Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-07-12

ana OtnerS come IN by SUBURBAN electro
lines as well as by carriage and automo
bile. Probably not more than half thu
visitors come from such distances as t
require railroad transportation.
Therefore the transportation objection
SINNERS down to a short-haul movement
of about 100000 visitors-not concen,
trated at one time or section, but distrib-
uted widely over the country and extend
ing mostly through the period of two
autumn months. September and October.
A policy of wise cooperation between
Uncle Sam and the fairs was shown last
year in several instances where grounds
were wanted for use as military camps.
Uncle Sam did not shoe the shows out Of
existence. He borrowed their premises
when they were not being used, moved
out for fair week and then moved in again.
This was the case in New York. Texas and
Minnesota.
1t seems unfortunate that similar ar
rangement Of mutual accommodation could
not have been made this year with New
England's newest and largest fair enter
prise. the Eastern States Agricultural and
Industrial Exposition. at Springfield, Mas
sachusetts. This elaborate plant was leased
last spring for the exclusive use of the
Ordnance Bureau Of the War Department,
and the fair cannot be held.
A summary Of the show outlook for this
year, obtained from forty letters from the
largest fairs in the United States and Can
ada, indicates a prosperous season despite
all handicaps. More space than ever is
applied for. more money allotted in pre-
miums. and special efforts are being made
to improve things and meet wartime needs.
Though ancient as Methuselah in its ORR
| gin, the American fair is by no means in
the state of dotage argued by the researches
Of the learned and viewed by certain off,
cials at Washington. Like the patriarch
of the holy writ. the fair seems to have
logged along for several centuries. and
about the time the heirs gathered together
to divide up the assets it became rejuve-
mated.
As evidence that the fair is rejuvenated
and is going ahead, take the fact that since
1900 there has been general movement
through the country for permanent fair
equipment. Within this period millions
of dollars have been put into larger grounds
and better buildings Steel and brick struc-
lures have displaced the old-time canvas
and wood contraptions in which breeders
hesitsted to house their high-priced live
stock and where visitors found few con-
veniences. A $1,000 horse and $500
COW must have choice quarters. else they
will not be shown.
Coop SHOWS AND Coop FARMING.
People also deserve decent accommoda-
tons. Furthermore. the permanent struc-
ture is economical in the long run. The
$50.000,000 equipment Of our half hun
dred large fairs represents an expenditure
Of only about six dollars apiece for the
visitors who attend these shows in sim
Gle year And besides serving the main
purpose Of their construction, buildings are.
in many cases, used otherwise throughout
the year.
Illinois and Ohio took the lead in the
modern movement for permanent i'm
provements on fair premises. They were
followed by Iowa and then by Minnesota.
This list in itself indicates that the center
of fair gravity is within the Corn Belt. The
connection between fair headquarters an d
the food producing center Of the country
is too significant to be missed. There are
no fairs Of consequence in sections Of poor
agriculture. Good shows and good farming
are found together,
The biggest fairs in the United States
are Minnesota first. Iowa second. Illinois
third; then in approximate order: Texas.
Michigan. Nebraska, Indiana, Nevada. Ohio.
Kentucky and New York. Not only these
but most of the large fairs are in state
ownership. in view Of which fact 1t would
seem obvious that the Federal Government
should encourage and aid them.
ITO be continued next week.