The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-03-22
OUTSIDERS FAVOR
LATER FAIR DATES
REAL ESTATE BOARD GETS re.
PLIES TO LETTERS SENT TO
FARMERS, BANKERS AND 9TH
ERs ASKING OPINION AS TO
BEST TIME FOR STATE FAIR.

As already mentioned in The Forum
the Fargo Real Estate board has made
formal application on the State Fail
association to reconsider the matter oi
dates for holding the 1919 state fair al
Fargo. Not wishing to base it's argu-
ments in favor Of a fall fair on its owr
opinions alone, letters were recently
sent out to about 100 farmers, bank.
ers and others, asking their, views In
the matter and requesting a reply t.
the following questions:
/. Would a change Of dates from
July to September or early in October
be advisable?
2. Taking into consideration the rea.
object of the state fair, when woult
more people, farmers and business men
be likely to attend?
3. Would a state fair having repre-.
sentative exhibits of cattle, grain, vege,
tables, fruits, etc, the fair to be held In
the fall, induce more people to attend
than in the cas- Of such fairs as have
been held heretofore?
4. Do you think horse races are thu
principal drawing card?
s.. Admitting that horse races are
partial drawing card, would slightly
inferior c in fall supplemented by
q representative exhibit of the states
products, counterfeit the possibility o.
lesser attendance by reason Of slightly
inferior races? .-%
Out Of the forty-nine responses re.
ceived to date, but five men were
against a change'of dates from July Il
fall. One was a merchant, one an edi.
tor, n a banker, and the other two
were farmers who would be exhibitors
Those favortng a later date, and ir
every case the opinions expressed were
very emphatic, were represented as fol-
lows: -Four farmers, seventeen bank
ers, seven merchants. three real es-
tate dealers, three editors, five lawyers
and five in miscellaneous lines Of bust
ness.
Thirty Of those replying to the
boards, letter favored holding the fair
in September, while eight were Of the
opinion that the best time would be in
early October. Six Of the people ex-
pressed no opinion as to which of
the two fall months would be most sat-
isfactory, though they felt the fair
should be held in one Of the two months
rather than in July as heretofore.
Among some Of the comments made
by those replying to the letter of the
real estate board were the following:
THE right kind of exhibits will draw
the crowd whether in July OF Septem-
Der, regardless Of the races"
"a change of dates from July to Sep
TENDER or early October would not be
advisable from a financial standpoint
Otherwise it would"
mot one man in ten who attends
knows the difference or appreciates the
difference between races, between
high-cIass horses and amateurs"
Exhibits OF home state are fast
becoming attractive TO the average
farmer"
Horse races are a doubtful draw
ing card but IL the dates were care
fully selected in September so as not
to conflict with the Minnesota fair, as
attractive races could be had In Sep
tember as in July with the added adj
vantage of being able to show a real
exhibit Of u products" 5
"Am afraid Of a change from July
until fall unless same was put as late
as Oct. 10. +"
'Horse racing draws many. At. the
same time / believe that rs per cent
would attend a wellemanaged fair with
out races"
"Think the last part of September or
the first part of October best time for
fair. From the start a fall fair may
not bring q large attendance but
eventually ! think It will"
"The stock we raise and the products
from the soil is what will make Nerth
Dakota's name great. This ia what
will interest people, both at home and
elsewhere. The horse races will not
help to advance our state"
1.-THE fairs so-called have been moth
ing more or less than horse C and
opportunities for fakirs."
do not believe the change in dates
would be advisable for years YETI
Farmers will not attend q July fair
in any great numbers. Attendance will
grow less each year. Cattle. hogs. and
grain exhibits Is the only fair that viii
permanently draw farmers, Good ex-
hibits In all lines the best drawing
card"
.If horse racing is to be the principal
feature, change the name"
Horse races no argument for hold
ing a fair. Am opposed to a~ppropriat-
ing state money TO promote racing AND
using the fair as an excuse"