The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1874-08-27
To the People OF Kansas.
OFFICE KANSAS STATE BOARD
OF AcRICULTI RI, I
T,pIkA August 20 INA

OFFICE Kansas STATE BoARp)
OF AGRICULTURE,
TOPEKA, August 30, 1874.
The state board of agriculture, re-
cognizing that they are but the repre-
sentatives of the people, feel constrain-
cd TO address you in plain statement
of facts, and few earnest suggestions
as TO your relations and duties in con-
nection with the forthcoming state
fair
The holding of fairs docs not com
mend itself TO our Judgment as work
best calculated TO attain the ends
sought in the organization and main
tcnancc of state board of agricul-
ture. II brings il into supposed III
yalry with organizations which should
act warmly as auxiliaries. 1t alienates,
for the time being, sections of the state
remote from the fair, disappointed in
ambitions for its holding in their local
ity. 1t renders the board liable TO crit
icism and unfricndly feeling, in the I'M
satisfactory adjustment of competing
claims and disputed questions always
incident TO such expositions. 1t alb
serbs the time and attention of the
board, at a time when the whole state
should have such attention at the local
fairs.
We are convinced that the business
of holding fairs legitimateiy belongs
to associations organized for that
specific purpose, and the duty of
state board of agriculture TO foster and
encourage. and of the state Legislature
to and by wise legislation these local
industrial organizations. Then there
will be n relation of confidence, sys-
tematic cooperation, which will en-
able the state board TO gather, collate
and send back to the people rs an an
nual harvest of facts and experiences
of unreasonable value to the state.
Holding these views, still we did not
feel authorized to drop this hitherto
important feature without first con-
sulting the popular Judgment. We
feared that those who had so long
looked upon '.our annual fair" as the
chief, if not the only legitimate work
of the board, might look upon it as
revolution without reason, and il was
resolved TO hold this fair, putting II
before the public in a practical form,
,,.-a1 on1
petitivc exposition of the industries
of the state, free rs possible from the
Objectionable features of such exhibit
tions.
We now come to say 10 YOU, that
this fair. which was looked upon as a
mere incident in our work. trifle in
its scale of values, has been wrought
by unlocked for circumstances into a
matter of prime concern TO this board.
and 10 every citizen of the state. We
now believe that the results of the pro-
posed fair are of more vital conse-
uuencc, and will have a more marked
effect upon the condition and pros
perity of the state for years TO come.
than any pending question or enter
prise. Believing this. We come TO you
with an appeal addressed in deep earn
cstness 10 your reason, your patriotism
and your interest.
Our ewes cannot he closed 10 the fact
nor can our ears deny the declaration,
that disaster. severe and gtevious dis
aster. has befallen large portion OF
the producing population OF the state.
Some localities have lost a half crop
by chinch bugs, broad belt has suf-
fered an equal loss from dearth of rain
fall, and to these must be added the
still greater calamity of devastating
inflow of grasshoppers. consuming the
substance left as the fruit of sum
mer's toll. These blows have beer
struck with such force and rapid sue
ccssion as to almost paralize energy
crush ambition, and blot out hope.
The first sight of disaster is always
the worst view we get of it, each loos
thereafter discovering some unexpect