Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-09-21
The State Fair.

a The very successful fair held in this town
last week was the third and last, according
to contract, which the association is obliged
to hold in this locality. The fairs held in
Z Montpelier have been, with a single excep
ton, notable successes, and in the excepted
instance persistently unfavorable weather
and not local causes, was the reason for a
fpartial failure. Last week the attendance
was uniformly good, the exhibits of unusual
attractiveness and excellence, and the public
satisfaction general and hearty. The asso-
citation, we understand, has paid all its out.
goes in spite of the unsuccess of year ago,
its three annual exhibitions here. Under
1 these circumstances il is difficult TO see what
good reasons there can be why the society
should not continue to hold its fairs in
Montpelier The grounds are excellent, the
Recommendations are sufficient or can be
greatly enlarged and improved at slight
expense; railway tracks for convenience Of
Transportation run to the gates of the en-
closure and the inconvenience to exhibitors
and to visitors is thus reduced to mini.
mum the place is geographically central
and is central point as regards lines of
Communication the country around is one
|of the wealthiest portions of the state agr-
|culturally, and contributes literally to the
support of the association financially, by at.
tendance and by furnishing numerous and
attractive exhibits. All these are advant
lagos of the first order, and the exhibitions
here have shown that they are real, tangible
A continuance of the fair here
would undoubtedly still further develop and
utilize these sources of prosperity. In the
mind of the average Vermonter there isl
always strong desSre to see the capital of
the state, and this feeling of curiosity, EN-
|couraged by cheap railway fares, has I'M
|doubtedly been the source of considerable
revenue to the society and would continue
Ito be as long as the state fair is held here
The possibility of a change, which the ter.
|mination of the three years contract per
units, was viewed with regret by disinter-
|ested people, visitors and exhibitors at the
ate fair, many of whom were outspoken in
their expressions of satisfaction with the
general and special qualities which have
contributed to make the state fairs in Mont.
|pelier, as a whole, brilliant success.
The policy of rotation so long pursued by
the society in selecting the place of the ex-
|hibition is obviously demoralizng to its
best interests. "The rolling stone gathers
mo moss" and no special interest or enthu-
|siasm, or the means of permanent and soil d
growth, can gather around state agricul-
|tural association that periodically pulls up
stakes aud posts off to new places of exhibit
ton. Frequent change in the case of in
|dividuals is quite as inconsistent with sue
cess in business. "Fixity of tenure IS
the prime quality which has contributed to
the great degree of success achieved by the
most noted exhibitions in the country, and
I'VE believe the best interests of the Vermont
State Agricultural Society would be con-
suited by giving it a permanent local habita-
ton and by building permanent and COM
lmodious accommodations both for the adj
Vantage of exhibitors and the comfort of
lthe people who go to see. If, however, the
state association proves to be still peripatetic
in its habits and tendencies the fine grounds
and facilities at Prospect Park could, and
undoubtedly would, be utilized by new
agricultural association which should en-
brace Central Vermont within the limits of
its organization. Such society would have
IA large field and all the elements of SPLEEN
did success, and under vigorous and enter
|prising management would undoubtedly
flourish I" like green bay tree"