The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1920-08-06
Fair Grounds
Made New Again

Grand Stand Thoroughly Overhauled
and Stronger Than Ever - Othef
improvements and Repairs-GreI
NADIA Business Men Put $4,000 Into
Rejuvenating the Fair-Better Live
Stock, Better Poultry, Better Farm
and More Money for Farms Argue
Well-Races to Be Big Feature.
Some ten months ago, the business
men of Grenada determined to resur-
rect or rejuvenate interest in Gre
NADIA County and surrounding terri
tory in the Fair.
Notwithstanding the fact that it
has been repeatedly published and
been many times stated perhaps in
public addresses, yet there are many
people in Grenada County who have
forgotten, or do not know, that the
Fair Grounds property does not be-
long to Grenada or to any set of
men, but that it is property set
apart for fair uses and for demon
stration work in live stock, farm pro-
ducts, &C. There are forty acres in
the tract, and valued as property is
now, its location and desirability etc,
it is worth fully $12,0OO.OO-the
forty acres of land is worth that
amount. The property has been prac-
tically idle so far as Fair uses are
concerned for several years.
Looking back to the days when
thousands of people gathered here
annually to attend the Fair; when
there was rivalry in who could
bring in the best bushel of corn, the
finest Irish potatoes, the best cot
ton and other kindred things, the
business men Of Grenada began to
speculate as to why there could not
be better Fair held here now than
in the days past. They reasoned
somewhat after this manner: There
is more money in the country now
than then; there is more blooded cat
tie and more 'pedigreed hogs than
then; there is a higher grade of poul-
try than then; live stock is far more
valuable now than at any time when
any Fair in the past has been held !:
the people at large know more about
intensive farming and agriculture
than then and there are better roads,
therefore there does not appear to
be any sound reason why the Fair
Grounds should not be revived and
why a greater and better Fair than
ever before cannot be held this sea-
son. Accordingly about $4,000 was
subscribed by Grenada merchants and
business men to repair the grand
stand, to build new fences and to do
general renovating. Foremost in
this movement as usual was DR.. w.
P. Ferguson and Mr.. H. B. Barbee.
After the money was raised, the next
question was getting the proper man
to take hold of the enterprise and
push it with all his vigor. All parties
at once suggested Mr.. Barbee and he
was drafted for this very important
task.
Mr.. Barbee has been giving the
work his personal attention and per-
sonal supervision. The grand stand
has been thoroughly overhauled. The
writer in company with Mr.. Barbee
last week went over the property
and examined with critical eye all
the work but especially the grand
stand. The grand stand was never
safer and there can hardly be any
question about its holding with the
greatest safety all that can get on
it. The ladies' department, the
stables and the stock pens have also
good attention and are being
put in thorough state of repair.
80
ready. Grenada is interested. The
farmers and stock raisers of sur
rounding territory are NOSE peculiar
ly interested than the town of Gre
NADIA. The Fair can be made a big
asset for the farmer and for the
stock raiser. Unquestionably the
Fairs held the few years past had
much to do with opening the eyes of
the farmers and all other classes to
the great possibilities of stock rails
ing and the real value of farm lands.
It will be remembered that when the
Fairs used to operate here, farm
lands were worth from 10 to 500
per acre whereas now they are worth
from $50. to 1925. per acre. Mich
cows were then worth from $15. to
SOU per ucoU WuSISdS COOdy mIlCA
cows are worth from $50. to $780,,
Other things in proportion. Did
Fairs have anything to do with these
increases in value? The Fair grounds
are here. Will the farmers and stock
raisers make use Of them? If they
have not already begun thinking
about what they will have in the
Fair, let them begin now. Remem-
Der there is going to be provision for
everything and do not forget, either,
that some of the best race stock in
The land will be here. Talk up the
Fair. Prepare to enter something in
It.
Mr.. B. Allen, who is to be in Gre
NADIA with his family within a few
weeks to have charge of a new cot
ton buying concern, the style Of which
Is not just now known to The Senti-
mel, will occupy a part of the resi-
\ r.