeo which would be sufficient to buy
nd equip ground in good shane to be-
in with Shawnee and several other