The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-02-10
Novel Disposition
Of F air Grounds
Editor Blackfoot Optimist.


the people, "What disposition shall be
made Of the Blackfoot Fair Grounds9,,
The directors have made the county
proposition to buy the grounds and
operate the same as a county fair UNI
der the supervision of the county gov
eminent. This is seemingly happy
solution of the problem at first glance.
But given the sober second thought, the
taxpayer is wise who votes "no' to
this proposition. The adding of more
duties and burdens upon oe county
officers will only impair their efficiency
in the handling of the peoples bust.
ness. Either the county business will
be neglected or that of the fair. You
cannot acquire efficiency in the dis
charge of public duties by adding to it
other duties that require special train.
ing along SO many different lines. A
fair to be success must have an estab-
lished policy, an ideal that leads on
ward and upward by regular steps, one
by one, just as you would a ladder,
round by round, upward to perfection.
The old maximum that what is every.
, body's business is nobody's business
is true maximum in other affairs.
Why not in thisa Constant changes in
administration, of politics and policy,
with all its attending chickering's and
strife will lead to confusion and failure.
If you wish the fair to be a success
make it SO by keeping it out of politics.
BY giving to the fair an aim and an
object worthy of the effort, you have
travelled far on the way to success. In
my estimation county supervision of
the fair should never be considered.
There is another solution of this prob
lem, and it is this: Since the business
men of Blackfoot have placed their
hand to the plough and built up fair
they owe themselves duty they are
overlooking and it is this: When a
man places his hand to the plough and
starts to mark out a furrow he owes
it to himself to plough it out to the
end and not admit defeat, and quit
when he strikes rocky ground. Rocks
and obstacles are placed in men 8 ways
to make stronger, better, more com
petent men in order that they may
overcome greater obstacles farther on
In admitting defeat they advertise to
the world the fact that they are failing,
not only in the management of the
fair but in their own private business.
They also admit that their town is a
failure, and the country tributary to
it as well. The directors say, 1--WE have
piped, but the farmers haven't danced,
therefore we're going to quit l
would like to amend this statement by
adding another. The farmers haven't
danced because there was no music in
the pipes. This is another story !
would like to take up in another article
setting forth some of the reasons why
the farmers haven t supported the fair
more than they have, also the business
houses. There is always reason fos
mems acts if you will but look for it.
There is another solution of the fair
ground problem. 1t seems to me the
more logical one. 1t is this: The
stockholders of the fair to dedicate
the grounds as a permanent memorial
to the pioneers and builders of Bing-
ham county. The ground to become
public heritage, willed to posterity, to
be used by the city, the public schools
and citizens of Bingham county as a
public park. A municipal center for
public buildings, for public gatherings,
for pleasure and instruction, for pub
lie and city park. The city, county and
public schools of Bingham county each
to assume an equal part of the indebted
ness, or such part as the stockholders
feel just in remuneration for the
grounds. The county needs such
center to accommodate its public gath
erings; the city will need it in the
future as city park and pleasure
ground and the school system needs it
to carry on its work to its highest
efficiency. The time is not far distant
when the present obsolete system of
school management in small individual
units will pass away and more cent
rallied one will take it's place; a sys.
tenn wherein all the districts will be
incorporated into one county district,
with board of three trustees, each
holding six-year term of office, one
director being elected every record
year. This board, in conjunction with
the county school superintendent, will
manage your schools. The school will
be graded SO that all the scholars of
the county will receive their finishing
terms at great central school, located