The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-03
H. B. Boyer,
Local Forecast Official.
Advertising the state Fair.

Editor Morning News: Like every
other Georgian possessed of state pride,
and wishing to add to the material well
fare. progress and prosperity of her
people, l want to see the State Fair a
complete success, not only as to ex
hibits, but an immense crowd as well.
In fact, without a large number of Wis
itors the Fair will be a fiat failure be
the exhibits and attractions ever so
magnificent.
1t matters not where the State Fair
is held it is state institution, and
should elicit the hearty support of
every Georgian, whether he dwells in
the salt marshes of Chatham or Glynn,
or the rugged peaks of Rabun or Hab-
ersham.
Within the past month have trav-
eled through a good portion of North
and Central Georgia, and the people of
those sections do not know much of the
State Fair, and it is getting to be about
time to do some vigorous advertising.
/ do not know the advertising man of
the State Fair management, and have
no desire or inclination to criticize, but
will say the responsibility of the sue
State Fair rests entirely upon his
shoulders. as far as the attendance
goes, and by your permission will give
him, through your columns, a few
good, natural pointers" in a brief way.
1t is well enough to use paper on
boards in other parts of the state. but
not necessary in Savannah, as IL is
presumed that most people in
this section are posted Last
90
of the Interstate Fair in Atlanta
neglected to advertise the fair, and
the attendance was a most magnifi-
cent failure, though the exhibits were
very creditable. Plates were stereo-
typed, giving the attractions to be
seen and sent to the state press with
the modest request to insert free OF
charge for the general public good,
thus throwing ALL or larger part, of
the advertising expense on a class of
men who can i'll afford to do such
work without remuneration. as they
do more and get less pay for ii than
any other class of men, the doctor not
excepted. / refer directly to the rural
editors of this state. The Interstate
management ignored the country press
entirely, except of the tender of the
dead beat advertising sent out in what
the boys call pot metal literature !"
Some of these plates were inserted
occasionally IN some obscure part OF
the papers, while others found sweet
repose IN what we printers call the
dark recesses Of his Satanic maJesty's
darkest realm--the hell box" The
editors did not care a continental
whether the people knew anything Of
the Interstate Fair or not, and the
small attendance told the tale. At the
last minute the press was invited to
Atlanta to eat barbecue and drink
beer. but 1t was too late for such a
small representation Of the
press to do anything towards
pulling the Fair management out of
the nine-hole. and the whole thing was
a fiat fizzle. / write thus plainly with
no unkind feelings towards the Inter-
state people, but to give a pointer to
the Savannah management. that they
may not commit similar blunder
During the panic year OF 1873 Col w.
A. Huff of Macon made the State Fair
grand success when the whole coun-
try was In a financial wreck. which
shook the continent. Such a crowd Of
people was never before seen in Ma
con. II was impossible for a number
of visitors to get a place to sleep or
anything to eat. Col. HUFF put every
dollar he could spare into advertising
been long time ago. but can almost
the wording of his letter vfr-
batum, but the part which caught me
was: Dear c.: Please find check
for SO. This Is not pay for the work.
but do the best you can for the Fair,
old boy"
These checks were sent to every pa
per in Georgia, some more and some
less, according to the rated calculations
of the papers and their local influence.
Others like myself felt that we had a
interest In the success of the
Fair. and went to work, with the re-
suit previously mentioned, l am sure
/ gave the Georgia State Fair
that panic year not less than
two hundred dollars worth Of ad.
vertising at the regular rates and other
men did the same thing
These are not panicky times, the peo-
pie are generally prosperous and the