Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-10-25
FOR STATE FAIR
Commercial Club Will Support
Project in Every Way,
plan outlined by Maxwell Tvnrss OF
Windsor, who Has introduced n
nil in the Legislature Looking
towards Such an Exhibition.

The first step toward having state
fair was launched local. Friday evening
in the city hall, when the members OF
the Commercial club held a meeting for
tho purpose OF considering whether or
not thcv would cndcavor to promote
u project to provide for a site for a
state fair. provided the Legislature
grants a charter for the organizing of
such n permanent agricultural exhibit
tion and It can be located here The
meeting was largely attended by rep
rosentativc business men and others.
100 being present, all of whom were
heartily in favor OF the project and
who promised their support Repre-
sentative Maxwell Evarts of Windsor
the protector of the enterprise was the
principal speaker and he explained his
ideas in such forceful and clear man
nor that everybody quickly understood
aud were in sympathy with the pro-
ject.
Mr.. Evarts, after being introduced
by senator W. j. Van Patten.as n rep
rcscntative who received every vote in
his town, said that Vermont never
really never had a State fair but a
fair that was neither n county or state
fair. thing that was run on wheels
from place TO place by private enter
prise. His plan was for the governor
To appoint q State fair commission of
J members. two of them to be OK
ohicio, IA or one to represent each
county and one to he selected at large
At the beginning they would be APP
pointed for terms of one year two
years and three years and at tho end
or three years each appointment would
he made for three years. In that manner
new man would be introduced into the
commission each year. but o. majority
would lie old members The governor
would he n member OF the commission
and the fair would he Il State instit,,-
! 7ion. fostered. supported and patronized
ny the people of the State. The fair conf
m!ssioners would receive EXPENSE nancy
hut no salary and they would e,nplov =
superintendent and assistant who would
lie paid to conduct the fair as a business
enterprise. The commissioners would he
accountable to the State for all money
received and II the State deemed IL wise
to make any appropriation, that would
also he in the hands of the commission
ers IF any money was left. after the
fair was over. it would be paid to the
state. 1t would also he the duty of the
commission to determine in February or
March where and when the fair was to
ne held. In closing. Mr.. Evarts said that
he believed that BURLINGTON was tha
proper place for a State fair. because Of
Its location on the lake and railroad
facilities, its hotels and because of the
many good business men who were resi-
dents. He said that there had always
been moro or less of n bad feeling be-
tween the east and the west sides of the
State, but that he would promise that
the men OF the east side would do every
'HnS possible to promote State fair
and to have it at burlington.
The next speaker was George Aitken of
Woodstock. secretary of The State Board
or agriculture and manager of the Bill
l'n%S farms. lie explained the many ad-
NantaSes OF State fair. how it would
hclp to promote Nermonts breeding and
agricultural pursuits and the advanta yes
or Burlington as a location lie said
there was lots Of room for Improvement
In Nermonts horses ana cattle, notwith-
standing the fact that they are famous
as the best in the United States
f. |" Davis Of Pomfret, secretary Of
the Vermont Dairymen's association. was
IN" next speaker and he also promised
she support of the east side Of the State
Tor a state fair If Burlington should pro-
'de its appropriation. An informal dis
cussion then followed in which G. f.
Whitney. Elias Lyman. Henry Holt c.
w Brownell, Cass!lis Peck and others
spoke.
Mr. ENarts in reply to question by
=. X. Miles as TO what would be needed,
SAID that there would probably be com
petition between different places for the
location of the fair but he thought tina t
II Burlington We're to deed to the State
site for the fair grounds and appro-
pirate 5000 the city would be very like