The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-04-16
STRONG ARGUMENT FOR STATE
FAIR AT PENSACOLA.

Editor Pensacola Journal.
We could not If We woUld-we
would not if we could. have the peo-
pie OF Pensacola do violence TO their
inclination; but we would if We could.
induce them TO embrace the golden
opportunities they have but TO grasp.
The Georgia state fair is held at At
lanta; the Texas state fair is held at
Dallas. and no valid reason exists
why the Florida state fair should not
De organized and held annually at
Pensacola.
New Orleans, it is conceded. is
the banner Mardi Gras city, and Pen
sacola can we'll afford to leave her
alone in that glory. New Orleans
boasts of sixty thousand visitors at
her last Mardi Gras Carnival. Dallas
claims three hundred thousand Wis.,
tors at her last annual fair; yet, the
former was furnishing an annual
Mardl Gras carnival when the lands
upon which Dallas is built were sell
ing at four dollars per acre. Is there
not something suggestive in this fact
that should appeal to sober thought
OF the enterprising element of the
city with so many unimprOved oppor-
tunitieS.
Pensacola, as gift from God, has
three distinct advantages over Allan
ia or Dallas, by virtue of its location,
in the matter of grounds for annual
fairs. They are soil, climate and
proximity to her beautiful bay. What
price would not either of the latter
cities gladly bond themselves to pay,
if it were possible to purchase and
add to their fairs the attractions
which the last named alone would
lend under intelligent direction to any
occasion? And yet, that priceless
possession is connected by street rail-
way with one of the most attractive
and inviting sites for fair grounds to
be found anywhere in the south.
The red clay soil of Atlanta and the
black waxy prairie of Dallas, when
they become wet, are extremely dis
agreeable, and are the most serious
drawbacks to the success of their
fairs. In this respect what an I'M
earned advantage does the city with
folded arms enjoy over her alert and
more active sisters.
AS Florida's climate in Autumn is |
unmatched, except under Italian skies, |
it is needless to dwell upon a discus |
sion of it here. Attractive displays of
selected specimens of the products OF
turf, field, forest, factory and mines |
of the state at annual fairs, cOnSti- |
tute the most effective advertisement !
of its natural resources, and lend a |
distinction to the city fostering them, |
to be derived from no other source.
AS an advertising medium, the an
nual state fair has no equal, because
patrons and visitors become the /
most effective advertisers of its mani |
fold merits. It's blessings are pres !
tige and profit to the city at which
it is permanently established. Pen
sacola, with her fleet of pleasure craft
and water connections, with the navy
yard and forts, would be able TO offer /
a diversity of attractions to the hosts !
Of visitors that would. throng the city !
if it maintained an annual state fair, |
that would eclipse the accomplish |
ments of any of its rivals. This, too, |
without dollar of additional cost to |
the fair association, for features i'm |
possible for other state fairs to fur
nish.
The writer has seen at Selma, Ala. |
stables of noted fast horses sent |
there from the north for winter quar- |
tiers. With the establishment of the !
annual state fair at Pensacola many |
owners of such horses would seize
the Opportunity. to enter them in |
winter quarters there. Attendance, |
fair held at Pensacola, would be
drawn from the rural districts, and
cities, towns and villages of Georgia, |
Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and |
Louisiana, and the attendance would
grow in greatness with each recurring
season.
These, and those previously given,
are but a few selected at random |
from the many convincing arguments |
in favor of. an annual fair for Pensa- |
cola. Many more of equal merit |
might be introduced, but if these are
not sufficient to indicate the manifest !
advantages that would result from or |
ganiZing and maintaining an annual |
fair at Pensacola, to enumerate them |
all would he equally unavaillng- Will |
Pensacola consent to have the annual !
fair spread its trophies At her feet |
and crown her queen Of all-.or will |
she?-the question dies tfnuttered |
upon our lips.