Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-09-15
SPRINGFIELD GETS THE DAIRY SHOW
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nY FnEDt:NIE j. IAsIlIN

WASHINGTON, -. c. september IL.
IN" dairy experts OF tho United
states Department Of Agriculture here
are getting all ready To betakc them
selves and their exhibits to the -rea,
National Dairy Show. which is 10 he
held in Springfield TINS year.
No. not Springfield, III. nor spring
h"id Ohio. nor vet Springfield. Mo. All
good towns. and centrally located Hu,
Tie National pairy Show. on. of the
biggest and most important fairs that
Is acid III the United States. is going
WAY MP into the corner Of tho map
ana take place at Springfield Mass
The way this came about is an in
teresting incident Ia the grca, Amcri-
can sport OF capturing conventions. to-
ecther with the prestige. dollars and
run that acconpan% them. Through
out its existence OF about dozen
years. the big dairy show has always
been held in Chicago Las, year the
epidemic Of foot-and mouth disease
prevented IT and endangered the lives
OF a lot Of valuable cattle. Tho dairy
men decided 10 have it somewhere else
this year
That left wId"-opcm chance for any
city with enterprise ST Louis and
Kansas CITY not unnaturally thought
they were the only competitors worth
mentioning. Both We're large. rich
and centrally located. They piled be
for. the dairymcn amazing amounts ~
money and pledges OF still more. They
casually mentioned their fine hotels
and IDEAL locations.
Then the committeeman from Spring
field stepped forward. They could not
outbid the big Western cities. hut they
had one powerful argument. New Eng
land needed that show more than any
other section OF the country. After
making II perfectly clear which ono
OF tho several Sprinphrlds they repre-
scented. the committeeman explained
that agriculture in New England was
undergoing n tardy and much needed
revival, and that this revival required
tho dairy show as stimulus. New
England ia only producing about - per
cent Of what she eats. although per
foct!y capable Of producing 100 per
cent The result, az her dependence
upon shipment is that II costs work =
ing man 80 per cent more TO live in
New England than I'm the West or
South Now New England is the fac
tory of America. and that factory re
Quircs the support Of farming in
dustry tina, can feed il at a reasonable
cost. Generous crops in New England
mean cheaper manufactured goods for
the rest OF the country.
Dnirymcn Were Convinced.
Thus argued tho New f:ne!anders.
aud the darymcn were convinced. st
Louis and Kansas city wanted the
dairy show. but Springfield needed il
for q SPECIFIC purpose. 81 Springfield
ot il. The dairy show Will hiring 10
New England specimens Of the finest
hlocdcd stock in the world. both horse
and cattle: IL VIII bring cxhibi.s o.:
al tho latest machinery and appli-
rnc"s FOR dairyinG and farming: il
VIII bring experts from all the states
and tn" Federal government IL preach
the methods OF scientific dairying and
stock raising ~ Will stimulate com
petition throughout New England. The
value or such u show 10 section
which is working TO build UP its agri
cultural Industries can scarcely he
oVcrcSiimatcd.
The preparations that are going for
ward IN Springfield indicate that the
dairy show is going 10 meet with {,
record welcome. They know how TO
hold fairs in New England. That see
ton is the cradle OF the country fair
in America. The thrce-county fair at
Northampton, for example. is ninety
eight years old and reported as still
growing
The New England fair started away
back in he old days when the farmers
began holding horse races. aud people
began gathering to see them. And
pared and tested. and pumpkins and
babies and rOoStcrS. Some one began
selling birch beer TO the thirsty and
some one else hot ginger bread to the
hungry one after another the amusc-
mcntS and Institutions that make NJ
the modern country fair were evolved
and perfected SO that New England
has spent over n century learning how
10 hold fairs. and the people are ac-
cuStomcd To attending them. Spring
field is we'll qualified to handle the
biggest fair In the country.
The dairying business Is among the
largest industries in the United States
and also one OF the most responsible
Milk is one of the surest carriers OF
| disease in the world. and also an in
J dispenSablc item OF human foods. So
that in very real sense the dairy
men have the lives of all Of us i'm their
hands. For the most part, they are
working with conscientious and scion
I tiic thoroughneSS to meet their ever
growing problem. and the government
! is helping them. The dairyinr division
Of the bureau Of Animal Industry Is
/ one Of the most extensive laboratories
: III Washington, occupying several
I floors of the new agricultural building
! Here YOU will find whole rooms de
voted to such subjects as tho bactc-
| roloey OF soft cheese and the chcmis-
! try of buttcrmilk.
Clearing House Of Idcnn.
| The National Dairy Show Is II sort
! Of clearing house Of ideas IN this Srca'
| industry. improvements In The breeds
| OF cattle. the management Of dairics
! and in the scientific appliances Of tho
/ business are here gathered aud placed