The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-10-17
The Approaching Fair.
We copy the following extract from let

G The Approaching Fair.
We copy the following extract from letter
recently published in the Rome (Ga.) Courier,
written by John H. Dent, Esq. The comments
of this gentleman apply forcibly to our own
section, and the contrast drawn between Chero-
kee Georgia and Kentucky is less striking, per-
haps, than between upper South Carolina and
Kentucky, when we consider that the Geor'
gians are considerably in advance Of our own
people in farm Improvements and progress
But the general tenor of this extract suits our
condition admirably, especially the advice to
patronizs and encourage local Fairs more lib
orally: . ~ e"
Fairs are not understood by our people; |;
hence, they are not appreciated. Patronize it
and build it up, and you will soon see its bene-
fetal effects radiated among all classes OF pur-
suits, and you will progress, and see prosperity
beginning throughout our country. In support
of what 1 have said, let me tell you what have
seen in attending the Exposition at Louisville
and Cincinnati as we'll as The great Fair in
Kentucky, near Louisville. I undertook the
trip to satisfy myself, what the farmers and
mechanics were doing in those countries, and
to compare our situation with theirs, and when
tell you, my brother farmers, we are at least
twenty years behind them in progress and i'm
provements, I am in the bounds of reason and
truth. My greatest surprise was first in seeing
their lands were no better than ours. In fact,
/ would not exchange my farm in Vann's Val
lev for any farm saw in Kentucky so far as
the quality of soils are concerned, and the diff
ference in favor of Kentucky is merely this,
that her farmers are more progressive than ours,
at least twenty years in advance. And why Is
that progress among them; for the reason they
take great interest in supporting and sustaining
their Fairs, and all else that imparts to them
knowledge and noble emulation to progress
and success. They do not believe that farming
can be made prosperous by each farmer bury
ing himself upon his farm, and not witnessing
the great progress going on in every depart
ment of the industrial pursuits. On the con-
trary, they are active in seeing and learning
what progress is made by others, and so soon as
discovered, they adopt what advances their in
terest, and are profted by it. In q word they
expend money and labor freely to make farm
ine paw. AS before stated, 1 attended their
Fair Grounds, it was thronged with visitors, to
see the magnificent stock of all kinds on ex-
hibition, as we'll as their field products, fruits
and flowers, and poultry show. And to see
their fine horses, mules, colts, hogs and sheep,
their splendid crop samples, and all other pro-
ducts of the farm, spoke aloud for the farmers
of Kentucky, and their nice and comfortable
looking farms, indicating thrift and comfort in
ALI departments. And the great pride and
interest manifested in the Fair by the old and
Young farmers showed their appreciation OF it.
On the other hand could be seen what the
farmers had done for the Fair, and on the 9TH
er, what the Fair had done for the farmers.
Now how can we doubt the ability of Fairs,
when we see them sustained by the most en-
lightened as we'll as the most practical and
prosperous farmers in all countries, where agrl-
culture is most advanced and pays best. We
hear our farmers assert, who live in the fine
grain, grass and stock country of Georgia and
Alabama, "no cotton, no money" and you will
see a farmer of Kentucky, where there IS no
cotton, readily pay twenty five dollars for a two
months old pig to improve the breed of his
stock of hogs. Whilst with US, whose cotton is
money, and our stock is nearly worthless, to
ask FIVE dollars for fine pig, seems an outrage
Gus exactlon.
The difference is, the Kentucky farmer is a
man of progress, whilst we are towering on to
the customs and habits of our grandfathers !;
hence it is, we rely~upon= cotton, and nothing
but cotton, which is impoverishing our lands,
and making us the most dependent people on
earth. And it is for this reason we have estab-
lished our Fair Association, in the hope of
bringing about ia more diversified system of agr
riculture, and a diversity of pursuits; such
alone makes prosperous country and people,
and we can never be SO until we change our
present system. We truly hope that all our
people will turn out to the Fair, and go with
this feeling, to see what is useful, and can be
made useful to us; and bear this in mind that,
money spent for useful purposes, is money we'll
invested, and will pay ahandsome profit. The
day is past when one can stay at home and not
niingle in the world, and expect to keep up
with the spirit Of, the age TO keep, up, we
nnust,patronize everything that is useful, and
inbibe the energy and will that is pushing FOR
ward all arts and sciences to that astounding
success, which has made the world of this day,
SO different from what it was forty years ago in
its great mechanical and scientific attainments.