The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1908-12-18
VALLEY FAIR WILL
SHOW A DEFICIT
Last Years Exhibition Ran Be-
hind about $500.
PRESIDENTS RECOMMENDATIONS
Suggests q Limit In tho Number OF Cat
Ito Accepted. an Entry Fec In the
Poultry Department and an Adm!s'
sion Fec to DOG show-other Plans.

Did the Valley fair run behind thu
weary That Is a question that has neei
asked many times during the past tM'
months and il has now been answered b,
President james 4. Hooker who say
that the tteasurer's report at the nes'
annual meeting will show deficit OF he
tween $500 and 500. This Is due IN par
TO the cost OF the alterations necessary 70
make a suitable place Tor the midway
amounting 10 between 500 aud s'vo, ana
Ia an increase Of about $1,000 IN The
nrmium list. The changes incident %
The establishment Of a midway should OF
conrse be figured under the head OF per
manent improvements. The extra
amount disbursed IN premiums Is due to
the record entry IN the various depart
ments, particularly the cattle department.
That something will have 10 be done 10
restrict the amount paid out IN premiums
is perfectly evident and Il Is subject 10
which President Hooker has been giving
considerable thought. Al the iorthcom.
ing annual meeting he will make several
Recommendations among which are the
following:
That the entry of cattle be restricted to
800.
That an entrance fee Of % cents bird
he charged IN the poultry department.
charged to the dog show. This or more
is charged at other fairs where dog shows
are heidi
That a proper restriction be placed on
the number OF entries IN the sheep ana
swine department.
That hay, grain. etc, be furnished ex,
hibtors free only the night before and
during the three days of the fair.
That hay and other supplies be bought
by contract before the fair.
That the prizes in the gentlemans drv'
ing classes be ribbons instead OF money;
President Hooker is also IN sympathy
with the suggestion that the local bust
ness men do not pay Tor decorating the
town, but use ut least portion OF this
money to make up purse Tor one OF the
races, to be known as the Business Mems
Purse.
In spite of the debt Mr.. Hooker believes
the fair association to be in much better
shape financially than most agricultural
societies. The grounds and buildings are
valuable, and il is his opinion that with
good weather and the adoption OF his |
Recommendations the clear profit that can |
be derived from the midway ought to put |
a balance in the treasury inside OF two |
years.
There is no doubt that the fair associa'
ton has been to considerable expense IN
providing for more cattle than 1t has suit,
able accommodations for. This expense is
due not only to the increase in premiums
but to the cost of hiring tents. There is
no good reason why the fair should not
set limit to the number OF cattle entries
and refuse to receive animals after all
available space has been taken. BY charg
ing an entry fee of SO much bird in the
poultry department this feature. of the
lair could be made practically self.systain-
ng, and the annoyance of providing room
for a raft of inferior birds would be OBJ
Waited. As far as charging an admission
zee to the dog show is concerned 1t Is a
policy which has been in vogue for years
It other fairs. A notable example OF this
s Danbury, Conn, where the Danbury
Kennel club owns its own building and |
las a substantial balance in the treasury.
N fact, there is no doubt that the dog
how conducted along this line could be
made to yield a profit to the association
'ver and above all running expenses and
premiums. 1t is well known that the re.
trictions on the amount of hay, grain and |
traw allowed to exhibitors for their stock |
ave not been as rigid as they ought to
e, and the association unqnestionably
ould save a large amount in this respect
nd still be perfectly fair in its treat
lent. Money could also be saved without
oubt by buying hay and other similar
upplies on contract. The money put into a
treet decorations has for several years 3
cen an expense of doubtful expediency,
nd local business men would be willing
o doubt to contribute toward purse for /
ne of the races instead.