Semi-weekly herald., 1916-07-20

ern in nature, can and will become /
of the farmer thar rural |
life will be worth while and that the |
life of the farmer will be relieved of
many of the burdens of the pres
ent.
Colorado-New Mexico Fair.
At this stage OF the proceedings
the bureau took up the matter of the
fair this fall. They had invited in
Frank Eldredge and Prof. L. j. My
ers of the Animas valley, who are
directors of the fair association. The
president called upon various dele
gates as to their idea of the fair
and whether the farm bureau should
endorse and assist in the putting on
of the fair this fall. This discus
sion brought out many of the things
that would have interested every
farmer of the county could he have
been there and a%so every citizen
Of Durango could he have been there.
The matter in a way took the form
of a debate and brought out differ
ent ideas as to why the farmers have
taken no more active part in the
fair. The delegates suggested many
changes particularly effecting the
street carnivals and the arrange
ments on the grounds. They sug-
gested that the attendance should be
many times as large as it has been
That tickets should be sold in advance
over the county. All taking part
urged that the farmers should over
look the past differences and should
get right into the harness with the
people of this city and stage the best
fair ever put on in this county. Mr..
A. A. Brown of Sunnyside had taken
an active part in the Racky Ford fair
and offered many timely suggestions.
President Lyman aiso explained how
the Kansas state fair got into dis
repute and how it was placed on a
paying basis. o. G. Strain struck
the nail on the head when he said
that the premiums had but little to
do with the success of the fair. He
claimed that it was the indirect val
ue of fair and the advertising of
stock and crops that made the fair
worth while. T. F. Holder said that
his people had not brought stock to
the fair in previous years because
of the incompetency of the judges
along that line. A number suggest
ed all day fairs with baseball games
perhaps in the forenoons. 1t was
their idea that the baseball and the
races should not be at the same
hours.
After the delegates had expressed
themselves quite freely President Ly-
man called upon E. ]. Myers and
Frank Eldredge to state what they
had to say for the fair directors. They
both agreed that the directors were
willing to make concessions to the
farmers in the interests of the fat
and that the farmers for various res-
sons had not supported the fair as
they should and that the attendance
had not been as I:rge some years as
it should have been. They elaimed
that if the city hal been TO blame
for lack of interest, certainly the
farmers were also to blame. So it
was quite unanimous that the city
people and the country people had not
been working together as they should
for the best interests of the fair and
the San Juan basin interests.
Had we time and space we could
write and publish many more excel
lent suggestions made Saturday after
noon by the members of the bureau
and Messrs. Myers and Eldredge, but
it will suffice to say that it was
get-together meeting of the farmees
and the fair directors. Much good
was accomplished and Mr.. Eldre1tyr
asked the bureau to name three farm
ers to assist him in getting up the
livestock department for the fair.
This was done in the appointment of
o. G. Strain of Ignacio, r. J Hays,
of the Upper Animas valley and Geo.
Harrison Of Breen. The bureau also
decided that one or two should be
selected from each community in the
county to assist in putting on the big
fair this fall. Mr.. Eldredge explain
ed that the money has been provid-
ed and that what they want from
the farmer is exhibits which means
plenty of work and expense in getting
tie same ready for the fair.
Auto Excursion to T Lewis.
Prof. Snyder, who was in attend
ance at the meeting, was called upon
to address the bureau as to the in
terests of the school among the farm
ers. 1t was suggested that the Du-
range Motor club and all who could
take part, join in an excursion to the