Mexico weekly ledger., 1883-09-27
Editor and e~rerristor
DIR LATE FAIR.

OUR LATE FAIR.
Although the LEDGER regards the
criticism of our Fair management by
the Rev. DIR. Armstrong unnecessary
and uncalIed for, it reproduces in an
other column the substance of that
diyine's Sunday night sermon, for the
double purpose of posting its readers
as to individual sentiment concerning
current events and because it furnish
es opportunity for saying some things
concerning agricultural and mechan-
ical exhibitions which otherwise it
might not have felt at liberty to utter
for fear of being misunderstood.
In the opinion Of the LEDGER. to
Judge of the tendencies Of fairs by
their premium lists is an unfortunate
and contracted method Of estimating
their usefulness. The premiums Of
fered by fairs removed from large
cities can never form a continuously
successful basis of attractions, and
fairs that long rely upon them ex-
clusiyely for anything Of that sort
must of necessity encounter ultimate
death. The legitimate object of fairs
and expositions IS to bring buyers and
sellers together and furnish the latter
with opportunity of exhibiting and
the former with a chance of examin-
ing commodities. At all well-con-
Quoted fairs merchants and manu-
facturers and even stOckmen erect
special exhibition buildings to contain
their samples and animals, leaving
floral hall to the farmers and artists,
and in some of them manufacturers
even ply their industrial avocations.
Their main object is to advertise and
popularize fabrics and grades of stock
which are not the product of the
county in which they are exhibited,
and are On that account not entitled
to participation in fair premiums.
To such exhibitionists premiums
like those usually offered IN small
matters and they seldom enter articles
for competition, as they thereby un'
der fair rules lose the privilege Of at
taching their names to them and thu;
advertising to whom they belong
If they feel the need Of competition
they get up special premiums witt
special terms in addition to those reg
ularly offered. To many, however
in Mexico and Audrain county, thu
premiums and entertainments consti
tute the main attractions. But few
even of our merchants, manufactur
ers and farmers seek to convert on
fair grounds into an available and de
sirable market place, and the result j
comparatively unremunerative annua
concourses. Thus our fair is no
what it ought to be, and as long a
its premiums and amusements ar
looked upon as its main attractions
it will not be in the power Of the as
sociation to make 1t what it aims
q source of general profit to both GU
city and county. Desire for premi
ums and ribbons has heretofore bee
great obstacle to fair progress il
the right direction, Many have bee
dissatisfied with the distribution O
them and instead of increasing ths
dissatisfaction and stirring up certai
classes in IA midst against the asse
citation by unfair comparisons, ever
one interested in the general welfar
of the community ought to seek t
extinguish every feeling of tha
sort. 1t is probably impossible in th
present state of popular ~expectanc
to conduct fairs altogether withou
premiums, and as long as they ar
resorted to there can be no just objet
ton to offering the highest of them I
those that incur the greatest expend
itures in competing for them. Til
is the case prominently as to horse
capable of exhibiting high speed
Such stock require great care and th
attention necessary to be paid thel
involves exceptional outlay. 1t
preposterous, therefore, to say that th
premiums offered for their appearance
vert of demoralizing tendency. o
the contrary they such as al
recognized everywhere by experience
fai, conductors as just and propei
If the premiums offered by our ia
association for their speed rings al
liable to criticism of any sort, tn,
criticism fairly made will be found
run on exactly the opposite direction
(fnance being the criterion) to th.
of the Rev. DIR. Armstrong.
There were SO speed premium
ranging from s12O to $40, and aver,
ging s36 per animal, which eyel
stock man knows is not enough
remunerate any owner for transpor
ing, caring for and exhibiting q big
strung horse. But from this $3,
even there was deducted such entrans
fees as in most instances reduce
what was paid out a third and in son
counterbalanced it altogether. SUI
premiums could not, by any possibi
ity, attract jockies, as has been insi
uated, and as over 5000 of spe,
ring premiums we're withdrawn on q
count of want Of competition and Il
rain, there was actually no more pa
out for speed horses than for plug
Our fair directory are as moral al
w~ell-disposed gentlemen as q
fnnnA m on- oo--, - L.