Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-10-16
COMMUNITY ATOMS.
CHILLIooTHE, Iowa,
Octnher III. 1273.(

COMMUNICATIONS.
| CHILLIooTHE, Iowa, I
October IL, l873.S
| MEssRs. EDITORS :---lSirs-I notice
that correspondence published ir
your issue Of the 9th, asserts that this
county ought to be ashamed of the
last Fair. Your correspondent set:
up his ideas as to the reasofss of the
failure, as follows: that the farmers
are either too lazy to bring ont Their
products, or that they are dissatisfied
with the management of the Fairs
He decides that the latter is the cause
of the lack OF appreciation on the part
Of the agriculturisis; and that the
pariiality and incompctcncy of the
awarding committees is the chief
| cause OF dissatisfaction.
think tina; your correspondent fails
| entirely 10 notice the reason that the
farmers have for their objections
The great difference In premiums
offered in favor of fast and fancy
stock to thai Of useful animals, imple-
ments and machinery. Is the cause OF
the grievance. Allow me 10 show the
awards of the last Fair, as proof Of
this point.
The premiums paid by The Society
on fast and fancy stock, are rs fol-
lows:
Glass II. No.. Roadsters ... SD %
No. 4. Carriage and Match
horses .-a.........t..... ~ w
No. 5, Trotiing, Pacing aud
Euggy Horses G2 90
No. 6, Three year old Troiters 1916 90
No, Z, Pacing Horses A 90
For fast horses, not classed Il
Trotting Horses. 4 90 90
Running Horses :. $50 90
Fast and far, Single Horses Is 90
Fastest trotting, two year old, 10 90
Green trotting Horses. $500. 30 90
Fast and far, teams ... ~ 90
Driving nearest 3, - and
minutes. .......,.... 30 90
Aggregate paid for fast and
fancy horses, ..........$ I0J6 so
The premiums paid by the Society
on useful agricultural animals, imple-
ments aud machinery were as follows !;
Horses of all work .... s IA 90
Draft horses. As 90
Thoroughbred horses, other
than roadsters -. 1890. IS 90
Mules, Jacks and ienneta. ~. Al 90
Cattle of all breeds and grades, $50 90
Swine of all breeds lit 90
Agricultural implements. IT.. IL 90
Farm machinery. ..... 5 SO
Mechanical work ......... 26 %
Aggregate premiums paid on
all useful agricultural ami
mails, implements and ma.
chinery. .,............ = 655 80
Making $39o50 more paid for fast
and fancy horses than for all the use
full agricultural animals. implements
and machinery.
Now, when the farmer locks the
premium list over, the question arises
in his mind, IL ii an agricultural Fair,
or, ia il horse Fair. for the benefit OF
sportsmen2
On comparing the list he finds the
answer emphatically given, that IL is
horse Fair, and not an agricultural
Fair; that there is just enough pre-
MUM held out to the farmer to induce
him to go 10 tho Fair and take his neigh
Dor, and pay their admittance fee to
augment the sum 10 be paid to sports
men, on animals that are OF no use to
them. only 10 look at.
This is the reason that farmers do
not appreciate the pains. They do
not object to the fast and fancy horses
and they should have their places at
our Fairs. Int il should he a secondary
one.
In an agricultural Fair, the horse
that can draw the reaper, turn up the
meadow sod, and take grain to mark
ct, should have the pre- -eminencc and
not the horse Of CANDY carriage and
quick step, without muscles or weight.
Fine breeds of cattle and swine should
be an object Of more interest than a
running horse. Until such q change is
made in the premium list, that ami
mails and implements will command a
premium according to their usefulness
in agriculture, farmers will fail to ap.
preeiaie and patronige the Fair. But
when such Il change is made the farm
ers will turn out and bring their stock
and products, and more than replace
the deficiency that may be caused by
the withdrawal of part or all Of the
sportsmen.
If am in error | hope 10 be en-
lightened by some practical worker in
agricultural Fairs. W. s. Cork.
HJ.0O MFIELD CORRESPONDENTS.
BLOOMFIELD, Ia, Oct. 10th, 1873.
npAp Coyrpyrp IL &c tho rnnd for