The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1914-12-12
Do FAIRS PAY !?

UnequivocaI Reply in Affirmative
Given BY WelI-Posted Writer
Donaldsonville to Present Novel
Show in the Spring.
\ HERMAN J. sEIFERTH in Times -Picayune,
Do fairs pay?
They do.
Shreveport invested $4,000 in the
recent state fair. When the receipts
We're figured up after the show it
is very likely there was a small de-
ficit. Nevertheless Brueggerhoff said
"Finea' and it was fine. The dis
play of Shreveport spirit was alone
worth the money. The rest of the
state did not do it's part in patron
age, but that was the states misfor-
tune If not her fault, for prosperity
famed its. foot in the east and was
a little slow in reaching Louisiana
this season The states exhibition
Or agricultural progress in every line
Was an immense and splendid adver-
tlsement of her awakening to her
possibilities and to diversification,
and it brought results that do not
figure on the fairs financial balance
sheet. Take the matter of cattle.
The collection was the most
notable assembled or seen in
this section, and even with
the limited number of farmers pres
ent the influence was immediate and
the amount of sales remarkable. AT
the Jersey auction there We're sixty
eight registered animals disposed OF,
from calls Ja1st weaned to cows with
records, and the average price Of
Sl18 did not represent real values
only because the patriotic breeders
came with the resolve to make saeri-
fices in order to encourage the in
dustry. Fourteen shorthorns and sew
eral Angus bulls changed hands, one
three-year-oId shorthorn male bring
ing 5000. The main gain in the lat
ter transactions was the evident re-
solve to embark in beef production
upon a larger scale. Shreveport not
only intends TO remain the center OF
the states farm activity, but she
proposes to give practical testimony
OF her intent as well as of her char
saeteristie enterprise by Investing
100000 in a new agricultural build
ing, and deyoting the old structure
to New Orleans The metropolis has
so far failed To grasp the opport uni
ty of these fairs, and Shreveport has
made up her mind to talk to her big
brother in way that will teach him
fuller cooperation That viii be
worth more than the price OF the
fair, especially If 1t aids New Orle-
ans in realizing the method of get
ting in closer touch with the con-
tiguous country, and the timeIiness OF
"a southern fair which would supple
ment and ampIify the benefit ae-
mnIished hzs.st h< slanuzins the
states.
Dona1dsonviIle broke the ice to
stir the sentiment of better rela-
tionship between city and country,
and the seed soHn will bear good
fruit for ali concerned. Now DON
aldsonville has another excellent
idea, and will set another valuable
example by acting promptlys Truck
Is one OF the features of the new
era of diversifieation. Truck is prin-
#cipally a spring crop, and the fairs
are held in the fall. Donaldsonvi1ie
is truck district, and developing
faster along that line each season.
She is anxious to impress that fact
and to foster the industry. So she
has decided upon q spring fair, the
first in this state. Springtime is
also flower time; the ladies of As
cension and neighboring parishes
grow the lovelest, and rivalry for
supremacy would mean not only a
fair but fairyland. There is anoth-
er wise idea connected with the
plan. About that time the big lea
que baseball teams of the east train
in the south DonaldsonVille is nego-
tiating to have one Of the clubs es-=
tablish itself there for the period,
and other famous mines would be in
duced to play the DonaldsonVille So
journers during the event. With
such combination of attractions
the promoters feel convinced that all
Louisiana would be glad guests for
a week.
Speaking Of innovations in con-
nection with Louisiana fairs, the
departure made by Baton Rouge is
noteworthy. The capital city con-.
cluded that fairs had become too
much of a horse race and a revel,
and so originated the scheme of faV-.
ing the merchants pay all the costs,
have everything free to exhibitors
and public both and devote most
energy to exploiting live stock and
crops. The results was a triumph,
and an important contribution to ed
ucational advance. A central mar
ket on the site, when not used for
the annual event, will be the profit
able and practical outgroWth, with .
permanent plant more than a proba-
bllity. Chairman Geo. W. Garig. who
depends more on inspiring patriotic
cooperation than upon parliamentary
tactics, says the citizens of Baton
Rouge raised $4,000 in three: hours
for this years fair, and he has the
assurance that the next appeal VIII
net double that amount. That seems
to best answer the que stion of sue
cess.
As to the benefit of fairs: in gen
eral, the impetus they furnish, the
competition they create, the pub1icI-
ty they provide, the public spirit
they arouse and the education. and
entertainment they extend, there IS
no longer any need for argument or
enIight tenment.
Meeting Of Agricultural Teachers.
A meeting bf tae teachers in
~, q rero - tho if$., ia151fIlraI daDart-3