The Donaldsonville chief., 1914-03-07
GREAT CENTRAL FAIR FOR
DONALDSONEILLE.

llCH ASlu lLS IliitlcI i1I1 itth't oSOS'|N--
At that time only three parishes
had entered the association, st.
James coming in after the fair was
over. The result Of our UrSt eIoFt
was a surprise and q revelation TO
all who were fortunate enough to
attend. With less han two months
preparation, with no experience IN
fair making, in a community SO ignor-
ant of fairs Of this nature that many
had to be told their exhibits would
not be sold for the benefit OF the
association, our first fair was born
under the most auspiclous begin
ming.
Our success was due partly to an
abundance of energy and enthusiasm
and the application Of business prlh-
ciples to the work; partly to the
economic readjustment which this
section is undergoing, making the
time ripe for such a project; but
mainly to the fact that this is the
logical point for building up a great
central fair.
It was the recognition of the stra-
| tegic advantages Of DonaldsonVlIle fof
this purpose that decided the board
of directors to christen the new as
soc;ation the South Louisiana Fair
Association. 1t was our purpose
then, as it is now, to point out to
| the southern parishes Of Louisiana
he great benefits resulting from an
organization of this kind in educating
! ~rJr 70
superior advantages oE the SOIL ana
climate of this section OF LOUISIANA
the importance and necessity OF dl-
versification, and the stimulus 1t
gives them to improve the grade OF
every kind of farm product.
From the favorable responses
which we have received from other
parishes, our association should en-
brace this year at least three more
parishes, or seven in all. We expect
to add to this number every year
until we have included practically all
the southern part of the state. The
opportunity to build up great cen
tral fair here is greater than at
Shreveport, the latter place being
oyershadoWed to d great extent oy
it's proximity to Dallas, the nome
of a fair that from small beginning
smaller even than ours, has grown
into an annual two weeks event,
which is attended by hundreds OF
thousands of people from all parts OF
the world.
Notwithstanding this handicap
Shreveport in ten years has bullt up
a fair of which any community may
well be proud, and which '1has meant
to that city millions in new trade,
thousands in new population, and
vastly stimulated productivity in the
rural districts about the city. This
cannot be doubted By anyone who
has visited Shreveport during the
fair, who has sensed the class OF
Lcuisianians present at the fair
Shreveport folk who know are en-
thusiasts over the fair The state
fair and the oil fields they join as
agencies of success, The business
men have contributed literally. The
city has voted bonds and donated
property. The parish has voted
bonds and donated property. All
three have done this because they
found such expenditures actually tC
be investments that paid handsome
dividends The state fair has made
4 Shreveport what Shreveport meyer
was until the state fair had been
established, what not even the oil
strike could have made her, the trade
center of all northwest louisiana
What her fair has meant to Shreve
port, the South Louisiana Associa
tion fair will mean to DonaldsonVille;
and even more, for we are deter
mined to cover moro territory, dc
more toward arousing the general in
terest of the people and stimulating
productivity in the various parishes
Of the association, and in time sur
pass even shreveport's great fair.
But our efforts must be seconded
by the united good will and loyalty
and help of the people of Donaldson
vile and Ascension parish. Although
every parish entering Our association
will reap many fold the amount OF
its investment, Donaldsonville and
surrounding country will be the
greatest beneficiaries. 1t, therefore,
behooves us to take the initiative
N raising the funds which will be
needed for new building construction
and the increased expenses Of a
larger fair. Let everybody boost
and let everybody do his part, and
your next fair will be a still greater
eye-opener.
Let Donaldsonville lead the way
r. S. VICkBRS