The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-12-12
COUNTY FAIR AGAIN.
An Enthusiastic Citizen Digs Up An
Old Proposition.
Editor Daily Item:

Editor Daily Item:
Seeing in some paper that it is sug-
gested that an Eastern Carolina Fair
Association be organized, with Oar
lington as the place for holding the
fair. recalls to my mind a suggestion
made over a year ago that Sumter or
ganize such an association, with sum
ter as the most convenient place for
an annual fair. While it is true that
Sumter has gone to sleep over the
proposition, and while it might look
like we would be trying to steal Dar-.
lington's ammunition to now start
such an enterprise, nevertheless I be-.
Iieve that the people of Darlington
would be willing to give way to
Sumter and support such fair in
Sumter. When an effort was made
over one year ago to organize the
Sumter Fair Grounds Association.
which was really chartered, officers
elected, and something like three
thousand and FIVE hundred dollars
subscribed as stock, but which was
never collected because the commit
tee Of eight business men who were
to raise the balance Of the ten thou
sand dollars stock never cid any
thing toward raising the other six
thousand and five hundred dollars,
the people Of Darlington certainly
showed a disposition to help out, and
some Of them subscribed to our as
soeiation as much as one hundred
dollars each. Sumter is the largest
town in eastern South Carolina, with
her eight lines Of railroads, with her
twenty-eight passenger trains a day..
with schedules which allow people.
from all points of the compass to
I come to Sumter in the morning and
to go home in the evening, giving all
visitors ample time to see the fair in
the day time, and to get home early
IN the evening, and with many other
advantages in favor Of Sumter Which
1t is not necessary to mention, there
s is every reason why Sumter should
organic such a fair association. The
writer has been urged for some time
to write something to your paper to
stir up the enthusiasm of orr citi-I
zens over such a fair. The owners Of
f1e stock, racing horses, fine cattle,
driving horses. riding horses, and
also farmers, manufacturers and
many Others, have requested me to
start the ball rolling for an annual
fair at sumter.
IS. While it is true that our wide
awake and liberal merchants have
suffered much from the hard times
incidental to a poor crop year, yet
there are bright times ahead as there
have been in the past. Then, again,
I It would seem to me that the. harder
times are, the less trade our mer-
chants are getting now, the more
they should stive to bring trade to
Sumter. There is nothing like get
ting move on you when old hard
times knock at your door. Extend
the trade territory Of Sumter as far
as We can. Reach out and try and in
duce people from other towns and
counties along the lines Of our many
railroads to come to Sumter on our
many trains to see what our mer-
chants have to offer, and what our
manufacturers are doing. Let stan
gers be invited, yes, induced to come
here and look around. Columbia,
Charleston, Georgetown, Orangeburg.
Florence, Darlington, Bishopville and
other places are reaching out for
more trade. Our Chamber of Com
merce has been having more trade
drawing trains, and schedules put on.
It has had more postal clerks added
to our trains to facilitate mail order
business for our merchants and man
ufacturers. It has advertised Sumter
far and near with pamphlets and in
various newspapers, and. in other
ways and done much good. But the
best way to get more customers for
our merchants and manufacturers
is to get special railroad rates to
your town, and to have something
them. Everybody benefits by a
crowd Of visitors coming to see your
city. Every occasion OF this kind
induces some one to move or locate
here. and to rent Or buy a house and