Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-01-16
Baldwin District Fair.
H
NMsA.

''trestle board" that are far behind in
completion of the designs well mapped out,
and to which our faith is pledged for the
earliest practical contamination.
Culture is a pretty and comprehensive
word. In applying its force to the inter-
ests of the Baldwin District Fair, and
through that institution to Staunton and
wide section of country with which the
city is identified in trade and social inter-
course, we have at once presented to view
wide field of work in which almost every
person oan take hand. 1t will be, too'
with the consciousness of complying with
plighted faith resulting in the assured
building up of material interests and setting
forward the work So often pronounced
worthy Of past and SO full of fruitful
Hess in time to come.
The cost of timely and judicious effort in
behalf of the Fair is no more than, II as
much, as late and spasmodic aid, too slow
in showing itself for working out any real
benefit. United with the efforts of the Board
of Directors, there must be cooperation on
the part Of the people. Popular aid, all
concede, is the right thing to obtain, and
there is no backwardness by the people Il
the channels in which their services are to
be contributed are timely made known to
them. In word, to obtain live, active,
beneficial exhibit to all the interests con-
cerned, plans must be devised at an early
day, and then their execution vigorously
prosecuted.
Whilst to the speculative or general OBJ
server, the benefits of the Fair show them
selves for but few days once year, that
conclusion is far, very far from being en-
tirely correct as whole. Development of
our mateIial, interests go on all the time,
every day in the year, and the influences
and benefits of the annual exhibit are so
many cultured and nourished plants that
bring forth fruit through their seasons.
If all that is worthy Of place at the
exhibit, in the eleven counties united in
the Fair corporation, is secured for it, and
that assurance early made known to the
public, then more than half The work to be
done to insure larger popular attendance
than ever before, is accomplished. But we
are fortunate both in location and in oppor-
tunity for attracting the very best attend
ance of breeders of horses, cattle, sheep,
and swine from the Western and other
States, and in the superior outfits, so to
speak, that their special Industries give US.
we at once spring from local or district
organization into the Importance OF an
inter-states, progressive, demonstrative in
stitution. And just here we enter this
statement in connection with that fact
that right here in Augusta and adjoining
counties we have breeders in all these de-
partments not inferior to any, and some of
them can challenge the entire field for
superiority in plans, accommodations, and
growing development.
We are not writing after consultation or
as the result of an interview with any
member of the Board Of Directors of the
Fair. 1t is evident that the Board is il
need of the very thing which has been
really pledged to it-co operation on the
part of the people. This they partly re-
ceive, but generally too long deferred for
effective work. Timely and active assist
ance in associated effort is the thing to be
done. The plan we suggest is not new nor
original. 1t is practiced wherever expo
sitions and fairs are successfully run, and
always with good effect, where there Is
such OR similar institutions to aid. Staun-
ton has one of these institutions-the
Chamber of Commerce. 1t is an incorpo-
rated body, having sixty members who
represent every business class in the city,
as well as the professions. The functions
of the body relate more directly to COM
mercial interests as represented by mer=
camille and the manufacturing industries,
but at the same time it is suggestive and
pledged to aid in all matters tending to the
development of our resources to promote
the common welfare and increase the
general prosperity.
If the needs of the Fail had been directly
laid before the members of the Chamber OF
Commerce awaiting an answer Of co-opera-
tive assurance, it could not have been more
distinctly made than has been done in their
declaration of purpose when creating the
organization, and for just such occasions as
the present condition of the Fair.
The business relations and interests OF
the members of the Chamber give them an
excellent opportunity to promote the Fan
as well as the general well-being of the
city, and all of them will take pleasure in
doing 80, but then apart from that conside.
ration there is committee ready to take
up Just such work of communicating infor-
nation and securing active efforts in the
country through plain and concerted efforts
efforts that will not continue only for a
week or month, but throughout the season,
and not stop short of securing all which
shall be assigned to it. Let the Board of
Directors of the Fair call upon the Cham
Der of Commerce, as they have a right to
do for this cooperative work, and it will be
cordially, and effectively contributed. The
effect will extend outside of the Chamber,
and run through all the business channels
of the city, and be chief and desirable
aid to the Secretary of the Fair in working
up the many details of interest pertaining
to it, which he always has to do.
A large and varied exhibit and overflow
ing numbers of people, coming from far
and near, is what we want. To secure
them, the Fair management must have the
cooperation to which it is entitled, and
in this we Sre sure the Chamber of
Commerce will lead the way by generous
action. 1t is done elsewhere and why not
in Stauntons
We can add other considerations than
those Immediately associated with the Fair,
suggesting early efforts in its behalf,
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