The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-03-04
Sec. F. L. Davis Replies to
Certain Criticisms in
the Press
EMPLOYEES OF FAIR
ARE INCLUDED
Those Having Concessions
and Privilege Tickets
Are Also in List

Editor, Barre Times: My attention has
been called to the following editorial
which recently appeared in one of our
Vermont papers:
"The Vermont state fair certainly
takes first place in passing the dead
heads. You have a fairly good attend
ance before anyone pays admission when
7.400 free tickets get past the gates.'
The state fair commission and its off
GERS have given the question of free ad-
missions n great deal of careful thought
and consideration. Each year this ques-
ton comes up for attention at the meet
ings of the commission and its executive
committee, and an effort is made to still
better systemic the giving of free tick
cts. The officers are continually striving
to reduce the number of free admissions
and it now seems that we have got the
number down as low as is consistent
with good management. Anyone read
ing the editorial quoted above would get
the impression that over 1000 people
were passed through the gates, without
charge, and for the sole purpose of see
ing the fair, but such is not the case and
think that it would be well to show
the various classes of free admissions |
that the public may see that no more |
free tickets are issued than are neces-
sary. First it must be understood that |
at a fair of this size, it takes large |
number of people to run the fair, pass
the crowds safely through the gates, look
after the grounds and livestock. and con
tribute to the amusement and comfort
of the patrons.
The grand total of free admissions for
the 1915 fair was 1876 and was divided
into various classes as follows:
/. Two hundred and seventy employees
Of the fair. This class was composed of
ticket sellers and takers. policemen, de-
tectives, attraction people, workmen in
care OF the grounds, judges, boys to lead
stock in the parades. Norwich cadets,
band men. and the superintendent of the
various departments with their assist
ints and helpers.
2. Nine hundred and fifty concessions
md privilege tickets issued This is the
argest class Of free tickets issued and
ire given to the people who pay for space
IN the midway and in the halls. A free
ticket, allowing one admission daily. is
riven for each So paid for space or priv I
lcge. Anyone who has attended the fair ,
snows what large number of people
ire in the various shows on the midway.
he eating stands, and in the large res G
aurants in under the grandstands These s
'eople must be admitted free. q
3. Ninety-one exhibitors tickets is [
ued. Each exhibitor who pays an entry 5
ee of 50 or over is given one free ticket il
flowing one admission daily.
4. Two hundred and sixty-four help
RS tickets. These are the tickets that
re given to the helpers that care for the
vestock on the grounds. c
5. Fifty-four racemen. All the men 4
aving horses in the races are given
rec ticket and also their helpers who
are for the horses. Ct
8. Ninety press tickets. A compli h
lentary ticket is given to each of the :,
litors of the papers in Vermont which I
dmits himself and lady. About 90 tick q
Is went to the editors of papers outside o
Vermont. p
I. One hundred complimentary tick 6
Is. About 800 complimentary tickets 9
ere sent out, but it was estimated that
My 100 were used. These were sent to
,cretaries and presidents of all the fairs
Vermont, and to the secretaries of
,ch fair in the United States; to the
.tendants in the public service building
nder charge of the Y. NJ. C. A., and to
le few guests of the fair.
This makes total of 1910 free adj |
issions to the fair; only 100 of which |
ere strictly complimentary tickets. 1t |
assumed that these tickets were used
ich of the four days of the fair, so the
$40 multiplied by four gives the total I
1916
trust that the above explanation will
rect the wrong impression that will
, doubt be caused by the editorial and
ow the public that the Vermont state
ir is not issuing an unnecessary num- |
r of free admissions.
F. L. Davis,
Secretary Treasurer.
White River Junction, March 3, 1916.