Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-09-12
PROTEST FAIR PRICE
Petition Being Circulated Protesting
Against Increase Of Admission to
County Fair-Why Price Was
Raised.

A petition protesting against the in
creace of the general admission from
80 to 80 cents to fair grounds that is
being circulated by \. A. Evans is to
| be presented to the committee of the
fair association. 1t is probable that
! the committee will not lower the adj
mission price. The discussion regard
| ing the increase has called up again
the reasons why the admission was
raised by the executive committee last
winter.
The first and most important was
that the association needed more
money to finance the fair and continue
making needed Improvements. An
other and less important reason was
that practically ali of the larger, and
even many of the smaller county fairs
Of the state, charge so cents at the
gate.
All the proceeds of the fairs, over the
the cost of maintaining them, has been
put into buildings and improvements
on the grounds. Every building on the
grounds, exclusive of part of the
amphtheater and some Of the old live
stock sheds. has been built by proceeds
from the fair and by sale of fair stock
when il was organized twelve years
ago,
The"e is no profit taking out of the
fair and there probably never will be.
Outside of the salary paid the secre-
tary. and for help hired to run the
fair each year none of the officers, or
superintendent gets any salary. Men
like G. +. Stansberry, Of Gilman. have
given their time without pay for years
to help make the fair a success.
Since its organization the fair as
ISOLATION has pa id $4,000 for buildings
erected and for roads and other i'm
pr0vements. During practically all Of
that time il has been in debt for per-
manent improvements. AS fast as i'm
provements were made and paid for
others found necessary We're added.
All these improvements have been
needed because Of the growth Of the
fair. With the opening Of this fair the
association was in debt $1,000 for i'm
provements made two years ago, s9oo
for improvements made this year, be-
side the incidental expense OF getting
the fair ready.
Directors to the increase of admiS-
sions forget the increases in premiums
the association has made, and that an
effort has been made TO make the fair
larger and better each year, which has
cost more from year 10 year for
premiums. amusements, entertain
ments and races.
When analyzed the increase in ad-
mission for people with families is not
as much as it seems. While il is true
the admission for adults has been in
creased. the admission for children has
been lowered by increasing the age
limit.
The old admission was 81 cents for
all persons over - years Of age and %
cents for children from to T.. Those
under were admitted free.
The admission now is. 30 cents FOR
persons over Il years Of age. and %
cents for children from 10 TO IA. Chill
dren under 10 years Of age are ad-
mitted free The man with family Of
children under Il years Of age can see
the fair for at least no more and prob
ably less than formerly, because the
half rate admission now applies TO
children up to Il years old while those
under 10 are admitted free.