The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1900, 1889-09-14
Helena Fair a HolSe-Race.
Absence Of the Ordinary Character
istics OF q Fair.
A Spotted Hog, u few Chickens and
a Fair Dog Show.
Great Falls to Provide the First
Real State Fair.

EDITOR OF TILE LEADER:
If any person desires an additional
reason to convince him that the Great
Falls agricultural and mechanical associa-
ton is a much needed institution in Mon
tana he would have found that reason
had he attended the Helena fair. The
time may have been when agriculture
and the mechanic at had decent recogni-
tion there; but this year live stock, farm
products, farm machinery, horticulture
household and culinary articles, manu-
factures, mining in brief everything, that
goes to make up a varied and instructive
exhibit showing people from abroad
what Montana's developement really Is
and encouraging our own people to
greater progress, was subordinated to the
| race and the pool box.
| Montana is famous for cattle and the
progress made in grading up her native
stock by blooded bulls until her beet
commands the highest price in the mar
kets of the east. Yet one shorthorn bull
was the only representative of that noble
breed, that has added so much to the val
uc of Montana cattle. The other beet
breeds the Hereford and the Aberdeen
IAngus-were entirely unrepresented.
Montana is famous for her flocks and
Aeeces representing so many millions OF
lexport material, which means millions OF
home dollars. Yet not a sheep OF any
kind was on exhibition at this fair. Ma
, ry mi ght have been there, but she GER
Itainlv found no adequate inducement to
bring her lamb.
Montana has many establishments for
= the breeding of draft horses, yet but three
. or four of them were here represented.
She has several breeders of rcadsters ana
p general purpose horses. The horse In
a dustrv of the territory is immense, out
side of the speed consideration and her
10 ranchmen are lovers of the horse, yet
II probably dozen or so would cover tho
q number in all these classes.
The poultry show was OF little merlt'
u though some excellent birds were on ex-
At hibition.
Ell One small tent contained the carriage
and implement exhibit.
IL forgot to say that twu ei~ months Pig
." differing in color and form, though prob
el ably from the same dam, comprised the
up swine exhibit.
i. The dog show was very good for q be
10 ginning. and attracted considerable at
ut tention.
," The dairy interest was entirely ignore'
~ ~ as far as the prodncts are concerned, an
nd the only thing there to suggest butter an
in, cheese was IL small but really fine herd Q
Inc aae Holsteins.
alf Any one Of the score OF market garoet
up ers which supply the citizens OF GreatFa'
with vegetables could have disconnte
the whole show in this line.
- - But the 'shoss" race was there in all I
/ glory and the speed performances owe
in shadowed all else. What is wanted
Montana is straight, legitimate agricn
~, tural. horticultural and mechanical fal
arst where the speed ring is but one featn
'red and a limited one ut that. Racing assoc
ations are legitimate enough, but tn
and should be divorced from the agricul'ur
shed fairs.
!. l The Great Falls association next ye
Mr. -. n.,,,;+,, +o sot in 4
BOW. new state, All example in this directi
tiles, whose influence shall be felt. WI
aper proper beginning and perseverlng chi
- -. I believe Great Falls may have the hol
of inaugurating Montana's first state 4
legs, and a first class one at that
CASCADE
'tant GREAT FALLS, Sept. 13.