The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-11-30
AS TO II FAIR!A

spondent wrote that paper as follows:
1.-THE fact that Vanderbilt took sew
enty premiums end the 800 special
prize &C the Fair last week gives dis
tinction, The argument is that the
farmer who has a little spare cash puts
forth every eftorG to make a creditable
exhibit, hoping Co be at least repaid by
the premium money, and he has TO
compete for these premiums with a
man Who has unlimited cash to MAKE
his exhibit a perfect one The BRIt4
more exaibit could get all the diplomas
and honorable mentions, bu' they thtnE
the cash prizes should go to the tHTm
ers (tsRilcs Oure)
These were sentiments, and we
promptly said 80. Two great farms
secured seventy or m re premiums
at the last State Fair, and IN last
Tuesdays Nsws and Observer the Sec
rotary confesses that there were only
about 5000 in prizes awarded TO farm
ers using less than five horses. Now
some seem to think that we object to
these great farmers" making exhibits
Tnis is not the case. The Fair should
show the best of the States products,
and without the exhibits Of Farmer
Vanderbilt" and the best products OF
the far famed Occonneechee Farm, it
could not do 30. In fact, the State
would not be fairly represented.
Bat it appears to US that, for the
good of the Fair, if nothing else, the
small farmers" should have the first
consideration.
In his letter to the Naws-and Obser
yer last Tuesday, the Secretary @ ms
20 think that the farmers using less
than SIX horses did we'll to ecu 5000
in premiums. List us see. The Pee
MUM List OF the State Fair shows that
the premiums on farm anu garden
CROPS amounted 10 $3.50; on horses,
1878; on cattle, 1867; GA sheep, $500; On
swine, 1878; IN pOuiCry about $3.50, and
on horticultural products about $3.50
we don'6 guarantee these figures TO
be perfectly accurately. II the email
farmers" cut such a big figure it Is
rather strange they didn'G get more
premiums. But, say the managers, tie
premiums we're not competed for, or
owing TO the small attendance at the
Fair. couldn't be paid. Very we'll,
that simply shows thas the small farm
ers are not patroniE ng it, and the only
reason we a give il thaE they are be
ing choked out, or don't care to help
out a fakir chow.
o. course when our editor read the
Sacretary's letter in the News and 90
server last Tuesday, he r swled into q
hole and tried 10 pull the hole in after
MIN. The above we're a few Of 5he facts
he learned while there
There is just n other funny thing
he discovered while in the hole. He
found a copy of the Charlotte 0 Jserver
of November On, and he found That
it's Raleigh correspondent had this to
say:
IN reply to criticisms for the giving
of the 800 special pr1z3 TO George Van
derbilt, q great farmer, and the alleged
discrimination against the small farm
ers, tina officers of the State Fair say
chat if they depended upon the small
farmers they would hardly get a wagon
load of exhibits at the Fair; that they
offered the big priz9 to induce large
farmers TO compese, such az Wander
biIt, Carr, Wolf and Bagwell. They
say further that every small farmer
who made exhibits in Department. a
took a premium"
IF they depended upon the small
farmers they would hardly geta wagon
load of exhibits at the Fair" That's
good, but it appears to the best advan-
rage only when placed by the side of
Secretary Nichols statement that the
''smaIl farmers" won 5000 In premiums
II a wagon load of EXHIBITS gets 5000 in
priumums-well, to use the Secretary's
own worCs I'm the language of Snake
speare, Lord, Lordr"
This tells how we stand, and we have
now given about as much space to this
question as it deserves Our columns,
however are open to all for discussion
of it. We have objected more to the
immortality of the Fair in general than
to the discrimination against small
farmers. the State should have a Fair,
but we object to las paying 81. 500 to
help out a takir show. That's all.
QUILL DRIVERS.
What They are Saying and DSing.