The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-15
Now 1t Asks Kansas for
100000 Investment.
REMEMBER BIG ATTENDANCE!
Well, Hutchinson Shows Entire
Receipts of Only $4,000.
What About Coming Losses to
Show in the Southwest

ton, 1t has lost $17.110.S2, according to
the biennial report of the board Of state
fair managers. filed today with Gov
ernor Hodges. In the face of this loss.
the Hutchinson fair management is
sending a lobby to the legislature to
urge the appropriation of $107. 900 for
new buildings and maintenance ana
Will base their arguments on the theory
that 1t is good investment.
The biennial report which comes from
the Hutchinson fair Is one Of the most
puzzling documents filed by any state
institution. Not only does the report
OF the fair managers show that the in
stitution has been losing money at the
rate of 1856 year on their own state
ment. but 1t shows that even with the
ST 900 deficit which the Hutchinson
Commercial club met. that the fair as
sociation is still in a most unhealthy
financial condition. The kindest thing
that can he said about the Hutchinson
fair is that it hasn't a dollar in the
world. The deficits formerly met by the
local Commercial club. are now to be
shouldered on the state, under the items
included In the fair associations budget.
All during the fair meets Of 1913
and 1914, Hutchinson was busy send
Ing out reports concerning the tre-
mendous attendance at her big show.
Some days-see the booster reports
from the fair-the attendance at the
AdAA was us A1Sh dS 0V,OUV. On SDSe
cial days $4,000 people visited the
Hutchinson show-sO the reports said.
How About Those Big Admissions?
But here is the cold blooded truth
about the fair. as told in the biennial
report OF the fair managers. In 1913
the total admissions collected were
$1S,7S9. The admission fee for adults
Is fifty cents. Based on attendance
of adults. the average attendance for
n Av$ka Anwr
I 1.Slb. Children were admitted TO the
grounds for IS cents. Tffegfoss re-
cefpts for 1913 would permit 1891
chtldFen's tickets for Each day ut the
fair. Or, making the admissions one
half adults, one-half children, would
make an average daily attendance OF
11.723. That is quite a bit short of
$4,000 daily attendance, or even So
900 daily attendance. In fact, on this
basis, the attendance for the entire
five days would be but 58,616.
| In 1914. the fair association collected
total admissions in the amount of $29,-
784.30. *@aH
Still, the fair lost money during both
years.
In 1913. the Hutchinson Commercial
CLUB agreed to provide deficit of $780,
600 to meet any losses in 1913 and 1914
That deficit was provided that the
Hutchinson institution might make a
showing" 1t made a showing. But
after the fair the Commercial club met
and dug up $12. 81 to cover a deficit.
In addition to this amount. the fair as
sOciation had collected in insurance
@ from burned buildings total of 81
6OS.41, which was used to help out the
record Of the years assets.
The fair last fall also lost money.
The Commercial club was compelled
to raise $4,442.11 to meet the deficit
In addition to this deficit the associa-
| ffnn had received O6nnQffnnass tot 70 l.
ling 500. This money is also spent.
But the report leaves doubt as to
whether the report really covers all
expense items. For instance. there
was the secretary's salary. In 1913,
the secretary was paid $1.O4O.9O. This
| year the secretary drew $239559 for
his services. Whether there still re-
mains a deficit in the secretary's sal
ary Is not explained in the report.
Worked State Labor.
That isn't all. Because the leEisla-
| ture had conferred upon Hutchinson
the official title as state fair. the
Hutchinson management induced the
penal board to permit the working of
convict labor from the state reforma-
tory on the fair grounds and buildings.
No items OF expense for such labor is
included in the expense report. But
even with labor for upkeep Of grounds
and buildings. donated by the state.
the fair association lost more than
$4,000.
| Whether the agreement with the
Hutchinson Commercial club calls for
a return Of the 81, 900 as soon as state
aid is secured. is not mentioned in the
boards report. Neither is reference
made as to whether the Hutchinson or
| ganization will continue to finance the
fair in event the state fails to provide
| the desired aid.
Under the budget submitted by the
Hutchinson fair. the state is asked to
set aside $107 600 for the management
and upbuilding Of the fair during the
next two years. OF this amount $780,
900 is to be used for maintenance" /"
Funds under this heading may be used
to meet any deficit through misman-
agement of the fair, or through a
shrinkaxe of receipts in event the fair
continues to slump in box office re-
ceipts.
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