The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-10-29
The State Fair.


The awards in the several department.
q OF the Fair last week have been so exten.
1 siTely published, and are SO generally
. known, that We deem it unnecessary To
! give them place in our columns. The
. premiums have been or viii be paid
5 promptly. to all interested
Except in the stock department, the
Fair was no improvement on the splendid
beginning made last year. The main ex-
hibition building was comparatively empty,
on both floors, and had it not been for the
enterprise Of few home exhibitors the
machinery department would have been
equally bare. The disappointment was
general, and criticism sharp and severe
There was very good attendance on three
days, and we presume the receipts from
gate fees and privileges will be equal to all
demands. If not, the responsible incor-
porstors will cash all claims on presenta-
ton.
The mistakes which operated against the
success Of the Fair las. week, will, we are
assured, be guarded against in the future.
The Association was chartered "for the pro-
motion ofagriculture, manufactures and the |
mechanics arts" and its premiums should
be to encourage those noble ends. The |
products Of the farm, garden, orchard, |
dairy, the skill of our mechanics, the
genius and taste of our women, in all the
departments Of nome work, should find
creditable displays at these annual exhibi-
tions. The thousands who come TO a Fair
have good deal of time on their hands
before the arena attractions begin, and the
exhibits should be sufficient in number and
excellence to keep them busy and in an
admiring mood.
The three enterprising and public
spirited citizens who undertook the re-
organization of the State Fair Association
have the will and the ability, to make it a
success, and they will have the enthusiastic
cooperation OF the public ifthey will direct
their attention more to the prime objects
which such exhibitions are intended to
|
any exhibition, however complete, will /
draw crowd sufficient to pay premiums,
without "trials of speed" But these
should be so managed as to prohibit all :
or combinations. The gentlemen q
Tor whose profit or pleasure "circuit" has t
been arranged should be required to do c
he fair and square thing, or be excluded !
rom the track. C
Every citizen of jackson is interested in d
he success of the Fair, and the liberal
,onus paid last year is the best evidence =
hat our community appreciate its advan /
ages in a business way. The visit of sew Fl
raj thousand people necessarily leaves ~
,ood deal of money in the city. 1t is not q
ltogether for the benefit of the few gentle O
men who manage the Fair, for it must be 81
emembered that they take all the risk. !. =
\ few days of bad weather, and their e
osses would be heavy. Hence this COM Il
nunity could we'll afford to give an annual a.
onus, or at least guarantee a certain per b1
entage of the premiums in the event the HI
cceipts should not be sufficient. Our di
Merchants, too, should more generally and D;
1ore literally offer special premiums, and =
nnounce them early enough to insure d,
nore general competition. One great tn
rawback TO the Fair just closed was the NJ
clay in publishing the premium list. n
his should be literally circulated in the as
arly part OF the year. Indeed it would lie
ot be too soon now TO offer premiums on ~
eld-crops for next year. We have heard ol
he Management censured because no BE-
remium was offered on cotton. So far as 81
nat product is concerned, we think there ~
enough Of it raised without any special ar
lducement. 1t requires no premiums TO eli
Emulate production and the cotton that Ju
usually exhibited does not fairly repre- u
mt the crop, the staple composing the th
ale being selected with special care, The dr
eayy premiums usually paid on cotton hr
in be expended to much better advantage ~
other departments. ov