The Lexington progress. (Lexington, Tenn.) 1884-current, 1913-08-01

and Is expressed BY the country's
great stete fairs.
Twenty-Five years ago the
grounds where agricultural fairs
we're held, were very limited and
the buildings on them were Of a
crude and temorary construction.
Sidewalks were an unwonted
Injury, the lantern was the
principle source of light, streets
were laid out without any thought
of permanency, and such build
ings as we're absolutely necessary
were scattered over the ground
without any regard to convent
ence or a plan Of permanent i'm
proyement. believe it was in
Ohio and Illinois where the idea
Of permanent fair grounds was
first appreciated. They began
the work which has been followed
by states in every part of the
Union, until today we find an
average property valuation IN a
dozen fair grounds Of practically
one million dollars.
Thus we have our present day
state fairs, conducted in most
instances by an agricultural So
ciety or department. of the state
We know they are big, perma-
nent institutions, that attract
more and more people every
year. We know that they are
the outgrowth Of insignificant or
CARNATIONS Of a few years ago.
Let US anaIyze as carefully as
possible what they mean to the
people; what they really are !;
and what they are doing; why
they are growing and will con.
tinue to grow in permanency
and power for good.
Most important Of all the prin-
ciple upon which they are found
ed and are being carried on, is
vital. As we have already seen,
they are part of Americas ag-
ricultural education and devel.
opment. They have grown with
the appreciation of the impor.
lance Of agriculture and they
indispensable to the solving of
problems that are yet before the
American people.
Former President Mckinley
once said: fairs and expositions
are time-keepers of the worlds
events, marking progress in ag.
ricultural and industrial devel-
opment from year to year and
from time to time" He only
told half the truth. Our state
fairs and expositions do mirror
the peoples progress but they
do vastly more. They search
out the result Of each mans
most perfect thought and work.
they put this-concrete object les
con Of progress in an attractive
setting. Then they say to their
hundreds of thousands of visi-
tors, here is what mind has de-
vised to make your work easier,
your life brighter, your profits
bigger; help yourself. I" They
do this, not in one line of work.
but in every line. They mark
progress, but they do more
they direct progress.
The human mind is more i'm.
pressed by one object lesson
than by reams of written theo-
ries. State fairs have demon.
strated this truth, and as they
teach by object lessons, they
have accomplished more even
thang reat schools and agricul.
tural colleges.
Where has the practical farm
er been taught the value of bet
ter live stock and the types best
adapted to his use2 At his state
fair. Every year he goes there,
studies the conformation and
types Of the best specimens of
the various breeds Of horses, cat
tie, sheep, swine and poultry,
attracted there from all over the
world, and learns what each will
do under given conditions. Then
he goes home, looks over his own
conditions and is ready to breed
or buy intelligently.
What agency has introduced
into practical use the manure
spreader, the hay loader, the
silo, and a hundred other inven-
tions that save labor and make
for better farming? The state
fairs Books can be written,
lecture given and sermons
preached, but the country i'm
plement dealer won't carry a
new line until he has seen it in
operation. He wants an ocular
demonstration. He gets this at
his state fair, buys the machine,
takes it home, demonstl ates it
to his eighbors, who in turn
buy, and farming conditions ID
that community ore imnrovad