The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-14
VITAL NEED FOR
BIG STATE FAIR
Should Not Be Devoted to Horse
Racing and Minor Aunase-
n,ents, Says One.
OF VAST BENEFIT TO STATE
Would Help Farmers aid Nfer-
chants and Make Toward
Cultivated Fields.

N|Viei' ehhNh iNihSs
The interest In the state FALL Is daily
increasing and the reasons for its re-
establishment are almost inyinclble &
leading member of the old State Falkland
one wlIo has always been identified with
agricultural matters--has prepared Tor
The Timcs-Dispatch striking article
which Is printed below
Virginia formerly for many years had
one OF the most successful agricultural
fair assoc!ations2in the country which held
annual exhibitions in Richmond for years
and brought the people Of the country
and city into close contact, resulting In
large advantage to all who participated
Ill any way, advantages not merely So
cial or friendly, but OF profit in actual
cash. The association itself prospered for
years and accumulated property. being
ut the time of It's dissolution the owner
OF the Fair Grounds in the city of an
estimated value of $4,000, and which
were merely encountered 10 the extent Of
5000. In the face of these facts. why did
the association close It's existence and
surrender the valuable grounds to the
lIVlueIb Oh lUc So,Vp Douu toiIipiy "
cause the management of the society did
not take sufficient care of the agricultural
exhibitors. Whatever other interests may
say Virginia Is aid always VIII be an
AGRICULTURAL State and dependent on the
product OF the soil in crops and live stock
for whatever standing she may have In
rank with the other States
The old fair association, in the hands
OF it's later managers, overlooked the
fact and made of II simply. racing and
amusement gathering and sacrificed the
Interests of the farmers, breeders and
exhibitors who thereupon lost interest In
the association, and the fair naturally.
died If, another fair association is TO be
chartered, and this to make "A fair q sue
cess the interests OF the farmers, 1--WE
stock breeders. truckers, gardeners and
pouitryrnen must be paramount. and rae
ing and other amusement features must
be made gubserient.
Fair Would Be Success.
If this be done, there is no reason why
a fair here should not be n permanent
success. and why 1t should not prove of
inestimable value 10 the citizens of Rich
inond and to the farmers In the counties
OF the state. Millions of dollars every
year are sent out of the cities of this
State 10 the West and North TO purchase
supplies which our own State should and
could produce. Virginia does not produce
enough of any of the staple crops 10
satisfy the needs of her people Wheat,
oats, corn hay. butter and meat of all
kinds are brought every day into the
cities OF the State from the North and
Vest. and yet there Is no necessity for
this IL only farmers were encouraged TO
produce these necessities. They can be
produced in the State as cheaply and as
successfully as anywhere else. The coun-
try around the city of Richmond and
tributary TO it could, and should provide
the staple food products called for by
the people Of the city and the animals
they keep. If this were done the farmers
making these products would spend the
proceeds largely amongst the merchants
of the city. and thus greatly Increase the
,rado of the place There are no doubt
many who will hesitate to believe that
1t is possible for the farmers ~ the State
ndse rhese products. We have no
doubt that It is easily possible Tor tins
to be done and done With profit to all
parties
we know farmers within ten miles Of
Tho city of Richmond who produce wheat,
corn, hay, Irish and sweet potatoes. milk,
butter, cream, eggs and meat of all kinds
In large quantities on farms that n few
years ago were no better fitted for the
production OF these crops than one hum
bred of acres lying contiguous to this
city and now producing little or nothing.
For all these farm products there as a
quick market in Richmond, and there
would be for ten times the quantity now
in. From inquiries we have made
we are satisfied that not ten per cent.
OF the hay used in the city of Rich
mond is produced in Virginia. We do not
believe as the results of Investigations
made that ten per cent of the butter
used in Richmond is made in Virginia.
Was Great Export Centre
Formerly the grist mills in Richmond
not only supplied Il large part of the
flour consumed In the State. but made
thousands of barrels every year for ex-
port to South America, and elsewhere.
and then almost wholly from Virginia
grown wheat. 1t may be asked what
all this has to do with an agricultural fair
in Richmond. In reply, we would say
that the point we want to make and
emphasize, is that in their own interest
and in tho interest of the city OF Rich
mond, and the State of Virginia, the
merchants and citizens OF the city and
State should with one accord meet In
provided the money needed to start
and firmly establish an agricul-
tural association to hold an an
an annual fair in the city of Richmond
With a well-mnnaged fair, giving ex-
hihts of the finest live, stock. agricul-