Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-10-14
FAIR WAS A
BIG SUCCESS
Exhibits Far Exceeded in Quantity
and Quality the Fondest Hopes
of the Promoters.
RELAY RACE WAS EXCITING
Fergus County Had the Only Com
pIete Exhibit Of ores-The Fruit
Display Magnificent.
(By Argus STAFF Correspondent.

(By Argus Staff Correspondent.
Il is all over now and every in.
habitant of the state has heard with
pride of the success of the state fair
which ended in the capital last Satur.
day. And it was in reality a state
fair, for not only were the communi-
ties in close touch with the capital
represented, but from the entire
length and breadth of the common
wealth came representatives multi
tudinous to assist in making the un-
dertaking a success. For six conse-
cutive days the grounds were visited
daily by immense throngs and not one
of those visitors but marveled at the
elaborate exhibits of the varied re.
sources of our state, and of the forty
thousand persons who passed through
the gates not one has been heard to
say that the event did not more than
meet his most optimistic anticipa-
tions. An eloquent testimonial as to
the enthusiasm and satisfaction shown
by the visitors was displayed on the
closing day, when one of the largest
crowds Of the meeting was present.
Usually the closing day of such
events does not attract many.
AS fair it was an ideal event, ev-
cry branch of business and industry
known in our state having a share in
its exhibits. AS a state institution IL
wholly fulfilled its mission of drawing
together in closer unity the people
and the resources of our state. Many
made to the grounds previous to the
opening day, but withal there was not
enough room for the exhibits. as ev-
en- the most optimistic director did
not look for so generous a response
to the invitation sent out broadcast to
the people to come and take part in
bringing about a successful meeting.
The unfavorable weather conditions
of Monday and Tuesday did not deter
fairly large crowds from witnessing
the attractive programs of those two
days, and when an Improvement was
shown in the weather Wednesday the
rush began and did not end until the
last race was run Saturday evening
Every county in the state had hun
dreds, and many of them thousands,
of representatives, and scarcely a
town or hamlet that did not have
some one to show for ii.
Great Fruit Display.
The grand surprise of the meeting
to most of those in attendance was
the superb display of fruits made
from so many different sections of the
state. For years the orchards of the
Bitter Root and other valleys on the
west side have produced, rivaling the
best productions of the orchards of
Michigan and New York. but few per-
sons knew that in Clark's Fork valley
are grown as luscious apples as were
ever metamorphosed into pie. and
that in several sections of Carbon
county first quality apples are being
grown on the lands that but few
years ago were the camping grounds
of the Crows The orchards of Car
bon have been yielding but two years,
but the showing made in the state
fair exhibit would indicate that il will
be one of the best apple producing
regions in the state within a few
years Yellowstone. Missoula, Flat
head, Cascade, Gallatin, Lewis and
Clarke and Broadwater counties all
displayed exhibits of fruits as fine In
quality and all other essentials as
were ever seen in the northwest. Be-
side fruits, all the counties mentioned
above and Dawson county showed
magnificent agricultural exhibits.
Broadwater, Yellowstone and Cascade
had the best arranged exhibits, and
many of the exhibits we're marked
without irrigation" absolutely dis
proving the idea that Montana is a
part of the arid belt. Every county
making display of its agricultural
resources did itself proud. The i'm
mense size of the fruit and vegetable
products was a source Of much re.
mark. In the apple exhibits some
times it was difficult to determine
whether they were really apples
or pumpkins, and the same might be
said of the potatoes, onions, cabbage,
caulifower and every other vegetable
displayed. The many varieties Of
grasses shown were also an attractive
feature in this department. Not as
much enterprise was displayed In ad-
vertising the vast mineral wealth of
the state as naturally would be ex-
pected. Lewis and Clarke and Fergus
counties were the only counties max.
ing distinctly county exhibits in this
department. Several mines like the
Snow Shoe and Molly Gibson In the
Libby district. of F1athead county,
and the Howard and Vautuor, of Lew
is and Clarke, made individual ex.
hibits, and the famous Columbian
Gardens exhibit, known all over the
west. was brought over from Butte,
and helped to advertise sections that
otherwise would have been without
representation in this department.
Fergus County Exhibit
The Fergus county exhibit attract
ed much attention by reason of its
excellent collection of cyanide ores
which are not yet known in some
mining sections of the state, and min
ing men from many districts visited
Il TO seek information regarding the
character of these ores. The Boston
& Montana company sent an excellent
display of it's ores and copper pro
ducts from the Great Falls smelter
that occupied a prominent place in
the mineral department.
The most interesting feature Of the
live stock department was to be
seen among the cattle exhibited
Charles b. Poer. of Helena, won the