Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1912-10-04
PLANS FOR FAIR AND
DEMONSTRATION
FARM REVIVED
Commissioners Take Option On
Carlyon Tract South of City
for $4,000
GOES TO A POPULAR VOTE.
Has Endorsement of Agricultural
Instructors, Grange and Cham
ber Of Commerce.
GOES TO A POPULAR VOTE

Asserting that Thurston county
would suffer an irreparable injury
if some preparation were not made for
the establishment of a demonstration
farm and the holding of an annual
county fair, a number of farmers ard
business men interested in these prof.
ests have revived the proposition to
purchase the Carlyon tract south of
the city by the county, the matter to be
referred TO a vote of the people at the
November election.
This method of meeting the demand
was first discussed at conference
between number of farmers, the
county commissioners and the trustees
of the Chamber of Commerce held May
last, at which meeting were present
Professors George Severance and H.
l.. Blanchard of the State Experiment
tai station at Puyallup. both of whom
addressed the gathering ON the proven
advantages of a demonstration farm
and a county fair.
Viewing the subject from the point
of demonstration farm, Professor Sev-
erance described the farm at Puyallup,
its benefits and its necessity, asserting
that it had been the making of the Puy-
allIp valley by educating and en-
couraging the farmers and ranchers,
whereby they now devote themselves
without an exception to the most
modern methods of soil culture. This,
he asserted. had resulted in increased
wealth to them and to the entire COM
tv Of thc 60
he declared, is necessary.
He recommended that the farm
should be equipped not necessarily
expensively. but model in each depart
ment-fruits, berries, vegetables, poul-
try. dairying and so on. Professor
Severance stated that he had found
the soils ON the Carlyon track diversi-
fed which fitted it exceptionally for
demonstration purposes.
Professor Blanchard spoke of the
need of an annual county fair as a
means of educating the farmer and the
city people equally and bringing them
into closer business and personal
relationship. He pointed out the fact
that other counties in the state have
for years maintained successful county
fairs and others are rapidly adopting
the plan, going to considerably more
expense and labor than would be nee
essary in Thurston county as the pro-
position is now pending.
He stated that so far as his know
ledge went Thurston county's natural
possibilities and agricultural re-
sources were but little known outside
of the county. For this reason, he
said, demonstration farm. combined
with an annual county fair is abso-
| lutely essential to the education not
alone of prospective settlers outside
of the county but as well some of the
residents within. Professor Blanch-
ard stated that carefully managed and
directed county fairs averaged only
one failure as to net financial results
in each five years.
Fred W. Lewis, secretary of the
state Grange, who was present at the
meeting, stated that when the proposal
was first being discussed in the form
OF county fair grounds only, he had
| declared himself as opposed to it, but
since it includes demonstration farm
he was heartily in favor of it. He
said that he believed such departure
necessary to the further settling up
and cultivation of the Thurston county
and if the proposition was put before
the voters he would spare no effort to
place the matter before the farmers of
his acquaintance and urge their hearty
support.
The sentiments of Mr.. Lewis were
endorsed by l.. l.. Snow, of the Thurs
ton County Fruit Growers association.
William Shinke of South Bay, one
of the most successful of the pioneer
ranchers of Thurston county, enthu-
siastically endorsed the proposition,
stating that the farmers need the ed
! ucation that can only be received from
county demonstration farm, so that
| they can increase the yield from their
soil and toll. The county fair, he
said, would stimulate friendly rival
ry among the farmers wherefrom the
best of their efforts would be attained.
This would be the reverse of present
conditions, he said. in that Thurston
county farmers in the past have been
, contented to have only portion of the
net results, financially and typically
of what is grown in agriculture. hor-
| ticulture and husbandry each year.
MIR. Shinke stated that had he had the
advantage of demonstration farm
when he first broke soil in Thurston
county that it would have saved him
thousands of dollars in time and
money which he spent experimenting
for himself.
President c. ]. Lord of the Chamber
of Commerce stated that with the pro-
posal combining the advantages OF
both a demonstration farm and county
fair grounds he was unqualifiedly in
favor of it. and believed that the
voters, after being fully acquainted
with all of the details, will endorse il
by a large majority.
There were seventeen present at the
meeting last May, those representing
the farmer, the business man. the
county commissioner, the Chamber o.
CONTINUED on page A.