The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1857-11-14

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COUNCIL BLUFFS.
-: NOVEMBER Ia, 1857. ]
where shall the next state Fair b Helds
The Secretary Of the State Agricultural
Society, for the purpose Of determining the
point at which the next annual exhibition
should be held, has issued circular, stating
That the sscitizens Of any place asking for /.
the Fair must say definitely what they will
do towards providing grounds and fixtures |
for the accommodation Of the Society on
that OCCASION" and expressing "hope
that grounds may be pursued and fitted up
witAsst any cost to the Society" This is
all fair enough, rs far as it goes. and in ac-
cordance with the plans furnished by other
States. The daily Bugle, of the 18th, in
commenting upon this matter, takes excep-
tions to this arrangement, on the ground
that it is sectional affair, and that the
Fairs heretofore, instead of being held for
the "purpose Of encouraging the different
departments Of enterprise within our State"
have been held for the sole ssbeneit OF the
city where they were held" There is doubt
less some truth in this view of the subject,
but we think our contemporary is slightly in
error, when he says that the next State Fair
is to be held in the city that will give the
most towards preparing the grounds. Such
may be the facts in the case, but the circular
in question does not allow of such an infer.
ence. The circular gives general outline
of what will be needed and says, that sit is
hoped that there may be sufficient interest
felt in several counties in different portions
of the State, to come before the Board with
proposition signed by men Of known en-
terprise and ability, to furnish everything
requisite. In which case the only question
uhieh could enter into the firing Of the
point, would be the public interest" There
is nothing in this which savors of an inten-
ton to hold the next State Fair on the Mis-
sissippi.
But, allowing this all to be as represented,
we see no necessity of pursuing this course.
We can sec no good to be derived from this
plan of holding our State Fairs, at different
points in the State-chungins annually
There is no good substantial reason, why /"
Society organized for such purposes, should
be made sort Of travelling n,enagerie, hold
ing its exhibitions where the greatest in
ducemcnts arc held out. Such Societies
arc organised, ostcnsibly ut least, for the
purpose Of making known among farmers,
such a system for the cultivation of land,
as experiments and enlarged experience have
shown to be the most profitable; and to
bring together the results Of efforts to pro-
duce the most desirable breeds of horses,
cattle, sheep and swine that they may be
seen where they can be compared with the
greatest advantage. This being the object,
there ought to be sufficient interest felt and
manifested, to place such Societies upon
practical and permanent basis. To secure
this, We maintain, with our ncighbor of the
Buqle, that the place for holding such e1-
hibitions should be fixed and permanent,
Mt some point near the central part OF the
State. No spirit of accommodation Is
cyinscd, by holding our State Fairs on the
extreme eastern borders Of the State. We
do not wish to have them held on the Mis-
souri, River, nor yet on the line Of Missouri
on the South, nor that OF Minnesota on the
North. A medium between the extremes
should be arrived at if possible. We not
only consider it possible, but extremely
practical. Our neighbor suggests that
Des MONIES be selected as the nearest cen
trail point; and that the 'sdirectors purchase
or rent for long term Of years, at least
FORTY acres of land near Des Moines City,
for the purpose of fair grounds, and fix the
annual meetings of the Far at that point."
We concur heartily in the suggestion, and
hope it will be acted upon. 1t may be urged
that the Society has not the means, to make
such an outlay, but this has no real signif-
canoe. If that point should be fixed upon,
and that determination fully understood,
and tho advantages to be derived from such
m arrangement comprehensively set forth,
there would be funds enough Forthcoming
from those interested in the prosperity and
usefulness of the Society, to carry out to
the letter the innovation contemplated. We
should like to see the experiment tried, for
VIC, of the western portion of Iowa, are in
tered in some degree in this matter. We
are not disposed to grumble, OF find fault,
with our Eastern neighbors, for slight and
transient causes, but when they pursue for
aseries of years, course, at once detrimen-
tai to the cause they should seek to promote
BY every means at their command, they will
pardon Us, for suggesting ''change in the
programme"
Our neighbor of the Bugle, is disposed tc
be censorious, in referring to the proceedings
ut our State Fairs. He says that, as now
conducted, "they arc convenient fixups.
where the black-kid glove gentry of the
cities, exhibit the speed Of their imported
Bobtaiis, at the expense of the farmer and
laboring portion Of the community" As
We have mover attended any Of the exhibi'
tious Of the State Society, We cannot "speas
by the card" in this relation. However, We
know this to be too much the case in ali
exhibitions of the kind. Societies organized
for the promotion Of agriculture and the
improvement of stock, moving on steadily
to the attainments of their objects, cannot
be too highly commended, or too largely en-
courascd. That they are liable to bepervert-
ed TO objects foreign to what was contcm-
plated in their organization, is but too
evident. The New York Times some time
since, contained judicious article upon the
subject, from which We will here introduce