The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-11-21
THE STATE FAIR.


The reports of the officials of the
State Fair have been made public. In
detailed presentation, President Bolin-
ger shows that this years exposition
has netted profit of Soo4.oI in money,
but there has been incurred an indebt-
edness of $3,I3678- for Improvements.
With other Indebtedness, including old
claims, the association in the aggregate
owes in round number about $1,000.
What have been the advantages of
the Fairs, this being the fourth, to
Shreveport, in the cold enumeration of
the dollar?
It may not be possible to reach an ac-
curate aggregate, but President Bolin-
ger, in his report, estimates that visit
ors to the State Fair this year spent
over 100000 in the city and this fact
alone, he has declared, makes the State
Fair a most profitable business invest
mert for every interest located in the
city.
1t is safe to assert that every source
of business. trade and occupation, es-
pecially the mercantile, the hotel and
the general interests of the community
have derived profit in increased sales
and otherwise from the visitors.
It may be noted that the crowds have
been greater this year than in the three
years past, and the visitors will be
drawn in greater numbers from their
homes, if the Fair be maintained to the
point of excellence it has attained. In
this respect the Fair this year was all
that could have been desired. 1t was
free of the element which is always a
siiscredit and reproach to the manage
ment
The purpose of the Fair, as it applies
TO the Directors, is not to make money
in the sense of individual profit or
gain. The Directors are actuated and
moved by a greater incentive. They
have recognized, and this fact is en-
forced on them more thoroughly each
year, that fairs are not only developers
and stimulators, but they generate the
spirit of generous rivalry which irnpels
the farmer to outstrip his friend and
his neighbor in better stock. and in the
methods of agriculture which yield bet
ter and more profitable returns.
AS the farming interest is developed
and the farmer is made prosperous by
the betterment of his condition, the city
becomes the beneficiary of his work.
It may be said that the earnings of the
farmer, at least the major part, is spent
in the city # il were not for the slim
ulation of fairs there would be little
progress in the country. and there
would be limited demand for inn
proved machinery and the .sup-to-date"
methods which are profitable and bene-
fetal would scarcely command atten-
ton
It may be conceded, in all candor,
that the country and the city should be
educated on the Importance of Fairs as
developers and stinulators of progress
i've development and substantial up
building and this is what the Fair As
ISOLATION is striving to accomplish
When the Indebtedness of the Fair
Association is considered in practical
business sense, coupled with its re-
sources and its possibilities for good for
one and all, the amount involved is of
little concern, and when it is desired to
realize $4,000 for the purpose specified,
it would seem there should be no hesi-
fancy in the most generous of response
Ito the appeal Of the Directors.
After all, the Fair must be as the
citizens of Shreveort would have it.
The men now in charge have given
freely of their means and their time,
with no expectation of reward beyond
the realization that they have striven
and are striving to promote the best
interest of the people Therefore, when
any citizen is approached by the Direc-
tors. charged with the unpleasant duty
of soliciting subscriptions for stock, let
each and every citizen respond literally
When the StaIe FAIR is worked free
of debt and it is established as the Dal-
las Fair, the stock held by each stock
holder will maintain not only its face
value but viii command a premium
At any rate. It becomes the duty Of
every citizen to respond generously and
10 give the helping hand to the associa-
flor, IN its nrase41f need
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