The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-08-16
sEpT.9.l3DATE Of
STATES Big FAIR
ANNUAL EXPOSITION OF WEST
MICHIGAN STATE FAIR WILL
BE THE BEST EVER.
SOME CHANGES IN OFFICERS
All the Money Made In Former Years
Goes Into improvements and
5etterments 10 the
Bi3 Show.


at Grand Rapids, from Sept. to 10,
will be this year
One year ago, this fair. which Is
the great industrial feature of West
ern Michigan, entertained more people
than ever before IN its history with
the exception OF 1909 which was the
banner year of its lie. The success Of
last year and that with one very bad
day, Thursday, has only encouraged
the managers of the big exhibition TO
exert every energy and to spare no
reasonable expense to make the sue
cess even greater this year.
Following the fair last year. the
organization underwent change.
Ever since tire institution Of the ex-
hibition, william II. Anderson had
shoulderer the burdens Of the presi-
dency. Last fall he requested that
he be permitted to retire and with
him several others who have worked
hard aud faithfully that Western
Michigan might have proper and
successful place in which to show
her progress, made similar requests.
Every effort was made to have them
retain their places OF honor but OF
hard work When they persistently
declined, other men who have always
been active in the fair and who have
at heart the interest Of the exhibit
ton, were drafted for the places.
Robert D. Graham, against his will,
was elected president. Sherwood Hall
was elected vice-president and Lester
J. Rindge was elected treasurer. With
the responsibility upon them, they set
out with characteristic energy to show
the people OF the state a record. From
the date OF their election down to to-
day they have kept increasingly at
work and are now I'm position to
promise Western Michigan the big
gest and best fair it has ever en-
joyed.
Cons.r Still on the Job.
In one Office, no change was made.
f. ID. Conger, for the last several
years has been secretary Of the fair
Everybody knows him and everybody
knows the thoroughness with which
hs does everyth ng he undertakes.
Everybody Knows his resourcefulness
and his energy. To him very largely
falls the detailed work of making the,
annual exposition a success. He has
made good in former years. He made
more than good last year. This year,
with new officers about him, he has
exerted all his faculties toward mak-
ing the West Mich gan State Fair the
banner exposition OF its history.
Last year was a difficult one for
the management. One rainy day and
the destruction OF the grandstand
made 1t SO. But for all that, the
West Michigan State Fair has been
always success. During the last
Ave years, for example, the net earn
ings have amounted 10 $42,324.SS. and
last year, even with the one stormy
day the Fair did not lose money, but
net profit of s1,l$l.S9 was realized.
Money Goes Into improvements.
But while the fair has been iinan-
cial and educational success, 1t has
not been the desire or the intention
of these managing it to make money
for themselves. No stock company
controls II and>'no officer except the
secretary receives a penny OF salary.
What money Is made goes right back
into improvements to the fair.
When the Fair was first organized
1t had practically no funds but those
who started 1t had lot Of patriotic
spirit and put in enough to give the
first exposition All earnings and
more. too. have been spent annually
in lettering the grounds and buildings
and planning 10 ra greater exposition
for the year to come. The sole idea
is to give TO the people OF Western
Michigan an opportunity to meet, en-
10y themselves, interchange ideas, ed
ucate themselves and thus make
Western Michigan richer and buster
and more prosperous than now.
While the balance sheet for last
year shows profit OF $1,131.9S.
the management Immediately spent
$21O.9S for repairs to buildings and
$1,321.43 for improvements. This, OF
course, increased the Indebtedness.
A year ago The Fair owed the Com
mercia, Savings bank $4,000 and had
on hand SS19.09. This year the Fair
owes the bank $500.
Each year some little Of the in
debtedness Is retired but only so
much as will not interfere with
needed improvements. For instance.
while the West Michigan State Fair
has In the last five years shown earn.
ings amounting to $42,324.SS, it has
spent in improvements $51 ,251.62.
1t Is hoped TO be able this year to
retire all of the debt and to make
some Improvements as well. To do
this the management is providing at
fractions for the people so they will
all be happy when they have been
here and gone. The success Of former
years must be maintained and the
management knows full well that to
M "a Ina din L the nnnnla must he given