The age-herald., 1899-03-05
Richards Favors The Fair.

"1he project to hold a state agricultural fair in Alabama is good one, and meets our earnest and hearty approval. A prop erly conducted state fair would subserve several important purposes which could not be reached in any other way Among these it may be mentioned that 1t would give the state wide advertisement. By Che assem- bling of the states productions and res sources, its wealth would be shown in a concrete and tangible form and prove an object lesson which no theoretical position could gainsay It would bring together the best people of the state and form better acquaintance with each other by the mag netism of personal contact. It would stimulate healthy and vigorous competi- tion among the various sections, whereby all would be benefited and no one would be injured. It would promote and dissemi- nate new and improved methods of farm- ing, which could not fail of benefting the farmer and enriching the state. It would draw crowd of people from all sections of the country and place the advantages of Alabama before them as would be pos sible in no other manner and induce im- migration and capital to locate there.
 "A display of Alabama's agricultural wealth such as would result from a state fair, demonstrating what had been already accomplished, would be suggestive of what might be done under the most favored con- ditions. and could not fail of being of the greatest material advantage to those who are now endeavoring to place the state in the position to which her natural resources of soil, climatic conditions and topograph- ical location so manifestly indicate she is entitled to occupy.
 'These are only a few of the reasons which could be given every season for a state agricultural fair In Alabama and that such an exposition should be made perma- nent. This is a laudable and praise worthy movement which should receive the enthusiastic support of every citizen of the state. It is a long step in the right drec- tion, and if you think We can be of any service to you in promoting it, kindly ad- wise and We will see what we can do."
 Merchant Bears Brunt of It.
 The citizens of Birmingham are by no means lacking in interest in this move ment It is true that some people can be found who kick against it, but their single objection is that they say only the mer- chants of the city will be called on to put up tho money, whereas every citizen of the district should become a stockholder in the company and assist in pushing it to success. These kickers claim, and not un- justly so that whenever there is any public movement on foot that it is the merchant who has to bear the brunt of it, while the average citizen Is not even approached on the subject. But still there are many of them who openly advocate the holding of 6 fair.
 Tt is good move,'' said President Sten- er of the Commercial club, yesterday land one which Birmingham should push to consummation. There are a number of merchants and business men in the city who have come to me recently asking why we didn't have a fair They claim that there is no other institution which draws crowds to a city like fair does; that is, people who come to combine business with pleasure and spend their money as well as enjoy themselves. We ought to have a fair"
 "A state fair?" queried Maj F. Y. Ander- son, land commissioner of the Alabama Great Southern railroad. Why certainly Birmingham should have one It is pub lie enterprise which assists everybody con cerned, and there Is nothing that would do Birmingham so much good. I think that 1t is an enterprise in which the corpora tions and the individual citizens should do everything in their power to promote"
 'The people of Birmingham raise thous- ands of dollars every year for their Mardi Gras Carnival" said J. A. Rountree, sim ply to look at the parades and for the fun of the thing, while for very little more money invested In 0 fair association an in- stitution could be built up which would bring thousands of orderly, buslness-like people to the city, who would remain and spend their money, not for two but for six or eight days The fair Is the thing"
 Certainly we ought to have oue," said Robert Newman.
 "A state fair is a proposition which ap- peals to everybody as a most sensible one" said J. B. McClary. '.I think we would have to get new grounds. for the old ones are too far out and too inaccessible Smiths patk On the western edge of the city would be aE Ideal place for fair, and 1 nave no doubt that other such places