The age-herald., 1901-09-21
NJ STATE FAIR
 FUR BIRMINGHAM
 UNTIL NEXT YEAR
At a Meeting Last Night Pro- feet Is Deemed lnadviSa-
 bIe at This Time
SEASON IS TOO FAR GONE
Arrangements Will Be Made for Hold ina One Every Year Hereafter. Lease On the Grounds Does
 Not Expire-Criticism

There will be no fair here this faf but active steps are to be taken to hold one next year and every year thereaf- ter.
 Robert Jemison and NJ V. Joseph, con- stituting the finance committee of the Fair Association, issued a circular letter calling a meeting of citizens at the Com mercial Club for last night, for the pur- pose of considering the question of hold ing fair The meeting took place but it was not largely attended. Those pres ent were: Robert Jemison, M. V. Joseph, D. J. Fox, J. H. F. Mosley, L. A. Ben nie, Moxie Fies, T. s. Pounds, Ferd Marx, J. C. Murray, w. H. Jones and M. Wilson.
 MT. Jemlson presided, and after he had stated the object of the meeting there was an informal but free interchange of views. The chairman said he had mall ed copies of the circular to large num- Der of business men and he was sur prised that so few had put In an ap- pearance. All of those present agreed that fair every fall was most desirable, but as several of them pointed out, the chair included, the time was rather late to organize for an exhibition next Novem- Der. And besides, November was too late in the year, MT. Jemison said, to hold fair. The chairman would gladly be one of five or ten men ito guarantee the expenses of a big fair every y, r. These guarantors could he said em- ploy a first class man to manage the en- terprlse and they would see that it was run on business principles.
 MT. Joseph Regrets 1t.
 MT. Joseph emphasized the benefit that Birmingham derived from an annual fair and regretted that the Fair Association had not taken the necessary steps to give us fair this fall. If promoter of fairs would come along now and undertake to get up an exhibition Mir. Joseph said he would willingly contribute $25O, and he felt sure that other merchants would be liberal in the way of aid. MT. Fies thought if the right man could be found to manage a fair, 1t might be feasible, even at this late day, to get up a success full one for November. MT. Jemison said that MT. Fies would be the very man for manager and begged him to undertake the task. He felt confident that with MT F'ies in charge fair could be successful ly conducted, even ths fall, All favored MT. Fies for manager and promised hearty cooperation, but that gentleman protested that 1t would be absolutely im- possible for him to accept such a posi- ton; he would not have the time to give 4l1n Ia of ha however, that an experienced promoter could take hold of the proposition and get up a creditable fair inside of forty days MT. Marx, Mir. Bennie, MT. Pounds and Mir Jones were of that opinion, too Mir. Pounds said he came to the meeting with his mind made up that if fair was not held this year he would never again take part in any fair movement. MT. Jemison said that when he attended the meeting of the Fair Association last July he thought from the discussion then that arrangements would certainly be made to give fair this fall. He was called out of town on business and he was greatly surprised and disappointed upon his re- turn after an absence of several weeks to find that nothing had been done. COnSlQCFdpl6 STItiCioHls
 The management of the association came in for a good deal of criticism. a Ianohastjng so to speak, for its inac- tiyity.
 MT. Fox, in discussing the question Of fair or no fair, took the position that 1t would be better not to undertake an ex- hibition this fall unless something first class could be assured.
 He stated that it was not true as had been supposed and stated that the Fair Association would forfeit It's improve ments and its lease if fair was not held this year. He had talked with the lessor and had been assured by him that If the association paid rent at the rate of $o0o year the lease would remain intact. and the improvements would not be forfeited MT. Fox said the grounds could easily be rented for s400 year, and the associatioh had $500 with which to supplement 1t and bring the amount up to $500 year for two years
 Reyerting to the question of five or ten guarantors getting up a fair TOT next year, MT. Jemison said such scheme could be worked without the | least difficulty. Incidentally he re- marked that the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power Company. which he represented, was out $16,oOo on account | of the fairs already held, including do- nations; that is, the fairs had cost the | company s16,OO0 more than it had re- l ce,ved in car fare. etc; but notwith- l standing that fact, it would always do