The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-10-17
Our County Fair.

| in supplement to this weeks issue of "the
Times" We do not feel that we owe to our read
| ers much of an apology for devoting 30 much Of
our space to this one object, for we are free TO
say that we know of none that we could agitate,
of more Importance to the large majority Of our
readers.
The cry throughout the land is ''hard times"
"short crops" "can't pay out" Agricultureis
depressed the world over failures on every side.
One Of the oldest, most time honored and
staunchest houses in our metropolis going down
with crash that shock our littlo old State from
the Mountains to the Sea-bosrd, and one Of the
chief reasons assigned being, that they were
carrying large overstock of crude phosphate
rock, prepared for the foreign market where
the demand has suddenly almost entirely ceased;
for the cry all over Europe is, farming don't
pay and we can't buy guanos to make wheat.
as long rs we have American competition with
their present prices.' What point is to be no.
ted from This fact? That these people, when
they find they are following loosing business,
are going TO quit and try something else-even
if it should smash half dozen Phosphate in
terests.
Now, how many of our farmers have been
following loosing business for the past few
years? Or, if not actually losing, barely making
both ends meet and making no advancement in
the world Well, we dare say some will ask
what has all this to do with the Fair.
The point we wish to bring out is, If our farm
ers arc making no progress, is there no plan
way, to arouse them to day of "better
things" If they are running an all cotton
schedule and buying more or less grain each
year if they have poor and ragged stock; If
they have clumsy tools and implements, old time
and fashion ways of doing all their work, is there
can there be- any better place school for their
improvement in oil these matters than our Coun-
ty Fair, if they will take hold Of it and make
it so? If one has made more cotton on one acre
than another hos done on three or four; ii some
have made more corn on few acres than others
have done on large plantations; If there are far
mers who always, from their manner, time, or
management, have grain to sel-for seed If moth
ing more-to those who are always out; If some
teams, rs they come through our streets, are in
good condition, while others appear with sore
shoulders and CALLED backs; if on some farms
there are improved and thrifty breeds of stock,
of all sense and reason, if you bring all the par
ties together, rub them against each other, force
them into some comparison, won't the balance
sheet show some good to the majority? Won't
it be great incentive to those who arc trying TO
make their avocation an honorable and profit
able one? won'tit. we say say, urge them to
"try, try again." even if they do aud have met
with failures?
The premium list seems as full as the Society
could well make it. The most of the Commit
tees are appointed, the others appearing before
the Fair. We hope every Department will be
filed up.
We have heard Of somo Of our citizen feeling
aggrieved by some decisions or awards and are
speaking Of taking no part, but think Of atten-
ding other County Fairs to the neglect of their
own; but we hope this will not be the case.
1t takes nil of our people to make success
full fair and now, whilst the officers are making
every effort to lift the present debt you should
at least encourage them with your presence.0