The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1903-10-05
President F. L. Benope, of
Board of Directors,
Makes a Speech.
FOLLOWED BY T00LE
Exhibits in Chaotic Shape
but Are Creditable
to the State.
SPECIAL TO TIE INTER MOUNTAIN.


Helena, Oct. s.-Regardless of cloudy
weather, which threatened rain, the first
Montana state fair was inaugurated today
with fitting ceremony in the presence OF
several hundred spectators who braved the
elements to lend their presence and help
give the fair good send off.
The dedication exercises were to have
been held about I o'clock, but it was lit.
tie after that time when Governor Toole
and several Of the fair officials went
through the brief ceremonies.
From an improvised speakers stand in
the grand stand i. l.. Benope of Bozeman.
the president OF the state fair, delivered a
brief address of welcome and introduced
Governor Toole.
The governor welcomed to Helena the
people OF Montana generally and praised
the work OF the managers of the fair. He
dwelt upon the benefits to be derived from
the fair and expressed the hope that the
venture would prove a success.
Governor Toole's Speech.
"Thc action of the Eighth legislative
assembly, making possible an annual state
fair touched popular chord and met with
a hearty response from the entire public"
said the governor. 1T will grow in mag
nitude and Importance from year to year
until the prime movers in this great enter
prise will be securely entrenched in the
hearts of the people.
1T is not and never can be local
affair. With foresight and wisdom
which does not always obtain in legsla-
tive bodies, the bill for the establishment,
and maintenance of the state fair provided
for the appointment OF one director from
each county by their respective boards of
county commissioners. This. with unified
public interest, insured to the people in
fact what its name implies-a fair for the
benefit OF the whole state.
'"Detracting nothing from the great in
fernational, national and interstate fairs
which have drawn so heavily upon the ma
tional and the state treasures | am firm
in the conviction that the public money
In young state can be better spent in
promoting such expositions as are here
given within its own borders. 1t stimu-
lates home production and home pride,
furnishes an opportunity for the public at
large to derive some pleasure and profit
at moderate expense, and, above all, ad-
vertises to our own people the resources
OF our own state about which there is little
less than lamentable ignorance and mis-
information abroad than at home
Pioneer Days Passed.
The governor said that the pioneer days
had passed and Montana had entered upon
new era. He referred to what irrigation
is doing for Montana and what more it
will do under the fostering aid Of con-
gress. He quoted freely from the report
Of Professor Fortcr OF the agricultural
college on irrigation.
The governor said that although the
state had appropriated only $4,000 for the
fair the citizens Of Helena, with COM
mendable enterprise, had subscribed liber-
ally for the purchase OF the fair grounds
and fitting them up.
Citizens in other parts OF the state had
also contributed literally and he was in
formed by Chairman NARROW of the ex-
ccutive committee that in all So 900 had
been placed at the disposal Of the fair He
predicted the fair would be success in
every way.
Following the speaking the Montana
State band of Helena played some Sc
lectons after which Odell, the high diver,
thrilled the spectators with 65-foot drop
into three feet of water.
Races This Afternoon.
Although the track is hecvy the racing
will be pulled off this afternoon as per
CONTINUED on Page Five)