Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-08-15
BalWin District Fair.

BalWin District Fair.
1t is time that we were thinking about
our District Fair, for its continu ed success
depends upon the general as well as special
interest taken in its objects. The exhi-
bition this fall will be the third under the
enlarged organization, and if the improve
mert of the third shall be as decidedly pro-
gressive on the second as that was upon
the first, it will be the source of general
graduation and a renewed incentive to
press it forward to the success airssd at by
the earnest men, throughout the District,
who SO efficiently put their shoulders to
the wheel to build up in the Valley an in
stitution worthy of the section and its agri-
cultural and stock-growing opportunities.
There ought to be some special features in
the management of the Fair which would
disseminate through the counties, subdi-
vided into districts and neighborhoods, the
value the exposition would be to our own
people and thus secure still larger at
tendance than heretofore, though. that has
been good. We will modify to some ex-
tent what is said above, of special features,
for the organization has local officers in all
the counties, and it is rather an enlarged
work than has been previously effected
through them that we think will materially
promote the objects of the Fair, SO gener-
ally approved and capable of bestowing
lasting benefits to our leading industries,
the chief of which is agriculture.
Fairs and expositions are the best means
through which the resources and oppor-
tunities we possess for enlarged prosperity
can be made known. 1t is not to be ex-
pecte1 that we can draw upon distant
States and communities for an incoming
population and capital to any great extent,
but it we'll becomes us to cultivate the
home material we have and draw to our
exhibitions not only the old and experienced
men engaged in agriculture and the other
pursuits adapted to our section of country,
but there should be special effort made to
attract hither our young men, who in the
bounds of the several counties embraced in
the Fair organization, that are by scores
and hundreds engaging in some one or
more of the pursuits adapted to this section
of country. An enlargement of home ef-
fort for the benefit of home people, if ac-
complished on tho scale it can be, would
soon return many fold in compensation for
the outlay of small expenditure of time
and money. The plan We suggest to
forward these interests is neither new nor
original. It has been often tried and was
never known to fail, and at this time has
proven to be one Of the chief means through
which Mr.. Ashton Starke, President of the
Virginia Exposition, has achieved the as
sured success of that grand design. 1t Is
shat the business men Of Staunton shall en-
graft it upon their business correspondence
with all the tributary and trading country
In association with the city, and effecting
all farther distribution of information that
may be practicable. The President Of the
Fair and his Executive Committee, and the
President OF the Stau nton Chamber OF
Commerce with his Board of Directors,
could, in few hours of mutual consulta-
ton, mature plans by calling some energy
and systematized efforts and the printing
press to their aid, send abroad into every
home, from the humblest to the most i'm
posing, the merits Of our Fair exhibit, and
enumerating many 9of the considerations
which should attract the people within all
our bounds to if. There are sixty of the
good business men OF Staunton represent
ing all our pursuits, members of the Cham
Der of Commerce who would most efficient.
iy cooperate 10 carrying out such design.
They would enlist many more and then
add this to The work done by the Fair
organization, as it would widen the rarnif-
cations in its local organizations, and there
is no estimating the additional number of
articles there would be to press for room in
the exhibit, nor the largely increased nun
Der Of visitors who would be there, not to
see and be observed, but there for the pur-
pose of gaining information-to render
practicable aud profitable the opportunity
for improvement which they embraced,
recognizing the stimulant thereto through
the means we are recommending to be
brought to bear for that chief purpose. II
something of the engrave1's art could be
blended in the designs of printed matter SO
much the better, but circulars and envelopes
and the popular means in that branch OF
advertising, if employed as it is practicable
to do during the six intervening weeks will
30 efficiently increase the general interest
that next year an earlier and more enlarged
effort on the same line will be generally
called for by all the interests to be pro
NOTED.
Our progress and our prosperity are OBJ
jec.s worthy of earnest and united efforts.
The qualification of success by contribu-
tions to our development from strangers is
always acknowledged, but when those who
are reaching mans estate and response
billties are Induced to abide at the homes
of their fathers and apply the efforts here
they will find required of them, go where
the may, there will come to US double
blessing for which to tie thankful-ou,
steady advancing prosperity achieved by
the determined effort of our own people.
-~ ~--
Senator Faulkner has introduced in the
Senate bill to provide for the erection of
public building at Martiusburg. W. Va.
Tt proposed to pnt up a building that
will cost 800. COO for the use of tho post
Office and United States courts in Martins