Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1920-09-17
COUNTY FAIR REVIEW "
PROGRESS OF SOCIETY SINCE
START AND FUTURE
NEEDS

With the 1920 county fair just over
and the fair society ready to start pre-
parations for the 1921 fair, with view
of making it even bigger and better
than the last one, {; review Of the ac-
complishments of ;he society and its
future aims shoull rot NC anr'Ss.
The present fair society, the Morri-
son County Agricultural Cooperative
Society, was organizel in 1911, articles
of Incorporation being Sled on July 10,
1911. With scarcely no funds, shedding
was hard the first few years. For four
years, the fairs were he'd in buildings
down town, as the society had no prop
erty. THE fifth year, the society pur:-
part of the city and the city condemned
the streets and alleys intersecting them,
giving the society approximately IL
acres of land. Since that time, build
ings, a grand stand and high board
fence have been erected and the prop-
erty is now valued at $4,000, with an
indebtedness of but $4,000. The society
hopes to pay part of this indebted
ness this fall from the proceeds of the
1920 fair.
Since starting, the society has been
under practically the same mana cement
continuously, n. n. Bergheim, sccrc-
tary, and w. H. Ryan, treasurer, having
been with the organization in that ca
pacity since it's inception.
just few months before the local
organization was incorporated, Il sim
liar organization was incorporated at
Motley and it made application Tor tho
state aid to county fairs. The local So
ciety employed Mr.. Bergheim as its at
torney and a contest was instituted
with the result that the aid was grant
ed to the Little Falls fair. The Motley
association carried the case to the
courts, however, and secured a restrain
ing order. A hearing in district court
in st. Paul followed and Little Falls
lost out. The local society appealed to
the state supreme court but lost there
also, the court holding that the Motley
society was incorporated first. The
only avenue remaining in order to se-
cure aid was to get bill through the
legislature. This was done, a general
bill being passed. granting special aid
not to exceed $500 per year to GER
tain fair societies in the state, where
two societies existed. The society was
not recognized in the state agricultural
society and. it was necessary to get
another bill through the legislature for
this purpose.
The state is interested in county fairs
kho+ fnSr
interested in the development Of agri-
culture in the county and no attention
is paid to amusements nor aid given for
this. Some fairs have made the mistake
of going into amusements almost ex-
clusively and the result has been dis
astrous. 1t is necessary to have the
support Of the agricultural and indus
trial people, if a fair is to continue to
be successful. The fair society here
is continually adding to its property
and is growing. In a few years the fair
grounds property is going to be very
valuable and will he used for a great
many purposes.
In order to be successful, however,
more buildings are needed for the fair.
Next year, the society will work up a
greater interest among the farmers and
during the winter months, an effort will
be made to get the farmers clubs in
terested and get them to promise to put
on exhibits next year. The clubs will
also be asked to get together. and fin
ance the erection of a farmers club
exhibit building at the fair grounds.
Other buildings needed are an office or
administration building, a live stock
pavilion and a dancing pavilion.
It is believed that a dancing pavilion
will pay and it is felt that one is need
ed as Little Falls has none and the
young people 60 to other towns to
take in dances on this account.
The fair grounds have good lighting
facilities and is located but two blocks
from sewer and water connections.
When the rest of the land is enclosed,
the fair grounds will afford parking
space for a thousand cars.
A special meeting Of the directors
will be held in the near future to dis
cuss the needed improvements at the
fair grounds.
DIR. SERVICE GOING TO CALI
FORNIA
Dr. r. B. Service has tender0d his