The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-12-13
MORE OBSERVATIONS.
Some OF The Reason Why We Should
Have q County Fair.

e@~es~h'h. OhoiTntdh L. Il. TdIIOtt,
OF tho Rural Relations Committee re-
turned TO Sumter last Saturday after
an absence OF several days. He has
conferred with the promoters OF the
association and will immediately
send out notices to members Of his
committee for meeting one day
this week.
In addition to the Rural Relations
Committee OF the Chamber OF Com
merce. the following other committees
OF that organization will be called
In conference with Mr. PARROTS
committee on the Agricultural and
Industrial Fair Association question
this week: Finance. Extension of
Trade. Encouragement OF Home
supply. Farm improvements. Educa-
tion. and Advisory Board Of the Re-
tailers' Assoc iation.
Mr.. f. I. Reardon has been busy
interviewing iaumbers OF Sumter bus
mess men. and has spoken to a num-
Dor OF our leading farmers about the
proposed association. Secretary
Smell. Of the Chamber of Commerce
~ working heartily with Messrs Par
rott and Reardon. and II now looks
ss though the preliminary work Of
organization is well under way.
A thorough understanding and
cooperation. between the promoters
means a great deal towards success.
Those things are assured. What IL
now needed ls widespread interest
on the part OF the membership III
the Chamber or Commerce. the Re-
tail Association. and the farmers Of
Sumter county.
A Greater Sumter now looms up
In the picture. Things look bigger
for the future. Temporary adversely
often strengthens Determination to
win out We profit by the lessons
Of hard times. That never say die
spirit. 50 characteristic OF Sumter
comes sturdiiy to the front whom II 10
needed.
One season OF eight cent cotton can
not keep back Sumter enterprise.
With an entire year Of hard work
on the part Of the farmers. their
wives. sons. and daughters. exhibited
In the fall Of the year at a county
fair. the spectacle of what Sumter
county can do. shown In concrete
form. In many ways will be biz ad-
vertisement Of the superiority of
sumter county az desirable place in
which to live and make . good living.
But there must be some incentive
or inducemsnt to stir up the keen
Industrial rivalry necessary to bring
about results Our business men
must set together and arrange for
prises OF such kind as will stimulate
competition among the people az
Sumter County.
Tho Sumter merchants will be big
benenciaries OF a successful county
fair. So will the real estate dealers.
and all other business men. But TO
sum II up I'm short order. every
body In Sumter will be benefited by
big and successful county fair held
I'm Sumter each fall. The financial
benefits accruing directly from the
presence OF thousands In this city an
nuaily attending a county fair. while
isrsS, are nevertheless inconsider-
able when compared with the wide-
spread benefits arising from the In
terest aroused among the agricul-
tural masses towards raising hun
drcds Of thoUsand OF dollars worth
of home necessities instead OF send
Ing OF for those commercial commo-
dities "a we do now.
Back up the proposed Agricultural
and Industrial Fair Association. IL
the oranseburg County Fair cleared
$4,000 this year upon an investment
OF s2.So0. there Is no reason why
stock In the proposed Sumter Agri-
cultural and Industrial Fair Associa-
tion can not be made to pay as big
dividends.
With eight lines ~ railway at pres
ent. and the ninth line soon 10 be
completed to Sumter (the Seaboard
Air Line). Sumter has the very best
geographical location for drawing
thousands OF people from the coun-
ties OF East Carolina to an annual
fair.
With the convenient morning and
afternoon schedules over nine lines
Of railroad which this city will have
very soon. penetrating many counties
from different points Of the COM