The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1916-03-17
Discussing Purchase
OF Fair Grounds

L nave D0en reaulng WIN q GOOD
deal of interest the articles pro and
con on this subject as published in
The Idaho Republican. There has
been good deal written in regard
to profit and loss in the matter.
do not think any one expects the
fair to be a success financially, at
this time at least, but it must be
considered as. bread cast upon the
waters, the harvest to be reaped in
good farmers and citizens from the
east and elsewhere, who will spend
their money to buy our surplus
lands, which will cut down the size
of our farms and tend to better
farming.
This is a strictly agricultural
country. If we don't boost for agri-
culture what will we boost for? And
how can we do it better than to
support a good live fair, even tho
it does cost the county a few dollars
each year to maintain It? l have
noticed that usually those persons,
who make the hardest kick about
paying taxes to maintain some pub
lie spirited enterprise, are the ones
that have little or no taxes to pay.
The fair grounds, If bought at the
price quoted by The Republican, will
double in value as the years go by
and will always be a valuable asset
to the county.
If the fair association would con-
tinue to hold the fair in the future
as it has in the past I would say
let good enough alone. But they
will not and if the county does not
buy the grounds we will have no
place to hold our Fourth of July
celebrations or ball games. We are
so used to having the fair grounds
and using them for any public en-
terprise or gathering that may come
up that we do not realize how we
will miss them until we have to
do without. In few years we will
find that we cannot do without fair
grounds and the people Of Black
foot and vicinity will be asked to
contribute money to purchase
grounds, erect buildings and grade a
race track that we may hold a
county fair.
But where will we get so suitable
a place? And think what it will
cost for the necessary buildings,
fence and grading. The county is
offered the property for just about
what the land is worth, situated
as it is on Main street and almost
in town.
Some one has said in his article,
What a chance for graft" That
may be so, but the county has other
property and elect men to look after
it. If we elect dishonest men to
office they will not be any more dis
honest with the business OF the fair
than the other county business. And
it seems to me if we would all get
out on election day and vote for our
own interests and the honest candi-
date regardless of party we need
not elect grafters.
If, instead of paying out big money
for scenic stunts such as a1rshlps,
high dives, trapeze performers and
the like, which come very high, we
use the money to give decent pre-
miums, properly classified, to the
best agricultural exhibits, prizes for
the best pulling team, walking team
and many other things that might
be named, it would give the people
the idea that they are part OF the
fair and it is their fair.
If the county owns and operates
the fair the people will feel that they
have an interest in it and will be
more likely to patronize it and they
will be just as willing to donate
their services during the days of the
fair as they have ever been.
Some one has said, use the
money the fair would cost to employ
county agent" Well, for my part,
think we have agents enough to
bother the farmer and take up his
time. Two or three stop at my house
sometimes in one day. 1t is not a
question of spending the money, but
using it to benefit the most of our
people.
w. C. SOLLENBERGER.