The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-05-11
FARM NOTES.
Edited by John c. Edgar, Duval, to whom all
communications for this column should be adj
dressed

Agricultural Editor Statesman
Feeling that l had earned day.
holiday | resolved to run down Il
Taylor and take ia the fair. Acting
on this resolution / boarded the Inter
national and Great Northern cars las
Thursday, and after all hours rul
. through one of the finest farming dis
tricts in the United States found my
self dumped IN the side track Of the
dirtiest, meauest depot between The
Red river and the Rio Grande. Elk
perienced travellers know that il il
not safe to judge a town or country
from the car windows, and the maxim
applies TO the city of Taylor, but not
Williamson county, as represented by
the valley between that city aud
Round Rock, which is fairly repre-
sentative of the whole country; hut
The Iair city of Taylor is libelled by
the sample presented to the railway
traveller. The depot and its imme.
diate surroundings are unlucky and
illtavored; out the business aad resi-
Dental portions Outvie those of most
cities in the state.
Williamson has more than state
reputation for good farmers, intelli-
gent, progressive stock men, and fine
stock; and the reputation is
well deserved. These progressive
citizens about ten years ago struck the
idea OF making an annual exhibit of
their stock and produce, with view
to mutual mprOvement and advertis.
ing the advantages Of their county
These exhibits developed into a fair,
which for several years did much to
educate those Interested in stock and
agriculture, and bring tie city OF Tay.
lor into good repute. l have often
held up this fair.&s model for other
counties, and felt myself indebted to
its promoters for getting together
such fine exhibition. AS | had not
beed able to attend the fair IN the
past two yearg, | paid the present
visit primed with great expectations.
Knowing that the same progressive
men lived in the county aud owned
the best stock in the state, | expected
to feast my critical eye on a large co..
lection of the best animals OF every
class and grand display of other
things that go 20 make up tirsC-class
lair.
But, blessed is he who exreCteth
little lat country faIr) for he does not
run much risk of being disappointed.
The expectation was not justified by
the realization. The whole thing was
a fraud. The public were invited and
urged to visit d fair, and those who
responded found not a fair, but simply
a horserace meeting.
Now, [ don't object to horseraciug
bur on the other hand, enjoy an hon
est trial of speed, endurance AID |
training as much as any man, and | |
hoOrahed as Justify as any body when |
jeff Davis poked his head under the |
wire before Charley NJ in that pacing
race, but L do object to pay honest
money for fair article ana not have
1t delivered. The fair managers got
my money by false pretenses, and any
grand jury, true to their oath, could
not fail to indic5 them on tnat
charge.
There was no fair, [ made v<ry |
thorough inspection Of the grounds, !
stalls and buildings, but [ failed 10
find anything that is expected at a
fair
/ did see two Jersey cows, two Hol
stiens, Hereford bull and COW and |
what Judged to be Two Devon calves
and four sheep, but they were CATER
ed about and mixed up with old
mules and wagon horses ia tn, stalls
that were built for .he protec- !
ton and comfort of cattle, and
looked like they had strayed on to the
grounds and been impouuded for the
offence. There was no card, Tag or
could discover to tell their owners
breed or that they were there as fair
exhibits.
There was very large collection OF
horses, but with the exception of Mr.. |
n. M. Gays fine trottlng stallion and |
q few of his brood mares and colts the
whole crowd seemed to be there for |
sporting purposes.
There was one noticeable exception |
to the general poverty in the stock ex-
hibit and that was in the swine &c.
partment. Harwood and Lebanon
Bros. OF Prairie Lea, Caldwell county,
had several pens OF large English
Berkshire hogs and pigs that would
command admiration in any competi-
lion, and G. E. King of Taylor and
Mr.. Tabor of Georgetown showed
some fine specimens of the popular
Poland China's
Farming machinery was represent
ed by Buckeye binder and a cultiva.
tor, which stood all alone and received |
so. little attention from visitors that
they wore an injured look, and SEEM
ed to beseech removal to some OBJ
scure corner.
The ladies and fine art department
which is generally one OF the
features most attractive to this fair
sex was, TO put 1t mildly, a very
meagre and urattractive display.
The questions naturally occurred TO
me, why this falling of from higb
principles? Who is running the thing
anyhow? The first query ossiCly
finds solution i'll the fact that all
fairs whether county or state.
quickly fail away from first principles
and become excuses for gambling aud |
other immoral practices. The mana.
IL /