The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1904-09-28
ESPECIAL coRRrspoNpENcn.I

ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE
The fact that the attendance at
the recent state fair was sufficient
to net upwards of $25, 600, with four
rainy days out of the six, shows the
popularity Of these annual exposi
tions. Of course, if it had been
known in advance that it was to be
a rainy week the most of those who
came from a distance would have
remained at home. But the greater
portion of the people of the north
west make a practice of coming to
the twin cities at least once a year
to do some special trading or to
visit relatives, and they generally
come during fair time. Such peo-
pie were here this year as usual, at
the beginning of the week, and
though the rain interfered with the
outdoor sports to some extent, and
made it disagreeable generally, it
did not keep these visitors away
from the fair. They had a good
chance to see all the indoor exhib-
its, and were perhaps benefited
more thereby than if they had
spent the same amount of time
outdoors.
But it is remarkable that enough
people travelled through rain and
mud to the fair grounds to roll up
fund of $25, 600 above all expenses,
for the expenses are enormous. A
great many people attribute the
popularity and prosperity of the
state fair and the state agricultural
society to the managerial capacity
of the association S officers and man.
ayers. This is of course true to a
great extent. The men who man.
age the state fairs are enterprising,
active and brainy. They do all in
their power to make every fair a
little better than the preceding one.
They secure greater attractions in
the way of amusements and exhib-
its, and advertise it more extern
sively each year. This has the de-
sired effect and it is natural that
the management should receive
credit for it.
But the great moving force in the
Improvement of the state fair and
the increase in attendance from
year to year, is the people them
selves. They are interested in the
advancement of the commercial, in
dustrial and agricultural interests
of their adopted state, and they
watch the. state fairs because the
latter show the advancement and
general condition of these interests,
just as the pulse indicates the con-
dition of the human system. With
out the state fairs they would hard
ly know whether the state was
really going forward or backward.
The people of all trades and pro-
fessions realize their Importance,
and every legislature appropriates
money for additional buildings in
which to exhibit our products and
our resources. Good buildings in
which to make exhibits do more
than anything else to bring desir-
able exhibits. The state gives
money for Improvements, the i'm
provements bring the people, and
the admissions pay all the expenses
OF management, and more.
~
1t might be said that the improve
ment in the state fair from year to
year keeps pace with the improve
ment of the state, and that the
growth of the two is in exact pro-
portion. The fairs Of twenty years
ago were perhaps as true an index
of the states condition at that time
as those now being held are of the
present time. We have simply out
grown the old regime and the fairs
we are holding now will doubtless
be completely overshadowed by the
ones that will be held twenty years
hence Such is the lau Of nronrnc.