The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-09-13
What Do You Want the Wessertinsett
Valley Fair to Bet

Much criticism has been offered in
the past week or two in regard 10
the management of the Wesserunsett
Valley Fair, more particularly as the
result of increasing the price OF ad-
mission from % to soc.
II may be we'll at this time to ex-
plain to the public why this seemed
advisable and why it was done.
In the first place one of the big
eest things of an organization of this
kind is to make sure of the financial
end of the proposition. The second
to place before the public an educa-
tional. practical and useful exhibit
ton of agricultural products and ac-
tivities and to provide clean, whole
some and interesting amusements for
the people who attend the fair.
Now in order to draw the agricul-
tural products 1t is necessary to pay
premiums or gratuities this year we
are offering approximately $l200.
Next we have printing expenses, the
premium ribbons, our large items, and
the expenses. This year for amuse-
ments, for which many look, for the
fair a band has been engaged Tor
which practically a hundred dollars
will have to be paid. As an added
attraction an exhibition of daylight
fireworks will be put on for which
S75 or 500 will have to be paid.
Now some of you say there are no
improvements. This year well has
been dug to furnish the water to the
people and to the/stock. The band
stand is being raised and painted.
An office is being erected as are toll
cts for men and women.
Also quite a large force of men
must be employed before and after
the fair to prepare and clean up the
grounds. Men must be employed to
carry on the business of the fair the
day of the exhibition.
These expenses together with the
many other expenses which must be
paid II we keep the fair up, makes 1T
impossible to keep 1t on a twenty-five
cent basis. It may be interesting to
know that the net receipts last year
were less than fifty dollars. All this
money with few exceptions Is be-
inp turned back into the Wesserur1-
sett Valley.
The Wesserunsett Valley Fair As
sociation js not stock company any
one that wishes may become a MEM
her and as a matter OF fact We wish
that more people might be interested
enough to become members. No d.
videfids are paid And the members
draw no money only for work or ser
vices performed.
The matter as It stands at present
means that we must either receive
more capital or else cut down our
fair, paying less premiums. have less
amusements and no improvements.
This would mean still keeping the fair
on twenty-five cent basis. We want
to make the fair a bigger and better
success, make the needed improve
ments and carry the work on to a
bigger and better extent and we must
have the extra money.
want to know what the people OF
Wesserunsett Valley want. DO you
want to attend small fair at Athens
or had you rather pay little more,
get larger premiums for your exhibits,
have larger display of livestock, a |
bigger and better display of agricul-
tural products and hall exhibits. some
good, clean amusements, better i'm
proyements, and place the fair at |
Athens as the best one-day fair In
the State of Maine. From those of
Won who think that fifty cents is too
much to pay where children under
twelve are admitted free, I would like
to hear your view point Of the prop
osition and how we are to make our
fair successful and pay our expenses.
Very truly yours.
HOWARD e. CHAPMAN,
Secretary.