give them and their help the free passage of the gates at all times. That this privilege is abused there is no doubt. Other fairs call upon them every evening and supply the tickets necessary for the next day. This is also abused. Now, the Ohio State Fair has adopted a system for such persons, that I would recommend to every fair in the State. I believe it is perfect and I know that it works satisfactorily to both purchasers and the Board. It avoids the great annoyance occasioned by other systems, and it cannot be abused. It is this, to every purchaser, we allow ten per cent. of the purchase money in single admission tickets, for him to use as he pleases. If that be not enough he must pay at the gates when the supply is exhausted. If it be too many, he can dispose of the surplus as he chooses. The beauty of this arrangement is, that as soon as contracts are closed and the money paid, there is no further bother, and the tickets not being issued until payment is made, it occasions promptness in this direction, which is an important item to our fairs. One gentleman says that at his fair they issue gate checks, that is, a person buying a ticket and coming through the gate, can, if he wishes, procure a gate check, go out and return again on this check. I should consider this a very faulty system, and one that is liable to cost any fair adopting it, a good many dollars. The general admission system of our fairs is susceptible of improvements, and I hope we shall continue to improve until every objection shall be overcome and the system be simplified, perfected and made safe. MR. MURPHY.-With your permission, I will say a few words on the subject of complimentary tickets. We do issue a few. We give to each member of the board a certain number. A MEMBER.-How many? MR. MURPHY.-About 10 or 12, but they are generally used by men outside of the county. They are given to influential men outside of the county. I believe that it will pay to do so. Gentlemen will come who have never been to our fair, and are so well pleased that they will go away and tell their neighbors; and the next year, we will reap the reward. Excepting in that wicked Democratic county, we give to all the ministers of the gospel a complimentary ticket; and also to the newspaper men. MR. HANCOCK.-I would like to relate my experience. I think I have pretty thoroughly studied this matter and seen it pretty well tried. We used to have the plan named by this gentleman, of giving family tickets, admitting a man and his family, his wife and children under 21 years of age. But it was astonishing how large the families were. Wagon loads would come up, with blondes and brunettes, red-headed and black headed, and all belonging to the same family, and so nearly of the same size that there must have been a half dozen pairs of twins in the family. So when we came to pay premiums we had no money. Families had come in with a wagon load for a dollar. We found that plan wouldn't work. We were being imposed upon. And I expect we are as honest as anywhere. The next plan we adopted was selling five tickets for a dollar. We thought we had about struck the right plan. But when we came to sell tickets at the fairs, we had a lot of scalpers around who would buy their tickets inside at five for a dollar, and sell them on the outside for 25 cents apiece. An energetic man could in this way make ten or fifteen dollars in a day. This plan wouldn't do. All, except children, when they come in now pay their 25 cents in good hard cash. Ladies too. If they go out and come back, it is another 25 cents. Our fair grounds are situated nearly a mile from the town. A MEMBER.-Are exhibiters treated in the same way? MR. HANCOCK -Yes sir. Exhibiters are charged one dollar. That makes them a member of the society; and for that they get their tickets, just as many as anybody else. That entitles them to a vote and that is their only privilege. If the exhibiter wants to leave the grounds, he pays his money. It looks like a hardship for the man who brings his stock to pay as the others do. If a man brought stock and had helpers, it would be a hardship for them to expend money for that. We adopted this rule. The superintendent of the agricultural department, after the exhibiters are all on the ground, makes an inspection and determines how many men each man is entitled to for that amount of stock. They then say to. the exhibiter, "You are entitled to one, two, or three men. But you pay for these men every day, when they come in. When the fair is over, we will make you a rebate, so that there may be no passes used in running back and forth." The exhibiter and his helpers pay as any person else; but on the recommendation of the superintendent of that department, we rebate the entrance fee. That is satisfactory to the board, but not so satisfactory to the exhibiters. But it seems to