The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-20
MUSl HAVE A FAIR
MONTGOMERY HAS ADVANTAGE
 OVER OTHER PLACES.
In a Distinctly Agricultural Section There is Every Reason Why State Fair Would Be
 Great Success Here.

Talking of fairs, MT. J. A. MacKnight, who managed and made a success or the recent fair in Birmingham has been talk ing to The Montevallo Sentinel, as fol- lows:
 state fairs are a great thing for any State if they are properly handled, said Mir. J. A. acKnight, general manager os the recent successful fair held at Birming- ham, Mir. MacKnights daughter Rather inc is attending the Girls School here, and he spent yesterday in Montevallo visiting at the school and calling on his friendA
 T hear that Montgomery Is to have a fair next fall,' said The Sentinel man.
 So I understand" said Mir. MacKnight And that will be good thing for Ala bama. The more fairs you have in the State the better for all public and private interests. In Iowa there are about eighty county and district fairs, and the State Fair is the greatest and most successIui annual fair in the world.
 If Montgomery holds a great State Fair in the fall of 1903, what will Btr- mingham do?" was the next question asked by The Sentinel man.
 MT MacKnight replied: "I have no au- thcrity to speak for emingham; or the Fair Association there, but believe that a fair will be held by the association in October, 190S and that 1t will be the great est fair yet held in the State. This, how ever, should be no obstacle to the pro- posed fair at Montgomery. bat rather an incentive to 1t. Emulation in fairs is good All emulation for worthy objects Is a good thing among any people. and 1t could not take a more desirable form than that of friendly rivalry between the cities of the State. They should simply arrange their dates SO as not to confiict--Mont- gomery before Birmingham because so much further Southland then the people can so to both if they like and compare notes"
 (Which of the two places has the best opportunity to hold a really meritorious agricultural fair?' asked the interviewer.
 ''In my opinion Montgomery has the advantage in that respect. because it is in the distinctly agricultural section of the State. The fair there will have the prestige understand, of being under the direct supervision of MT. Poole. the Com missioner of Agriculture. and If some concessions are secured in relation to horse racing, there is no doubt that Mont gonery will fulfill her promise of a fine old-fashioned agricultural fair. Birming- ham has enough people to make a suc- cess of an annual fair there even if the people from the country do not attend. But she possesses many OJneF aLtraCtlOnS that will draw the people to her borders from all parts of the State. If work on the fair of 1908 can be begun In time and pushed with proper spirit and energy; if the merchants of Birmingham will give to the movement due support and coop eration, and if the entire people will unite to make the fair time each year a gala event in the city's life-story, 1t would not be long before the crowds of fair time would equal those of Mardi Gras at New Orleans.
 Montgomery appreciates this point and I understand that work for the fair in 1903 in that city has been begun in earnest already. I take some credit to myself for having stirred up the fair spirit anew in Alabama. I have urged sev- eraI of the counties to hold county fairs next year, and I believe that a number will do so It is one of the best ways to advertise the resources of any district. and at the same time it furnishes ration al amusement and diversion to the people, a desirable element of life which is sad ly lacking nearly everywhere"
 The Sentinel congratulated Mir. Mac Knight on the merits and success of the Birmingham fair of 1902 and expressed the hope It has always felt that per manent State fair. or several of them. may grow out of the interest aroused this year, and lead to a wide disssmina- tion of the truth about the visit undevel- oped resources of Alabama There is food for thought in what MT. MacKnight says.