Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-01-19
VALLEY FAIR POLICIES DISCUSSED
Widely Varying Opinions ExpessedDr F. H. OConnor Reelected
President and o. F. Benson Secretary

Widely varying opinions as to certain
policies in the management or the valley
fair were expressed in the annual meeting
of the stockholders and advisory direc-
tors held in the Brooks House Wednesday,
which was attended by an unusually
large number. They were voiced in an
entirely friendly way, however, and with
a frankness that was commended by the
principal speaker of the occasion, who
said that if everybody connected with
the fair would be as frank it would be
a decided help to the officers. 1t was
at the dinner following the business
meeting. President f. II. O'Connor re-
ferred to somebody's remark that the
fair was not paying dividends on the
stock. DR.. O'Connor said there was one
way in which the stock could be made
to pay dividends and that was to run
a midway clear across the grounds and
sell pools on the races. But l don't
think you want to have that kind of a
fair" said he. The next speaker was
C. j. ONeil of Walpole, N. H., retiring
vice president. Mr.. O'Neils views were
exactly the opposite of those of DR..
OConnor, and he said he stood squarely
for both pool selling and a big midway.
The expression was an enlivening Incl
dent in the meeting.
Another feature which greatly inter-
ested the listeners was an address by
Prof. ]. A. Mclean, professor of ami
NAL industry in the Massachusetts state
agricultural college at Amherst, who
gave the farmers some practical ideas
about improving their opportunities by
breeding dairy herds and not combining
themselves simply to producing milk. 1t
was an important message and after the
meeting many said they regarded the
address as being of more consequence
than any other talk ever given at a
Nnn fntt tInr
Judge j. L. Martin suggested that a
specialist in some branch of agricul-
ture be secured instead of calling upon
local speakers, and the result of the first
trial of the plan abundantly proved it's
wisdom.
1t was about 11.SO o'clock when Presi-
dent O'Connor called the meeting to
order. and at that time about 1875 persons
were present. Secretary o. F. Benson
read the call for the meeting and a roll
call of the stockholders by Treasurer F.
G. Adams showed that 35 stockholders
were present, representing 10 shares.
Several other stockholders arrived after
the roll call There are 400 shares in
all and at the time of this meeting only
one share remained unsold. A year ago
there were 10 unsold shares, of which 10
have been taken and two more pledged.
Only misunderstanding prevented the
sale of the remaining share. AS seven
u
president declared that a quorum was
present for the transaction of business.
The treasurer's report was submitted in
the form of printed pamphlets, itemizing
all the receipts and expenditures. The
substance of 1t was published in The
Phoenix recently, showing that the fair
of 1911 taken by itself Melted about $500,
but that the gain was offset by the cree
ton of a new horse barn.
Vice President c. j. O'Neil asked
whether two items of insurance in the
treasurers report were permanent
charges and was told that they were.
The insurance Is divided between the
agencies of l.. D. Taylor and G. NJ
Clay. Mr.: Clay stated that the property
was very hard to insure, being beyond
the protection Of hydrants and that while
the rates were high they were made by
the New England Insurance exchange
and there was no deviation from them
E. c. Crosby asked whether improve
ments the coming year were contemplate
ed, and in response General Superintend-
ent w. A. Shumway said that If the old
executive committee was reelected II
would build another large barn for brood
mares and colts, that there should be a
dairy building and that since the last
fair about one-third of the fence had
been blown down by the high winds and
would have to be rebuilt. The boiler
house and equipment installed last year
would about offset the cost of a dairy
building, Mr.. Shumway said, and more
or less fence has to be built every year.
The new horse barn will not be as ex-
pensive as the one built last year. be-
cause 1t will not have flooring. From
all these facts Mr.. Shumway concluded
that the expense Of improvements the
coming year would not exceed that Of the
past year. The property In general Is In
good condition.
IL
ton of officers, c. A. Boyden nominated
DR.. F. II. OConnor for president another
year, and he was elected, the secretary
casting a ballot for him by vote of al
present. F. L. Houghton of PutEey was
reelected first vice president, but c. j
ONeil of Walpole declined reelection
as second vice president, carrying out
his intention as written to DR.. O'Connoi
several days earlier. He said he pre-
ferred to give way to some person In
closer touch with the associations in
terest. Frederick II. Rabbit of Bellows
Falls was elected in Mr.. O'Neil's place
All the other officers were re- elected
the secretary being instructed In each
instance to cast ballot representing
the choice of those present. They are
Secretary, Oscar f. Benson; treasurer
Frederic c. Adams; general superintend-
ent, William A. Shumway; executive
committee, DIR. f. II. O'Connor chairman
teX-ofnclo), A. Is. Clapp w. A. Shum-
way, L. E. Holden and r. H. Briggs
auditors, G.. l.. Durham, II. B. Cham
berlain and III. p. Weilman.
At this point President OConnor said
that If anybody had any suggestion to
offer or criticism to make now was a
good time to get 1t out of his system
10. c. Crosby, not in any spirit of crit.
lcism, but purely for information asked
II the officers were convinced that
three- days fair was better than two
days fair. l.. e. Holden said two
days fair would be all right II fail
weather could be assured. W., l.. Walk
er stated that more horses for the races
could be secured for a three-days' fair
Secretary Benson said the expense O.
an extra day was about one fourth NOR,
than for two days, that If the secont
day was stormy there was a chance thai
the third day would make up for II ant
that the fair had grown so that Il
would be practically impossible to attent
to the necessary details In two days
without making the exhibition smaller
There is no additional charge for the
vaudeville as 1t has to be engaged fol
week. Mr. Walker proposed a vot,
OF thanks for Mr. O'Neil for his ser.
Vices and interest, which was given, ant
Secretary Benson urged all the commit.