me that that comes the nearest of anything to being justice. So far as those who take leases on the grounds are concerned, we advertise the privileges in this way: We advertise a certain number of privileges for sale, which we sell for a year, or five years perhaps. We say this includes a free admission. But he makes his bid on the ground that he pays for all his help that goes in. The complimentaries are under the control of the secretary; but he is only authorized to give complimentaries to the judges on stock and to the members of boards in adjoining counties, or in the State. We do not admit the ministers. Convention adjourned to 7 o'clock p. m. EVENING SESSION. The Convention was called to order by the Chair, at 7:40 o'clock. There being no unfinished business, the Chair announced that the election of five members to the Board was in order. A MEMBER I move we proceed to the election immediately. MR. MURPHY.-I offered this forenoon the name of Senator Sullivan as a candidate for member of the Board. Just after we adjourned this afternoon he told me if he was not present to withdraw his name, to do so for him. So his name is not before you, gentlemen, in the list of nominations. If there are no statutes prohibiting it, I would move, that as there are but five candidates, they be elected by acclamation. A MEMBER. I move that Mr. Murphy be authorized to cast the vote of the Convention for the five names. A MEMBER.-If I recollect right, that same maneuver was tried last year, and determined to be illegal. Why try it again? A MEMBER.-There were more candidates last year. A MEMBER.-Universal custom will uphold this, if by unanimous consent. If any member objects, we cannot do so. But the custom has been very thoroughly established that this procedure is legal, where it is provided it must be by ballot or unanimous consent. Objection being made, the Convention proceeded to ballot for the five candidates. A MEMBER.-If it is in order, I would like to make an inquiry concerning the casting of a vote by a citizen of Washington county, who is present, and authorized by the President of that Society, to cast that vote. is entitled to vote. BY THE CHAIR.—I think he is. He asks if he THE SECRETARY.-There is a regular proxy of Judge Cutter. There is a letter authorizing him to cast the vote. The following members were elected for a term of two years: L. B. Harris, Wyandot county; J. H. Brigham, Fulton county; Jno. Pow, Columbiana county; T. P. Shields, Union county; S. H. Hurst, Ross county. On motion of Mr. Foster, the Convention adjourned. On motion of Mr. Bonham, a vote of thanks was tendered to the Senate for the use of their chamber and also to the Sergeant at-arms. THIRTY-SIXTH OHIO STATE FAIR, HELD AT COLUMBUS, AUGUST 31st, AND SEPTEMBER 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, 1885. The Thirty Sixth Annual Ohio State Fair, in point of interest and attraction, was equal to any of the fairs that have been held under the auspices of the State Board; in fact in many of the departments the displays were superior, and the number of new articles and inventions quite noticeable. In the departments of live stock every class was represented, and by none but the very best animals. In the departments of mechanics, domestic manufactures, farm products, fruits, flowers, and fine arts, all the available exhibition space was occupied, and each of these departments presented a fine show, that was attractive and instructive. The department of agricultural machinery was a grand show in itself. Never before was there such a large variety of agricultural machinery and implements shown in one collection. The numerous private exhibition buildings, erected by prominent manufacturers, were filled with machinery that was kept constantly in operation, and exhibited and explained to thousands of interested farmers. Visitors were well pleased with the show in general, the only complaint being that the time was too short for a thorough examination of the numerous meritorious exhibits, During the fair the several departments were in charge of members and officers of the Board, as follows: .General Headquarters. C. D. BAILEY, President, Gallipolis.. W. I. CHAMBERLAIN, Secretary, Columbus... WM. S. FOSTER, Ürbana... JOHN Pow, Salem... .Executive. .Executive. .Horses. ..Cattle. .Sheep and Farm Products. L. N. BONHAM, Oxford .... S. H. HURST, Chillicothe ... Swine. . Horticulture and Fine Arts. Machinery, Implements and Poultry. ..Manufacturers' Products. H. TALCOTT, Jefferson..Textile Fabrics and Domestic Manufactures. It is expected that the Fair of 1886 will be held upon the new grounds, purchased by the State Board of Agriculture, and now being elegantly fitted up with spacious and commodious exhibition buildings, show rings, grand stand and speed ring, at a total cost by next September of over $150,000. |