The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1910-02-13
Official Journal of CaSdO Parish
Subscription Price $3.50 a year.
STATE FAIR OF LOUISIANA.

only one, through which authority is to
be given by the property taxpayers fol-
the purchase by the city of the tract
known as the Fair grounds and to pro-
vide special tax for the permanent
improvement of this property.
Specified, first it is proposed that the
city shall issue bonds to the amount OF
fifty thousand dollars to run forty years
and with this amount acquire the tract
held by the State Fair Association, for
which there will be levied a tax of a
quarter of mill on the dollar. Second
Iy, it is also proposed to levy an add
tionaf tax of quarter of a mill on the
dollar, for the term of ten years, which
is to be used in permanent improve
ments
This in brief is the issue, and it must
devolve on the majority of the taxpay-
ers qualified to vote to determine
whether Or not the city shall acquire the
Fair grounds property and by improve
Inents make it resort in which the
people can have pride.
Shreveport has no public resort and
there is now offered an opportunity
which should receive the most generous
endorsement
Should the city acquire the property,
the right is reserved to the Fair Asso-
citation to hold their Annual Fair on the
grounds, which is to be under their con-
troll for thirty days
To this stipulation there could be of
fered no reasonable objection.
In the proposition under considera-
tion the purchase of the grounds is not
the only issue involved Indeed, to our
mind it is simply secondary the all
important and absorbing question being
the holding of Fairs annually.
The first Fair was given four years
ago, and there is not citizen of
Shreveport, unless he is biased and
jaundiced with prejudice beyond re-
den1ption, but will admit that the Fairs
have been of the greatest benefit to
Shreveport, and especially to this sec
tion of the State, designated as North
Louisiana
The men who have had and have the
responsibility of these Fairs have been
moved in their efforts by the spirit of
progress which is never daunted even
by failure, but there has been reached
that limit where the same men do not
feel justified in conducting such an en-
terprise unless they are relieved of the
burden resting upon them
In plain words the burden is the
purchase price of the property, which
must be met annually with interest, and
the earnings of the Fair have not been
sufficient to meet these obligations.
If the Fair Association derived any
profit from the Annual Fairs, as a pri-
vate enterprise, they would be beyond
the pale of public recognition, but the
stockholders as public spirited citizens
and the directors as well have given
their means and their time freely, and
are ready and willing to redouble their
efforts in the upbuilding of Shreveport
and the best interests of the State.
Could Shreveport do without State
Fair?
Would it not be a great, an over
whelming discredit if the State Fair en-
terprise were to be abandoned?
What enterprise has Shreveport in
which the people have an interest?
1t IS not possible to estimate the adj |
vantages Shreveport has derived in
many respects from these Annual State
Fairs?
If the State Fair Association is re-
heyed of the burden of meeting the /
obligations due for the Fair grounds,
the incentive on the part of the man
agement viii be redoablei and there
will he assured annually the greatest
Fairs which it may be possible to give
in this State.
The position Of the State Fair Asso- |
ciation is as was the Dallas State Fair
Association several years ago. Indeed /
the IeSas Fair Asso1iaa,fn rad reached
the r0iat Of bankruptcy. st their relief /
came from the city of Dallas, which ac-
quirei tbs magnificent grounds upon
whicl tbs Fairs al Dallas ale held anil
nualls
Is not Tie Dallas Fair g-oands, which
is pubic pfoperty, The boost IF all Tex
ans?
Why should not Shreveport acquire
the Fair grounds site and make it a site
which would be the boast of every pro-
gressive citizen of Shreveport?
When YOU are looking for the good