The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-07-14
THE CAPITAL STATE FAIR


Though it is July, there are only
three months intervening between
now and the next Capital State Fair,
and yet but little public notification
has been made of the fact that In
October a pretentious exposition is
to be held at Austin. The mails
have been scattering the premium
lists of other fair associations where
they will do the most good, and
among them several Texas associa-
tions have already been thus public
ly represented, but our Austin asso-
citation seems to consider there is no
use to be in a hurry i'll making
itself known in this respect. We
may be in error in adopting the pre-
vailing idea that there is some use
in being in hurry with the presen-
tation ofpremium lists, but exhibi-
tors desire to be thus accurately
informed long in advance of
a fair. We have noticed, too,
in the published list of faris for
this year, in the Country Gentleman
and the Prairie Farmer, and other
such journals. that the Austin fair
is not mentioned, while among
the stockraisers of the west,
the date item alone of
this fair would repay hand
somely in leading exhibitors to put
the Austin fair down in their CIR
quit. Two years ago the advertis-
ing of the fair in northern papers
brought many exhibitors from other
states, and there is but one reason,
non-information, why many exhibi-
tors do not come from abroad to
this fair every year. Texas needs a
vast deal of improved stock, and the
old states must give the supply, and
these fairs ought to be looked
forward to by the stockraisers of
Illinois and Missouri and Kentucky
and even the fine stock breeders of
Vermont and Canada. Stock from
these sections have been brought
here, and its introduction ought
to be a permanent business. Agri-
culture in Texas needs every stimu-
lus, and production of fine stock is
part of the intelligent agricultur-
ist's duty. At these fairs farmers
should be taught to know
that they may find improved
cattle, horses, hogs and sheep
in variety. Besides this they should
here find object lessons in all chat
pertains to the farm, not alone in inn
proved stock, but in everything
that may be applied to the farm.
They should be taught 20 know that
attendance upon these exhibitions
is necessary to keep them apace
with the age in which they
live. And here the suggestion is in
point, that while fair directors make
fairs attractive farmers owe it to
themselves to attend these fairs, on
account of the personal advantages
they may derive from them, and it
is eminently proper that each one,
so far as he can, shall contribute
to their interest and value by COM
peting for some of the premiums.
Himself or some member of the
family-one or moroccan enter the
list for some desired prize. IL may
not be obtained, but failure should
stimulate the unsuccessful to still
greater eXertions, to be followed up
until the superiority and excellence
of the article or animal exhibited
controls and captures the coy-
eted prize. The management of
fairs is not always just what it should
be, still the corrective may be in the
hands of the farmers. 1t is within
their power TO control and manage
them. But the STATESMAN has con-
fidence in the ability of the men
managing the Capital State Fair.
They understand its value, and the
STATESMAN desires simply to ad-
wise and encourage them in the
work they have undertaken.