Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-08-28
DEGENERATION Of FAIR.
Average County Agricultural
Exhibition Does Not Meet
Purpose Of Originators
SOMETHING ABOUT ORIGIN
Latter Day Fairs Pander More to the
Gambling Passion, the Big Purses
Going to Race Winners, While the
Prizes for Fine Stock are PitifulIy
Small.

FfIzeS TOT FlHe 0SoSN diS Tis"e"y
Small.
Agricultural organizations date back
to the days of Washington. Jefferson
and Adams, who We're largely inter-
ested in the agricultural. developments
of the United States. Washington adj
vocated national fair association
with state auxiliaries. State agricul-
tural societies were advocated during
Washington's administration and fairs
subsequently held in different sections
of the country. The first fair was held
at Washington, d. c., in 1904. The
premiums distributed for the exhibit
of live stock and farm products were
$500, which was apportioned to the
several departments of the exposition
The Columbian Agricultural Society
held fair in 1910 for the promotion
of rural and domestic economy at
Georgetown, d. c. There were large
exhibits of fine wool sheep at this fair
In 1915 the Massachusetts Agricul-
tural Society gave meeting at
Brighton, at which one Of the leading
attractions was blowing matches by
OK teams. These contests proved OF
great advantage to farmers. as better
cultivation of the land was stimulated
At subsequent fairs it became fea-
ture to have leading agriculturists add
dress the farmers on husbandry.
County fairs were slow of develop
ment until about 1910, after which
their organization was characterized
by much energy and frequency. Al
the present time upward of 1000 agri.
cultural fairs maintain organizations
in the United States.
There is in Iowa alone over 100 fai!
ASSOCIATIONS, some good and others bet
ter If the founders of the original fail
at Washington, D. c., should drop In
on fair ground today and find a half
mile track on which was located a
grand stand to hold 1000 people, and
it filled watching a horse race, while
away in one corner of the ground was
few hog pens. with fewer hogs. and
no one there to look at them, they
would surely feel that the development
of the fair has been along wrong
lines. At fair to be held in a few
days there is a purse of $1,000 for one
horse race This same association has
put all hogs in one class with one
premium. so the red, black, white. with
the different strains will be awarded
one prize. This was necessary from
the few entries This at a town that
ships out probably 10000 hogs year.
The secretary Of the same fair at a
neighboring fair was heard to rems rk:
II have booked five concessionaires to-
day" He was. after something to
amuse, not to educate his people.
Surprising $500 of the $1,000 was put
up in premiums for hogs and they
made into four classes. with good first
second and third prizes, what would
be the results. 1t would bring out III
the best hogs in the county and Would
start some to raising hogs for prizes
instead of horses to race.
At another fair this year am told
there will be no running races because
there is so much gambling on runners
but in all probabilities there will DC
paddle wheels and spindles on which
will be $40 bills. revolvers, also soEla
penny collar buttons, stick pins, etc,
and as YOU stand and watch them it
seems funny the number who win bu.-
tons, but no bills or revolvers.
If betting on the races is barred, SO
should the spindle wheel be barred, as
of the two person stands some chance
IN a race. but on a spindle none at all
At a fair attended last year the fair
association advertised no gambling OF
liquor would be allowed on the grounds
which was followed out to the letter.
but on every corner of the business
streets were shell games, crap games
faro layout and booze was sold openly
Hold-ups, fights and trunks we're on
all sides. Decent people We're only
safe at home. This is not only the
conditions at one, but at dozens of So
called fairs County fairs in great
many places have lost their meaning
and are simply places where you car
go and meet your friends from ovel
| the county once a year. Perhaps moi
one in a hundred derive any benefit
whatever but this is not true of state
| fairs.
| State fairs measure a high standard
of excellence in agriculture and are Of
| vast educational Importance to the
| farmer in the prosecution of his work
IT is the ambition of the managers
| of state fairs to meet the expectation
| of farmers in arranging exhibits of the
hest stock and farm products of the
state, and in the sweepstakes cl.sses t.
secure an exhibit of the best live stock
| in the country.
| The helpful educational features OF
fairs should be the paramount desid-
| eratum All that appertains to scien-
| tif1c agriculture in machinery. lane
cultivation and agricultural products
! should be made prominent at fairs
The amusement feature should be SUI
bordinated to the higher educationa
exhibits that are intended to promote
agriculturea More artistic decorations
and more attractive arrangement Of
exhibits will lend a pleasing attribute
| to fairs.