The Grange advance., 1873-10-15
From the Goodhue County Republican, ss-.2 s.2ss-
G00DMUE COUNTY FAIR.


"AI4VAcS OIl tAulDlLlOu dt tue VOOuuue
County Fair would be nothing more than
a burlesQue. We therefore start out
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 exhibition as any county in
the State, and
WHY WAS IT = FAILURE
The reason we think is, that the peo-
pie, and especially the farmers, seem to
have a lack of interest. They do not re-
alize that each must make an individual
exertion in order to make the fair sue
cess. Each must not rely upon his
neighbor to take something Of interest,
but must endeavor to exhibit son:e arti-
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 a fair.
They make of it day Of pleasure more
than Of profit; day to congregatc, talk
politics. bet on horses, collect debts, and
listen to speeches. = e.. : >S'% - :" Il" :
True, the location at Hader is not the
best, and an endeavor will be made
another year to locate it at more cen.
tral 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, as we'll as for the exhibitors.
In view Of these facts it's 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 the second dav
of the fair to make trip to Red Wing,
and draw load of wood.
That there were not any redeeming
features we do not claim on the whole
it was a 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 de-
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..
Thacher addressed the farmers substan-
TALLY as follows s..
This County Fair and Institute occurs
at propitious time. A year of bounti-
full crops, all secured in good condition,
in stacks or already threshed, gives our
people an occasion Of rejoicing and con-
graduation. The country is full of
wheat, the valleys are covered with corn.
in every direction the eyeis 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 q
large average crop, as the season of 1872
bestowed upon us. This to all classes
of citizens is great encouragement.
The prospects are surely Frightening.
No longer can the greatest croaker or
profit Of evil, say that Goodhue county
is bankrupt, that it is all plastered over
with mortgages. On the contrary it is
dotted all over with evidences of wealth,
of progress, of thrift, Of prosperity.
The wheat crop OF 1o12 amounted to
over 1900, 900 bushels, the oat crop to
over l ,000, 900 bushels; the corn crop to
100000 bushels and the barley to 140,.
900 bushels. This large amount of grain
was raised one year ago, in county
where sixteen years previous, scarcely
enough was raised to feed it's own peo.
pie. 1Goodhue county has great agri.
cultural capacity. To raise this large
amount of grain requires wonderful en-
ergy, and industry, and large amount
Of money must be invested in tillage,
buildings, machinery, horses and cattle.
A great change has taken place in all