Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-08-14
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The Douglas County Fair Removal.
OMAHA. Aug. 13-To the Editor OF
The Bee: The removal OF the Douglas
county fair from Omaha 20 Elkhorn IL
Illustrates what time and changed condi-
tons may bring forth Fifty-six years
ago the Douglas County Agricultural So
oiety was organized at meeting Of citi-
Gems OF Douglas county IN Omaha. This,
the first agricultural society in the state.
held its first fair September 90 and DC
tober !. 1865. at Saratoga. q point at that
time Just north OF the city limits, and
from that date down to the present time
the county fair has been held in Omaha
or In the immediate suburbs
The removal OF the fair 70 Elkhorn
should not disturb the peace Of the people
OF Omaha or the citizens Of the county
outside Of the Elkhorn district 1t will
cost any ueighborhood a considerable
expense OF money, time labor and gratui-
tious attention to build and establish a
local fair grounds with the necessary
buildings and needed fixtures and APP
planes to care for a county fair credit
ably and satisfactorily. The community
that shoulders this responsibility needs
sympathy and announcement rather than
discouragement and III feeling.
County Agricultural society was forced
to do something TO save its Organization,
to maintain reasonable excuse for its
existence. For the last twenty years
II has permitted Itself to drift toward the
commercial idea OF exhibition display. at
the sacrifice Of tho prime purposes Of the
laws creating the countyifairs and to the
neglect of all Influence and encourage
ment OF the individual producer and ex-
hibitor. The creation OF the precinct
collective exhibit was a milestone. so 10
speak, put around the neck OF the
farmer, the gardener and the individual
exhibitor in all lines OF farm produce and
most effectuslly sank them to the bot
tom Of the sea-"
These precinct displays were highly
commendable and possibly have never
been equaled at any fair or agricultural
show In variety. quality and arrange
ment they never have had an equal and
this system OF exhibition has been the
means Of training and putting before the
public a half dozen expert exhibitors in
Douglas county that we are willing to
challenge the world for their equal. But
the demand now IL for a strict compliance
with the law in this reorganization of the
Douglas County Agricultural society, and
the sentiment Is 10 give the farmer and
the farmers boy chance; to get down
TO a plain county fair premium list and
let each resident OF the county be on an
equal basis with any other
Douglas county Is the leading county to-
day IN Nebraska in pure bred stock, and
is surrounded with a live stock and. adj
vertising advantage than cannot be
equaled anywhere. There is no reason
why Douglas county farmers do not
make this the great central headquarters
for the pure bred stock industry Of this
section of the west. Let the Douglas
county fair now with its new blood and
new stimulus in location set high mark
for pure bred live stock Improvement.
As to the county fair removal being a
disappointment and loss TO the Ak-sar-
Ben carnival managers. this Is certainly
a mistake. Il will be a saving OF $1,000
to $500 in expense. Not one person will
stay away from the Omaha carnival be-
cause the county fair is being held at Elk
horn. The Douglas county fair was not
the attraction for the carnival that II was
estimated by some people The great
wonder was with the majority of visitors
that II was there at all. 1t was censured
for being out Of place, wrongly entered,
not In its proper classification.
q w ITERVEV