The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-10-10

THE finest exhibit of the kind in
the state" Nothing can be found in
Spokane to equal this" These and
many similar expressions could be
heard from the visitors at the open
ing of the Flathead county fair yes
ter afternoon, as they thronged the
building containing the various fruit
exhibits. Not one of the many people
who did not pause at some point in
the long line of fruits and go into
raptures over some particularly fine
sample of the marvellous horticultural
resources of the county. AS an indi-
cation of the feelings of the visitors
may be taken the statement of Sena-
tor Paris Gibson, who, in conversa-
tion with one of the fair directors, re-
marked that at no far ever held in
Montana that he had attended had he
ever witnessed such a display of fruit
as at the Flathead county fair. 1t
was a revelation to him, as he had no
idea that fruit of the quality exhib-
tied could be grown in Montana.
Wednesday morning, when the day
commenced with heavy clouds over
casting the sky and a light rain fall
ing, there was a general feeling Of
disappointment, and as the hours
passed on and the rain showed no
signs of abating, the old cry of "Kal-
ispell's luck" was again revived. The
directors of the fair association, who
for the past six weeks have been
working hard for the success of the
fair, were particularly gloomy at the
dashing of their hopes. There was
no attempt to hold races, and the en-
tire day was consumed by the many
exhibitors in arranging their dis
plays. Outside of the exhibitors and
others whose business compelled them
to remain at the grounds, there was
but few visitors, and the day closed
in general feeling of gloom.
Yesterday, however, there was a
decided change for the better, and
while the weather was not all that
could be desired, no rain fell, and a
larger crowd was in attendance,
particularly in the afternoon when
two good races were held.
About 2 o'clock the crowd began to
gather and with the arrival of the
band, there were several hundred peo-
pie on the grounds who amused
themselves until the speech of Sena-
tor Gibson and the commencement of
the races by viewing the many exhib-
it's.
Senator Gbson's Address.
Early in the afternoon, when the
grand stand was quite filled by the
eager spectators, Major Baldwin rose
to his feet and called for attention
as he made the Introduction of United
States Senator Paris Gibson of Great
Falls.
Senator Gibson, in acknowledging
the presentation to the large and in.
telligent audience, said that during a
residence of twenty years in Montana
it had never before been his fortune
to visit the Flathead valley or stop
over in Kalispell, and he was sur
prised and gratified at the indica-
tions of prosperity and progress on
every hand. He had since his arrival
two days previously driven about the
valley and taken notice of the splen.
did orchards and farms of this i'm
mediate vicinity and along the lake
and from what he had seen and heard
considered Flathead county the rich
est agricultural county in the state
One that could not be held down, but
which would in a very few years
take its place in the vanguard of the
populous and productive divisions oil
the state. In a few short years, he
predicted, that this county would be
first in population and wealth, as the
farm is over all. The wheat, the
fruit, the vegetables and the timber
of F1athead county needed only a
brief time to develop and people
would come here by hundreds and
by thousands within the next few
years He especially recommended
the patronage of home industries
here and a combined movement tc
meet the demand of the less forum
ate parts of the state for luxuries OF
the farm and garden, common to the
soil of Flathead county.
Speaking of the benefits of the ma
!, tional irrigation law, he said;