Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-08-25
Monday, August rs, 1919.
Improving Maine Fairs.

Monoays August %, tStS'
Improving Maine Fairs.
With ali the big and little fairs at
hand. and an awakening interest In
agricultural conditions and problems
it behooves consumers as we'll as
farmers to participate in and whole
somely support everything that Is
wholesome and instructive in the
make up Of their local and the more
convenient or most promising OF the
big fairs.
To Central Maine people there will
be less indecision this year than ever
before. we should expect. For the
Central Maine Fair is proceeding on !
the common sense conviction that the
movies are largely satisfying the de-
mand that the midway" answered.
and the management is providing |
something worth while that the
movies do not give.
Oh, yes, there are to be amuse-
meuts In abundance. entertainment
features and plenty Of music-band
concerts ana free attractions on an
elevated stage. in front Of the Grand
Stand. Among these free attractions
will be Apdale's Zoo Of trained ami
mails. the Two Ducat Brothers, the
Four Readings. the Chester Sisters.
But the highest aim Of the manage
ment Of the Fair this year IL to serve
the purpose Of live stock growers In
every possible way. They are pro-
noting breed association meetings
and win do their utmost to make the
Fair useful to every one interested in
agricultural affairs. The manage
ment Is profoundly impressed by the
possibilities Of beef raising in New
England. It Is offering handsome
prizes in many classes Of live stock.
notably the special Hereford premi-
UNI list which totals $2.212.50.
Breeders banquets and get to-
gether' hanquets are to be held. and
auction sales will offer opportunities
for up-and-alive farmers.
It Is not our purpose to enumerate
the attractions or quote the almost
amazing lists Of Americas best live
stock Of all kinds and classes-every
New England state and at least
three middle states have already en-
tered-but we hope to impart to our
readers something Of our own con-
fidence and enthusiasm in the pros
poets this year Of the Central Maine
Fair.
It Is to be q bigger. better fair
than ever before. at the same old
price. and it will merit the support of
Maine people. The management has
interpreted the turning in the right
direction. at last, Of the agricultural
pendulum. Business and profess
sional men are seeing new light on
the downward tendency Of 20 years.
They are realizing more and more
that it is no longer a question Of how
long this course can be continued be-
fore the crash. but question Of pos
sibility Of determinedly and intelh-
gently changing that course before it
is too late.
Something must be done to i'm
prove general farming conditions
fair returns. fewer hours of drudg-
cry to acquire fair living wages, bet
ter roads( and by that we do not
mean roads so hard and smooth that
farmers teams cannot safely nego-
tiate them). improved schooling
facilities and consequently increased
property values. convenient storage
warehouses (both cold and dry),
better distribution schemes-and 30
on indefinitely.
Some of these must be had before
the farm boys will stick by the old
home place. And if agriculture goes
to pot In Maine where are the rest of
US to land?
Men before the general public are
getting hold Of these facts at last
and are interesting themselves in the
solution. That is one. encoura rinr
indication. Another is that fair mar.
agements are forsaking the disgust.
ing and demoralizing attractions"
that have 50 largely made up mid
ways" and are dsvoting brains and
money to providing sane. clean, in
structivs and useful attractions. We
hope farmers will encourage this ten
-dency. for it means much to their
future, and we just as earnestly hope
that city and town dwellers win
patronizs the agricultural fairs. for
the farmers problem is Of vital In
ferest - consumers.
Central Maine people should en-.
courage the Central Maine Fair by
th1ir. prsssnce. and we feel it safe to
prpmiss them that this year at least
fhsy I'm gst their moneys worth.
me report Of sharks aolng our
Maine coast about once a year
causes more or less alarm but the