Evening journal., 1911-03-28
BOOSTING THE
COUNTY FAIRS
Determined Effort to be Made
This Year to Make Exhi-
bitiOnS a Success
EDUCATIONAL FEATURES
WELL WORTH ENCOURAGING

"A determined euOIL on tne part OF
men of broad minded principles filled
with a desire to do good, has been
made TO create an interest in county
fairs throughout the entire country
this year.
II is a well-known fact that in nearly
every case these fairs are not held for
profit, but are run in the interest of
pleasure and recreation as well as for
educational purposes.
The first fair held I'm this country
was on the banks of the Potomac in
the city of Washington, in the year of
1904. its objects being for the sale of
cattle and domestic products. It met
with tremendous success.
Gradually and steadily this fair sem
timent has grown. until II has now
reached the stage Of the present per-
fectly conducted and intelligently man
aged State fairs, of which we have IN
this country about fifty and over a
dozen large stock shows, and in addi-
ton to this over one thousand county
fairs. Statistics show that there is a
permanent investment of nearly S50,-
000.000 in the development of this en-
terprise with an annual attendance of
something like 100000, with nearly
S5,000000 disbursed in premiums. The
tremendous influence institutions Of
this character must have exercised in
the upbuilding of the American COM
monwealth, educationally, commercial
ly and socially is almost beyond con-
lecture No other influence in Ameri-
can life can be credited with an equal
showing in promoting progress in ami
NAL husbandry, agriculturism, the arts
and the crafts.
Much Interest Since Centennial.
During the past thirty-iye years.
since the wonderful success and
achievement of the great Centennial
Exposition at Philadelphia there
have been expositions. fairs and cele-
brations, almost without number, Ma
tional, International, State, county and
town; each filling their sphere, some
successfully. some not, but all having
for their purpose the education of the
country, the betterment of the people
and the increase in agricultural and
industrial life Some of them being
fostered and financed by governments,
some by large industrial and finan-
cial interests, others by pride in local
and territorial achievements. each en-
deavoring to profit by the others sue
cesses, or failures. aud each year seeing
them in greater number with increased
attendance.
Such has been the history since the
memorable Centennial: Chicago"s
Worlds Fair followed seventeen. years
later, with all its wonders AND glories,
a fair that will long live in the mem
ories Of the Oldest inhabitants, as we'll
as the younger generations for the
next century; Buffalo, eight years
later with it's great Pan-American Ex-
position. st. Louis with its Louisiana
Purchase Exposition. then the James
town. and the last big one, the Alaska
Yukon Pacific, which was a notable
financial success. Now comes the
great Panama Exposition to be held
in San Francisco in 1915 and Judging
from the advance plans it-bids fair to
outrival all its predecessors In this
line.
Horse Exhibits Feature.
The great horse exhibits, which, in
some cases. are valued at hundreds OF
thousands Of dollars, are always a
leading feature. Over 100 years ago
Gray Messeng ger. when he landed in
New York, started the development Of
standard breds; I'm 1916 Denmark
started the great saddle horse indus
try, which is today one of our grand
est animal industries. Going back a
hundred years ago again is found that
grand illustrious animal Justin Nor
gan, the Father Of the Morgan breed
nd nh
/ equal. II is to the various county and
/ State fairs that the credit must be
given for the continued success OF this
I industry. The same remarks apply
/ to every division of live stock. II Is
these grand exhibits Of the best Of live
stock Of all kinds that stimulates IN
/ the minds of every man attending
/ either his country or State fair III,
desire TO breed to a higher standard
and thus each year We welccme in the
ranks more and more men engagine
In the noble calling OF raising more
/ pure-bred animals Of all kinds The
day Of scrub stock Is rapidly dwind-
ling and il will be but short time
when the country in every section will
abound in high grade, pure bred stock
and the man on men with the other
kind will be a back number
In nearly all cases the officials OF
these fairs are men Of the highest cali
Der who are selected for their respec-
tive positions solely on their merits
and who serve without any financial
remuneration, often neglecting their
business interests for the one grand
achievement-the education OF their
fellow mankind IN agriculture and anil
NAL husbandry.
One Of the most serious drawbacks
that we have to contend against n
all of the fairs is the lack of CO
operation on the part Of the railroad:
throughout the country and in this re.
spect Delaware is far behind the rest
Of the country.
In the future issue of the New Cas-.
tie County Fair list Of all State
Fairs. their 1911 dates ana the nam.
and address Of the secretary will b'
published.
CEl WETEuC nlnc ~ nrnrTnN