Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1901-10-31

| New Me,
As one tar differs from another in
glory. so 1t may be said OF fairs,
though one being celestial and tho
other terrestrial. the comparison cen
go no further as far as the W arc
concerned. But as to fairs terrestrial,
much can be said. whether they be
county, district. territorial or state.
o
went down to Albuquerque via the
Santa Fe route, hating six hours at
La Junta for the train from the east
to come along and pick up the dis
gruntled crowd that wondered why
| closer connections could not be made,
since the waiting brought passengers
into the town close unto midnight.
But the ways of the railroad people
are past finding out, though IL Is safe
to assume that they know their busi-
ness better than the grumbling pub
lie.
After a half nights rest and a two
mile ride In a street car drawn by a
mule to the fair grounds, situated in
the old and Mexican part OF the town.
were reached and entered. Generally,
| during fair times In Colorado mer-
chants and business men have prem.
ium lists. gotten up in neat and at
tractivo style, for distribution. Not
| finding any In town before starting,
my first inquiry ut the secretary's OF
fee was for n copy and with IL came
my first surprise.
II was q 3x5-inch folder of eight
pages that was handed out as the pre-
MUM list of the twenty first annual
territorial fair. Four pages were de-
voted to the premiums offered, n to
list Of officers. n to railroad an
nouncements, one to the statehood
convention and the first page covered
announcements of the various feat
ures booked for the five days. |
think of all the premium lists ever
printed, this one, In size. takes the
cake" This. too, for an association
that has existed twenty-one years.
o
While not claiming to be n great
agricultural country, New Mexico an
nounce TO the world at large that II
has counties within It's borders In
which hundreds of thousands OF acres
OF fine farming lands a be found,
while not one in twenty has a settler
on them. Hence II was fair to assume
that the directors of an industrial fair
would pay a fair measur of attention
To the products of the soil In order
that the strangers within their gates
Mt such a time might be favorably
impressed. But did they? II the tiny
booklet was a surprise. a still greater
one was in store for the writer, In its
contents as far as premiums for soil
products were concerned.
o
Here they are.
$3.50 pest exhibit fruits. cereals
and vegetables from any county.
$3.50 best exhibit minerals from any
district.
s25 best exhibit Of sheep.
s25 best exhibit of poultry.
Total-s35O.
Nothing at all for cattle or horses.
Nothing for individual exhibits. No
special premiums. | could not help
thinking of the difference shown in
this line between those offered here
and at the little district fair held at
durango the previous week, where
about 81, 900 was set aside for associa'
ton premiums, not counting the spec
ial ones.
But when 1t came to games and
races, ah there! the sporting proclivi
ties OF the people came splendidly to
the front. Base ball, first prize, 81.
600; second, $500, open to the
world" such n tournament wei
[might be. Horse races. purse, So.
900. Cowboy contests. 1925. Total
for games and races, si,725. Truly q
10 to | affair for a fair.
Said one of the speakers at the
statehood convention, OF which some
thing will be said later on: IF the
strength of the country be In It's farm
ers, New Mexico has them In a thous'
and valleys-sturdy, honest, home.
loving, Woodworking husbandmen.
II the standards shall deal with men
who know and love animals and who
give their life to scientific develop
ment of mans four-footed friends,
the rolling mesas and the wide prai-
rles are alive with them"
O.
II may be so. But II was not shown
at this t~wenty-lrst territorial fair just
at a time when the largest and finest
display OF soil products should have
been made, In order that new settlers
might be attracted to the territory.
II Colorado, after n quarter of a cen
fury of statehood, finds IL difficult to
secure the farmer and the fruit grow
er for lands close to settlements, vii
lagos, towns and cities having about
them all the environments Of a set
tied, high-grade civilization, how
can New Mexico, still in the era Of
frontier development, expect much
In the way of immigration?
o
Adaptability of soil and climate ca
not be questioned. though scanty wat
er supply for irrigation will always
be a drawback. The collection sent
down from San Juan, In the extreme
northwestern corner, from Otero, on
its southern border. and that from the
country in which the fair was held,
all went to prove that grains and
grasses, farm and garden products,
all orchard fruits. can be grown In
some sections OF New Mexico of as
fine quality as u own state can pro-
duce, with home markets to consume
them, II Is stated that peaches from
T~ularosa, In Otero county. gained
the premium at the worlds fair In
1893. That the almond, the English
walnut and the olive, as well as the
date palm and the Pistachio nut
thrive in what is known as the Sacra-
mento valley; indeed, the first three
named We're shown In the exhibit,
as well as German and French
prunes. White celery from the Ala
magordo settlement of late years has
been found In our Denver markets.
The wide range OF altitude gives
New Mexico the same advantages of