Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-03-02


profits through advertising. In her
day Rome was big advertiser and
kept at 1t SO persistently that even
tually all roads led to that metropolis.
From the standpoint of legitimate
municipal publicity. America has sew
eral Romes. But this sort of cooper
alive advertising is not monopolized
by these big centers. Indeed there
are scores of communities - rural
and semirural-that have put them
selves on the map in big red letters.
Their fame has not been restricted
by their small size. The secret lies
in their emphasizing some local prod
uct which the community is well suit
ed to produce, and getting all inter
ested persons to do their very best
in that line.
A purse is trash compared with q
good name, according to Shake
speare, and many towns recognizing
the inestimable value of a good
name have built up regulations that
have lined the purses Of those FORM
ing the community. For example,
Monroe county, in southern Wiscon-
sin, has built up national reputa-
ton for the fine quality of its cheese.
Not the least factor in winning and
keeping leadership in this line has
been the annual Cheese Day, splen-
did community event at which guam
titles OF the delicious product of the
region are given away in sandwiches
and in other forms to thousands
who share in the occasion.
What Monroe county has done
with cheese. Garlic Springs, Tex,
has done with Strawberries. The
whole countryside in the vicinity Of
this village joins in honoring its ia
vorite product each season. Distin-
guished citizens come from miles
around to take part in the festivities.
The governor Of the state counts 1t
a privilege to be present.
Flowing Made Fine Art.
That the humblest of farm tasks
can he honored and exalted by COM
munity effort and the community In
turn greatly profit thereby is shown
by the record of the Wheatland plow-
ing match in northern Illinois. This
annual event instituted something
like half century ago along lines
followed by the founders ancestors
in Scotland. attracts annually 10000
to $1,000 people. Here plowmen of
all ages are divided into classes. the
members Of which compete for prizes
offered for the best work done with
riding. walking and tractor plows.
The reputation for skill in agricul-
ture created by this annual event has
been worth an incalculable amount
to the farmers OF this region. and
partly because Of it Wheatland prod
ucts are considered among the best
in the whole Mississippi Valley.
The orange growers of California
have learned similar lesson. Each
year they hold magnificent orange
festival which is one of the big
events OF the Pacific coast. attracting
as many as $4,000 people. some of
them from distant states. The rival
ry for honors has done much to raise
and maintain high standards among
orange growers OF the region.
A. community celebration OF.
somewhat different character but
equally effective in its advertising
power. is the ground-hog day picnic
at Punxsutawney, Pa. At this novel
annual event farmers. politicians.
and former residents. to the number
OF many thousands, gather to share
in eating splendid repast. the prin-
cipal feature OF which is grounding
heat. The meat Is cooked in barbe-
cue fashion and invariably wins the
praise OF the celebrants. Speeches
and informal hearty greetings of old
friends occupy the afternoon. While
this event is not designed to adver-
tise farm product, its distinctive
character and the fine spirit of hos
pitality that obtains puts Punxsu-
tawney and the surrounding country
on the map.
Texas Turkey Drives Famous.
The little town of Cuero, Tex, has
won fame from ocean to ocean be-
cause of it's turkey drives. Drivers
of turkeys within radius of 100 to
$50 miles bring in flocks of birds on
foot. The fowls travel at slow rate
during daylight and at dusk instinct
lively huddle together. while their
drivers camp by the roadside until
dawn, when the journey toward
Cuero. a mecca of turkeydom. is re-
sumcd. The eliminating feature of
this event is the turkey parade in
which all the drivers lead their hocks
through the principal street of the
town. On a recent turkey day no
less than $4,000 birds we're In the
procession. Following the parade
the turkeys are loaded on cars and