The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-04-11
BIRMINGHAM WILL HAVE ANOTHER FAIR Merchants Have Already Pledged S5000 as Starter WILL BEGIN WORK EARLY Everyone at Meeting Last Night Was Enthusiastic and Promised to Aid
 In Making the Fair
 Success.
WILL BEGIN WORK EARLY

Tall. Whatever doubts upon the subject may have existed in the mind of the pub lie, they were removed last night when the business mems committee reported to the State Fair association the result of their interviews with the prominent bus mess men of the city.
 A large and enthusiastic meeting of the members of the Alabama State Fair as- socation was held in the Commercial club rooms last night. President Culpep- per Exum presided.
 In opening the business of the evening the chairman said they were met to hear the report of the special committee ap- pointed to interview the business men of the city upon the question of holding a state fair this fall. He called upon John l.. Parker to report.
 "The Alabama State Fair association will hold state fair in Birmingham next fall" said Mr. Parker, and we have s50OO to begin with" This announcement met with great applause. Continuing his remarks. MT. Parker said that it was the unanimous opinion of the business men of the city that the fair should be held, and upon a greater and grander scale than ever before.
 "The fair" said MT. Parker, brings new men and money to our city; it puts fresh blood into the commercial and bus- ness interests; 1t helps to advertise city and increase the value of property. Every merchant I have spoken to wants the fair and promises to aid us in our labors: We have $5O00 assured to us, and I do not expect much difficulty in raising s15O00 more We must start to work at once"
 Sol Caheen strongly advocated the fair and said it was one of the best invest ments the business men of the city could put their money into.
 'I have spoken to several people who did not contribute last year." said Louis Pizitz "and they promised to subscribe literally this year, as they said they felt the good effects of it last year"
 George McCleery spoke in favor of the project and said 1t should be made more attractive to the nublic by having the grounds laid out in nice style and amuse- ments provided which would bring the crowds.
 NJ. V. Joseph spoke enthusiastically in support of the fair. What" said he, "is the sum of S15, GOO or s2o.0O0 compared with the s2O0,000 which is spent in the city during the time the fair lasts? It is business mans enterprise, and must not be looked at in the light of dividends on stock. will venture to say that every man who contributes to the preliminary expenses will make three times the amount in the way of b. siness done. Whatever helps the city helps the citi- zen. and the merchant is the man to reap the benefit. This matter must be viewed in a broad-minded manner, and every year we must improve on what was done previously
 MT. Joseph's address was loudly ap- plauded. and filled his audience with en- thusasm
 Robert Jemson, Jr., president Of the Commercial club said that the fair grounds at present represented an ex- penditure of over s7O,O00, and that the state of Alabama did not offer a better or more suitable place for the holding of a state fair. There is a fine race track" said he, "a magnificent grand stand and several large buildings for industrial ex- hibits. Having all these to start with, 1t only required the assistance of the busi- ness men of the city to make the next fair one of the best ever held in the south."
 James A. Emery said if the fair was to be success, that work should begin at once. Only sixty days were given to preparations last year and in that time an immense amount of work was done We should begin now" said MT. Emery and the first thing to do is to secure guarantees for the balance of the money required.'
 In closing the meeting the chairman thanked the committee for the work they had done and said he felt assured that the next state fair would surprass everything done before.