The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-09-29
FAIR SECRETARY
MAKES REPORT OF
FINANCIAL RESULT
Small Deficit Shown in
Comparison With
Other Big
Fairs
WELL ADVERTISED
4 4
WELL ADVERTISED
Large Percentage o1
Premiums Goes to
Local People

| AOS1A OOk1AO
On Wednesday there was a meet
ing of the county commissioners
part of the board of directors of thu
fair and some of those who helped
with the work of the fair, and thu
secretary made a report of the
financial results of the fair. The re-
port is published elsewhere in this
edition and shows that our fair came
out better financially than most fairs
do, and better than it has usually
done in past years. ...
Fairs are usually conducted in
such way that they pay or just
about pay what is called the operat-
ing expense, and the cost of the
premiums has to be covered by ap-
preparation Of public money or by
donations by individuals and firms
willing to do that. In our case the
fair paid its operating expenses and
substantial block on the premiums.
The receipts for the last fair were
about $4,000 more than last year and
the expenses were greater in some
respects. Va
The attendance the first day was
more than usual, and on the second
and third days there was q pack, but
the second day was children's day
when thousands of youngsters were
admitted free. Thursday turned a
good stream of money into the treas
ury, and Friday was small in attend
ance. Then there was a rather liberal
allowance of free admissions this
year for exhibitors. and concession
SITS, who came in greater numbers
than eyer before, and there were
many other workers who were ad-
mitted free, and these combined to
make quite an army that did not
turn money into the treasury. A
more rigid handling of these matters
would probably have kept some of
the workers and exhibitors out and
the fair would have lost their help
and suffered accordingly.
There are always wise-acres at the
fair who start reports among the
crowd as to how much the fair is TAX
ing in that day in admissions. Last
Thursday there was a report current
on the grounds that the days re-
ceipts were $4,000 and that is
more than the fair had ever taken
in during the whole week. There
was no foundation in the report, and
when it is known that no count is
made while people are entering the
grounds and grandstands, and that
the money is not counted till even
ing, and that even the officers of the
fair hardly ever know until the fol-
LOVING day just what the receipts of
the previous day were, people will
know that anyone passing out reports
on the days receipts is circulating
pure bunk which they have made up
or been loaded with.
When anybody at the fair tells
people that the days receipts is
$4,000 or any other sum, unless 1t
is offered as guess, it is sufficient
to condemn the person doing the
No fair ever pays its ex-
penses and the premium lists unless
it is just streak of luck, and that
happen two or three times
in succession, for there are always
mistakes and losses and foul weather
or hard times or bad crops to break
into the program and cut down the
receipts. This year the crops were
good, the weather was fair, many
people worked faithfully, there wassa
big, full program Of sports and
treats that cost money, but it was
given in the midst of very hard |
times Poeatello, which usually pat
ronizes our fair literally, is full of |
people who are out of employment |
and they simply could not attend our
fair, so we made a loss there from |
what might otherwise have been ex-
Dected, and which on first analysis |
was expected.
There were several things that |
,ook goodly blocks Of money this
year and which yielded much salts
action. The derby races, the long
ist of wild west features, the melon
Dust, the fireworks, the balloon as
;ension, the airplane flights, the two
)ands and the parades by the
indians. Then there was the rain
insurance and the boxing match that
ook money and proved to be mis-
aiken Investments. There was the
ong list of premiums for products
hat have generally not been re-
ponded to for more than 80 or 40
,er cent of the list that was filled
learly 100 per cent and swells the
'ost Of premiums to be paid. A fine
eature of the whole affair is that
learly all the purses and premiums
we're won by people living within the
county, and when the county puts
lp the money to pay them it merely
'irculates the money among the
lome people leaving 1t in the hands
Il those who worked and made the
air what it was.
The Montana state fair was put
n under difficulties and they lacked
$4,000 Of breaking even. counting
RN u