Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1923-04-27
Letter From Secretary Muncaster.

1
sented to the board of directors.
While the Board thanks you and your
association to the fullest extent for your
interest in the Fair, it is matter of fact
that all contracts for amusements for the
coming Fair, covering an amount of sew
eral thousand dollars, have already been
made.
For your information it may be said that
three years experience with a travelling
carnival has convinced the board that
amusements of the character desired by it
can not be secured in that way. 1t prom
ises one thing and brings another. and it
is unsatisfactory in other ways.
This year a contract has been made
with reputable firm who had charge of
the amusements at several of the army
camps during the world war and has wide
experience in the show business. He agrees
to put on the grounds for the Fair good,
clean shows. He will also have the usual
merry-go-round and other novel rides, 1t
has been found that country people who
do not have facilities of getting to the city
to see such moral shows as "Gettin' Ger
ties Garter, 1.-The Demi Virgin" or movies
like Adam and Eve" do like to have some
kind of show at the Fair. and while some
of those on the grounds have not been
what the producers promised to bring,
it is certain that those Of this year will
meet the approval of most thinking people.
1t has been certain in the past, always the
better and cleaner the shows on our grounds
the more is taken in at the doors.
The matter of games on the grounds has
received careful consideration. and it has
been decided to follow the laws of the
State of Virginia in placing them. A good
many of the Virginia Fairs have attempted
to make success without any games, but
they have all been compelled to put on
some of some lind. Under the laws of
that State any article of merchandise can
be disposed of by selling shares of the
total price to a number of buyers. the
whole amount totaline fair price for the
article. The owner is determined by lot.
Some eight or ten stands of this kind were
licensed by the school authorities at the
school field day last May. and limited
number will be put on the grounds this
year.
There has been secured for this year
the encampment on the grounds of
platoon of U. S. Cavalry from Fort Myer.
They will give an exhibition drill every
day. and the trick riding and feats of
Workmanship that will interest every one.
In addition, large sum will be paid for
an Auto Polo team. These men will play
the game of polo from automobiles and is
something every one goes wild over Any
suggestion for amusements that will not
cost money will be received and consid-
cred, but as things have become so COM
mercialized that the boys will not play
baseball except for pay there is little like
lihood of having anything else.
The Country Gentleman is first and FORE
most. newsstand paper for the city man
who thinks he loves the country, and sell
dom ever prints anything that is not
boosted by it. but if a practical farmer
undertook to carry out the ideas set forth
in its articles the sheriff would soon have
him. In line with this, it may be noted
that in its accounts of successful new-way
Fairs no financial statement or any ref
erence as to where the money to run the
Fair comes from is ever given. AS
matter of fact most Of the Western States
give either State or county appropriation
to the county fairs, which practically pays
the full premium list, and all other re-
ceipts can be put on the amusement fea-
lures This is levied in various ways, but
all of the Fairs have it. Maryland gives
county fair only $780, Practically the
whole amount is returned to the State and
county as taxes.
When the new track and buildings put
up some years ago were finished the So
ciety owed about SIS 900. OF this amount
some $4,000 were paid off in three years
in addition to an increase in premiums and
race purses. At that time bookmaking
was allowed under license by the court.
and while the revenue from the books
amounted to only about $3.50, the gate
receipts ran up to 10000. At the end
of that time some of the people of the
county objected. and the Society discon-
tinued bookmaking at the Fair. Since
then the gates have paid along about
$4,000 until the present board put on the
midway and moved it to its present loca-
ton. The gates the first year paid SO, 265.
second $l2. 200. third year $4,000. show
ing that people want what they are getting.
At Tlmoniam. the only Fair in the State
in a position to offer educational features,
last year there was building fitted up as
free moving picture exhibit. and the
pictures shown were good. all educational.
1t took two or three men with constant
boosting to get any spectators into the
show and none Of them seemed to remain
over five minutes or so. Our Home Dem
onstration Agent was in charge of team
of girls doing demonstration work at
Timonium. and she complained that no
one seemed to stop to see the girls show
what they could do. Both these features
cost the Fair In money and some ones
time. but they did not attract.
The giving of ribbon prizes without
money has been tried in the small COM
munity fairs. and it seems to be the ex-
perience Of all that there will be a small
exhibit If no money is given. Rockville
last year paid more money in premiums
than Frederick, and in order to keep this up
we must give people who come to the Fair
what they want. or they will not pay to
come.
In conclusion, it may be said that if