Smyrna times., 1923-10-24
STATE FAIR AssO. TO DIsBAND
Failure of Wilmington Patronage and
Yearly Deficits Cause Decision

Yearly Deficits Cause Decision
At a meeting of the Board of Di-
rectOrs of the Delaware State Fair
Friday afternoon in Wilmington, res
olutiOns were adopted calling for dis
bandment and sale of all property be-
longing to that organization, due to
the fact that the public at large has
failed to support the Fair. Attend
ance falling far short of the necessary
number to pay current expenses, Gre
ating a large annual deficit, which
have to be made up by donations from
public-spirited citizens, and the fact
that the State Legislature has recent
ly materially reduced the appropria-
tiOn allotted the organization for pre-
miums.
1t was further resolved that the
resolution be submitted to the next
meeting of the stockholders of the
Delaware State Fair Association for
their ratification or rejection.
For twenty-five consecutive years
the Delaware State Fair Association
has represented the State of Delaware
with an elaborate exhibit of her many
and varied industries. The organiza-
tiOn has earnestly endeavored during
those 25 years to uplift, build and ad-
vertise Delaware as a state among
states, to give to the people of Viii
mington and Delaware a full fve-day
fair program that ranked proportion
ately with the state fairs of Pennsyl-
vania and New Jersey.
Deficit About $4,000
1t is said the financial standing of
the organization shows a deficit rang
ing between $4,000 and $4,000 and
these figures combined with the
knowledge that this years efforts by
the officials of the State Fair to draw
a large attendance were far greater
than those of any previous year, an
expenditure of about $4,000 being
made on the outdoor program alone,
and the fact that in the face of great
er advertising, the attendance fell off
alarmingly although due somewhat to
bad weather caused the board of di-
rectors to think it unjust to ask a
small group of men to donate annual
ly further moneys for the purpose OF
meeting the deficit.
The value Of the grounds is esti-
mated as high as $250,000. The
grounds are situated at Elsmere, Del
aware, just outside of Wilmington.
Resolutions Adopted ?
The resolutions adopted are as fol
lows:
Whereas, The Delaware State Fai
, has for many years been carried OF
as an institution for public benefit by
the present directors and their pre-
decessors in Office, and
Whereas, certain public-spirited cit
liens have purchased stock in the as
! sociation in large sums, and othe
public-spirited citizens have donate,
; and loaned to the association othe
= large sums, and
Whereas, the Legislature of tn
I State has contributed to the expense
I of the association for premiums Ger
tain sums of money which have latel
been reduced, and
= Whereas, the public at large hav
u not shown sufficient interest in tn
> Delaware State Fair by attending tn
u same and paying admissions there
fore in such numbers as enables tn
3 State Fair to pay its current eXpens
= es, and because thereof an annual de
% ficit has occurred which annual defici
is likely to continue in the future, an
Whereas, this Board Of Director
f do not think that it is just or prope
to ask a small group of men to dc
n, nate annually further moneys for tn
IS purpose of meeting such deficit.
Now, therefore, be it resolved, ths
q in the opinion Of this board the effort
s. of the said Fair should be terminate,
+ it's property sold, its debts paid an
E the association dissolved, and the E9
ie ecutive Committee is hereby authol
IN lied and directed to formulate plar
le to carry the same into effect, an
Oh further resolved to that this resOll
n ton be submitted to the next meetin
s. of the stockholders, for their ratii
= cation or rejection.
as James s. Goodwin. Civil War vete