Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-10-14
SHALL THE KENNEBEC VALLEY
Have a ..Maine state Central Agricui
tural Society," IfNot. Why Not:

EIstoys OF the Keanejee Journal;
Thss the Ksnnsbec valley contributes
seven. tenths Of all the prize animsls exhio'
tied al the Maine State Fail st Lewiston,
snd larger proportion st Mr.. Bass East
srn State Show, has never been disputed.
That Wassfvills 10 the great railroad centre
Of the State and point which the people
can reach with the least trouble. is equSiiy
true That there Is ane location for one
Of the grsndest parks in New England, IS
Il ar the Maine Central railroad - Maple
wood PARK" il 10 the station in Bangor and
where the horse railroad company can lay
q track to the grounds with little expense
any one can see who will take the trouble
10 examine.
Appleton Webb Esq has in his track
and grounds the nucleus Of such psrk
and with the addition Of Oak Hill and
that part Of the Flat on the east side OF
the old Fairfield Centre road owned by the
Messrs. Flood, all Of which l am told can
be purchased for the above purpose at very
reasonable rates, i: would make =
most desirable park and fair grounds
The business men Of Wateryilie have
been wisely considering what means they
should employ TO give increased life and
activity to the city and its many and varied
interests Have they ever candidly con-
sldered the importance Of q gigantic sgri-
cultural horticultural and mechanical e1hi'
bition of the magnitude such an enc might
be here:
have been engaged in breeding and
showing prize animals for many years, hav-
ing exhibited in the great cities of the West
as far as Kansas City and st. Louis, and as
far South as New Orleans, and l have
never seen or heard Of city that was will
ing to lose one of their annual exhibitions.
On the contrary they were willing to put
out thousands and tens Of thousands OF
dollars, il necessary, to retain them |
exhibise in city the present year where
one of the business men told me that ''Ghe
Fair located there wss worth to the city
s75 900 a year" OF so much Importance
do the business men of St. Louis look upon
their Fair that they often expend $4,000
in street parade TO entertain their visitors,
and think the money well expended.
Seventy-two enterprising, business men
Of Roche ser, n. h, (this ike WaterVilie
10 something of q railroad centre sixteen
years ago organ. I'd for the purpose Of
holding a fair, and improving the stock Of
that section, They contributed one collar
eact-S72, hi,ed an old rundown park and
held their first exhibition. Success
crowned their efforts. They put brains
and business MANAGEMENT into it. They
soon had money enough in their treasury to
purchase forty acres Of cheap land, then
the money flowing in. they commenced to
make permanent improvements putting
every dollar they made into them. The
result is, just VIVA. might be expected with
their sound, business msnageme1t-the
finest cattle sheds and horse stables in New
England. Exhibition buildings and grand
stsnd--in fact, everything in the finest
condition, and no debt, but on the contrary
q bushel CT money in the treasury.
But with the wealth there is in Waterville
and vicinity we d not wish to begin at
the foot Of the ladder, and there 10 no
need of it. I believe that, apart from the
great advantage Of such an organization
to the business Of Wsterville
and Fsi Geld, the money judiciously
expended, snd the association Offered
with practical business men. would pay 8
large dividend upon the Investment. In
summing up the advantage Of this gres,
Maine Central Fair" let US not omit the
great central fact. We have the good,
RICH! among US, which. if they do not ex
eel, they can equal any in the world, the
horses, the cattle, in fact everything to
make up fret class show, and all can be
got together in from one to six hours time.
See what s saving in time and expense to
the exhibitor, aud the fair going public il
would be. Would it demnish the interest.
10 the "Old Msise State Fair" Not at all
In fact, it would create greater Interest,
if possible. We must remember that Mai e
ass more ares than all the o.hsr FIVE NV
England states combined; that in live
stock, we can double discount them al
that when the breeder has once been to the
expense Of fitting his choice snimsls for
exhibition, he wishes to show at sll the
fairs be can conveniently reach, not only
for the premiums he can win, put also to
advertise his stock. Let those who have
an interest in these matters, think of this
and give their views upon it.
Fl. G. BURLtrGH
Vsasalhfy, Oct 1891