Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-10-08
LESSONS OF THE FAIR.

The first annual Polk County Fai
has passed into history That it wa
a pronounced success no one VIII
saw it will attempt to deny. Tha
there were some rough spots connect
ed with the management, and SOM
Misunderstanding was to be ex
pected 1t was the first fair, and
aside from the school exhibit feature
it had been under consideration fol
hardly more than a month. Thost
in charge were new at the business
They had many things to learn Ex.
perience has taught them how better
to plan in the future. But, whatever
mistakes were made, it should be re-
membered that every member of the
committee did what he thought was
best, and if he erred it was not from
any desire to do so.
The fair has taught Polk county
people that nowhere under the shin
ing sun is there a better county than
this. The splendid exhibit at the
armory was an "eye-opener" to even
the oldest resident. Time and again
was heard the expression: "Why,
I've lived here all my life, and know
every portion of the county, but new
er have l believed that we could raise
such stuff as this" The great dis
play of products of the field and gar
den, the long rows of choice apples,
and the excellence of the other fruits
displayed, has been an object lesson
upon the fertility of the soil that all
who saw will not soon forget 1t has
shown them that Polk county is sec
ond to none in productiveness.
The fair has sOlidihed the inter
ests of the county. 1t brought to-
gether exhibitors from all sections
and it showed them what the people
of other parts of the county were
doing. The people compared notes,
exchanged information, and every one
has gained important knowledge. ItI
has created healthy spirit of rivalry
that will make for better things. For
better fruit, for better vegetables, and
for more improved methods of soil
tillage. Next year the fair will be
better and bigger. Every exhibitor
is now an enthusiastic booster for
the fair. Every loyal citizen of the
county who came to Dallas and saw
the splendid display has returned to
his home confident that Polk county
"
Oregon" 1t is not too much to say
that the exhibit at the armory ex-
Ceeded the best displayed at the state
fair. This Is no eXaggeration. Com
petent critics, some of whom are not
even residents of this county who
closely inspected the showing at Sa-
lem, have declared that Polk county
outdistanced them ALL No other
county i'm the great state of Oregon
has such a number of diversified in
dustries and no other county can
show such wonderful results of the
harvest.
Practically every district of the
county was represented. Those that
did not show their products are the
losers-not the Polk county fair nor
the city of Dallas. 1t Is unfortunate
that certain sections of the county
are so permeated with an unreason-
ing and foolish jealousy of Dallas I,
that their people could see no good
IN anything promoted by the enter
prising people Of the county seat I
own. Unfortunate for them, because !
hey were unrepresented at the fair |
md thus the thousands who visited .
he show had no means Of knowing
hat other wonderful neighborhoods u
nave also splendid exhibits worthy a I,
llaCe in any display Dallas did cv-
'rything in her power to make the y
flair success. The Commercial
hub will eXpcnd every cent in its !,
reasury To pay the bills incurred. u
The business men will not he asked
q make up a cent Of deficit. If any q
ther course is possible The olive u
ranch was unselhshly extended to "
II portions of the county and IL was "
rged that all should unite for the "
ommon good. To the honor of the ~
progressive people of Polk II may he
aid that the majority responded
Without thought of pecuniary reward al
eyond the satisfaction that comes O.,
rom adding to the success Of the 81
enturc. the loyal citizens responded s.,
nd brought out their brightest and n,
est for the world TO see and marvel f.
yer. II the Dallas Commercial club IN
lall succeed la financing this prop Isl
sition unaidcd. 10 viii have rendered n,
he greatest service to Polk county "a
nat was possible service. the af- oe
r effects ~ which will be felt 10 sp
Ic uttermost corner Of lis confines. ma
- w NtiA 81 ANAfA NNfflN tNA Allf AlNtIIA
" the success Of. the fair must be an
ven To the school children nf the ru
'unty who worked increasingly tu R,
ing their best offerings 20 the show AR
D say they did wonderfully well ID.
1uld but half express DO. Their dis IN.
ay was the acme Of perfection Goo OF
cry particular. Competent Judges Qua
clare that IL exceeded the best ever of
oduccd in any county uf the state. do.
perinteudent IT. o. Seymour and h..
pervisor H N. Parsons are entitled bo,
great credit Tor the manner in are
lich the exhibit was handled They .I..l
Ne lahored early and late to make ths
o. affair d success and that they ovr
rceeded doesn't require repetition mar
%. Tho great parade 90 school civ
ldren on Friday afternoon was one 'eu
the splendid features OF the fair
a called forth many enthusiastic
mments from the thousands who q
" g. Every school in thc county. cor
M the single exception of Inde- non
ndcnce- closed for the dav. in or v-..
r % permit abe children O. visit and
J fair and Inspect the display made con
the schools The exhThIt was cer- tur.
liy n splendid education far them. "a
eVeryone WIN cain benefit from asr