Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-12-25

sion of some of the topics relating to
agriculture, and among many of the
important subjects selected to be dis.
cussed ia this: ssShall Missouri Have
State Fair?" What we farmers In
this and other States need most is q
better knowledge of more thorough
understanding with each other, and
substantial facts of our true condition
founded upon principles and figures
To be better able to secure these
truths and figures we should see and
know more of each other; more of our
labors, successes aud adverses, and
should understand thoroughly and be
in full Sympathy with all of our pro-
dueing interests. The agriculturists,
the miners, the hortieulturists, the
mechanics, the manufacturers. and
the stock raisers, are all brothers In
the same common cause, and eonsti-
tute all the component elements OF
state. To them alone is the credit
due for snatching Missouri from ma
lures arms; subduing the prairies,
clearing up the forests, turning them
into happy and prosperous homes and
placing her in the most enviable posi-
ton she now occupies in the great
galaxy of States. Not to any one or
any two of these professions is the
honor alone due, no more SO than full
credit would he due to one or two
wheels of a watch or clock Tor its conn.,
pieteness. 1t requires them all in one
body. They together constitute the
great protecting machine of State. II
is just as important for us to under
stand them all, and the relation they
bear to each other, as it is for an Gu
gineer to understand thoroughly ev-
cry part of his engine; or tor a d,stor
to know the anatomy of the human
system before he is competent to pre-
scribe for its wants. The question
now arises, "Is there any better way
to secure this knowledge than at a
State Fair?" / think not. We should
meet annually at some available CEN
traliy located place designated by a
Board OF Directors, composed of Is
members, one selected from each con-
gressIonal district in the State, and
one appointed by the Governor at
large, which would give all parts of and
every interest in the State its proper
representation, and then offer suitable
premiums for all the important pro-
ducts and industries of the State, ac-
cording to their merit, which should
be provided for by the legislature.
If we will now consider but for a mo.
ment our great and growing agricul-
tural interests, the variety and quail
ity of our horses. cattle. sheen and
hogs, the number and diversity of our
mines, the extent of our manufactor-
les and the many other Iass jn,nor-
tant products too numberous to here
mention, We could have partial idea
oi .lie sastness ana grandeur oI an ex-
iuis : no. Una. coulu ;., oe lllaue py missouri;
eau say Without rear OF successiui
con.iauictioi. tiae there Is no otner
seate III 'ne 9nIon that couIu approx
1rI 1ma'e an eAliol1 ,na. we c9uio MAKE
ne drawing t3gether Oh large num-
ger vi people, IapofihS III the same
lielu, anu allow tnem an opportunity
20 eAtiipit the fruits OF tneir industry,
discuss points OF merit, recite their
experiences ana picture out the Key 70
success, VIII 90 more 10 enthuse ana
stimulate man TO extra exeruon than
thost any tninS else can imagine;
Olhef states nave seen ana recognized
lhe Importance ana necessity oi sucn q
move. other states are receiving the
oenehIs anu fewafds accruihg Irou,
sLch an enterprise, anu see no eooo
reason why missouri siiouia proefasu.
iate longer. Inc producing class o.
llls StaIe are JUST as loyai, just AZ
worthy anu la"-ap'dihg ~ can OK N
louuu any where, ahu ehei'ieo 70 az
llueh consideration. otner lnterests
are a wa'cheo anu recognizeo 10 some
vent.
Our State, at the last General AS
sembly, appropriated 1000 to make
geological survey: to dig down int
the earth and hunt up new fields O
mineral: S. 600 to a horticultural 40
ciety. / think it commendahle for 8
State to show enterprise and pluck
1t is Just as commendable i'm State a,
1t is in an individual, but L think ,
State should use her money with tn,
same prudence that we expect of an in
divldual. OF how much more genera
advantage to the public do YOU thinl
the So. 900 lust mentioned would hav,
been if it had been prudently expend
ed in giving suitable rewards to tn,
producing classes, according to tn,
different degrees of success they hav,
attained.
| No prudent man who respects as h,
should the laws of economy, would b,
willing to make investments of an,
kind before he had fully considered
| the outlay and figured out the proba
| BILE returns OF his investment. A mai
enioylng a public trust and the conf
dence of his constituents, should b.
doubly cautious how he handles tn,
funds placed at his disposal. Befor
! it would be prudent and right for
State Fair to be established in Nilsson
ri or any other State. a fair and accu
rate calculation should be made, as {.
the probable running expenses which
have calculated would be met by
small admittance fee charged at tn
gate; and an appropriation of S25, 90
from the Legislature would be an am
ple sum to be distributed i'm premiums
Now another very important cues
ton comes up: Would that 81, 900 b.
burdeusome to our citizens? Accord
ing to the last Auditors report tn
taxable property of Missouri wa
1880, ,6a2 245. .3S, and 1t would take ia,
of .Ct)32 of a mill on each taxable dolIa
to raise S25 900. Or if a man had prop
erty worth SIG, 900 at the usual way Q
assessing 1t would cost him q little les
than IL cents. These are facts an,
figures, and the way the taxabl
wealth OF Missouri is increasing /
would be but few years until tn
lcost would not be more than cent
for a man worth so, 900 to run Stat
fair. if direct assessment should b
made for that purpose. i know yer
we'll that the word "fair" convey
with it to the minds of some people al