The Grange advance., 1873-10-15
G!O!|0DnUE [ c0uN EAR.
L 4 A FAIR = a RElOHRT or FAIR.

" FAIR REPO1T OF FAIR
Any attempt at q description Of the
articles on exhibition at the Goodhue
County Fair would be nothing more than
burlesque. We therefore starta4out
with the assertion that, on the whole,
the fair was total failure. Now let US
ask why was it failure !? Better
weather could never have been hoped.
for than was had the second day. Due
notice Of the fair was given in the papers.
Goodhue county is capable Of making
as good an exhibitionas as any county in
the State, and
WHY WAS ITaA FAILURE
The reason we think is, that the peo-
pie, and especially the farmers, seem to
have lack Of interest. They do not re-.
alize that each must make an individual
exertion in order to make the fair a sue
cess. Each must not rely upon his
neighbor to take something. Of interest,
but must endeavor to exhibit some =. alrrtii- II
Gle that will add to the interest of the
fair, even should the premium received
but partially repay him for his trouble.
The farmers seem to have an erroneous
idea Of what should constitute fair.
They make of it day of. pleasure more
than Of profit; a day to congregate, talk
politics, bet on horses, COLLECT debts, and
listen t. speeches ~ d j z w "a 10 ri
True, thel0cstion atsHsSdeitsaiiss. i il not the
best and an, endeavors will be made
another. year to locate it at = more CEN
trail and convenient part of the county.
The place is too distant to carry ma
chimes and other, articles that would be
for the interest and advantage of the
farmer, aslwell IS forsthe exhibitors r
view efsthgse BE- W fasts sa ids MOTTO be
wondered at that although the number
in attendance was much larger than last
year, there should be but few articles on
exhibition. There was such prevailing
lack of interest that farmers within but
fifteen minutes drive from the. grounds
were seen going on with their work as
usual, and the vice-president Of the asso-
citation took OCCASION on thessecond rday
of the fair to make trip to Red Wing,
and draw a load of wood.
That there were not any redeeming
features we do not claim on the whole
it was means of profit to the farmers,
and as they got together and compared
notes on crops, a general good feeling
seemed to prevail and most of them dc.
termined another year to make more of
an effort for the success Of the fair. The
speech by Hon. J. A. Thacher of Zum-
brota was listened to with great interest,
and by much larger and more appre-
ciative audience than listened to the ad-
dress delivered at the State fair. The
farmers seemed to- enter into the spirit Of
the speaker, and coming as it did from one
of their number, it was more favorably
received than the speech Of last year by
several Office seeking politicians. Mr..
Thachersaddressed the farmers substan-
tiallysa follows wv " g@ esw sxs.a
This County Fair and Institute occurs
1T propitious time. A year of bounti-
full crops, al secured in good condition,
in stacks or already threshed, gives our
people an occasion Of rejoicing and con-
gratulation. The country is full Of
wheat, the valleys are covered with corn.
in every direction the eye is greeted with
stacks of grain so that our, oldest citi-
zens are astonished as they pass through
the country, to see the evidences Of
plenty spread abroad. Probably no sea-
son since the settlement has been more
fruitful than that Of the year 1873, and
following as it does upon year of 8
large average crop, IS the season of 1879
!, bestowed upon us. This to all classes
of citizens is4 a great encouragement.
The prospects are surely Frightening.
No longer can the greatest croaker or
4 profit Of evil, say that Goodhue county
is bankrupt, that 1t is al plastered over
with mortgages. On the contrary it is
dotted Ill over with evidences of wealth.
of. progress, Of thrift, Of prosperity.
The wheat crop of 1879 amounted "a
! over $500 900 bushels, the oat crop to
n over /, 900 900 bushels; the corn crop to
I 400, 900 bushels and the barley to 14O,-
600 bushels. This large amount Of grain
SS - : re;co1 ono wear acrn in . cnunf !,