The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-10-31
MILEsToNEs OR ToMBsTONEsa

: by the agricultural college last week the extension department
specialists call for a state fair a an institution necessary to hasten
state development
This bulletin says, in part;
sThe local and county fairs over the state this year have
served both the farmer and city dweler. The farmer has
been served for il is a recognized fact that an agricultural
Of farming. The city man has been benefited because Of the
community Of interests created when he visits with keen en-
joyment the display Of his country ~neiehbors' products The
local fair stimulates a neighborhness and rivalry equaled
only by the county fair.
"a larger attendance Of city people showing a greater
interest in the displays Of exhibits was noticeable at this
should be some means Of displaying the exhibits of corn, po-
tatoes, peaches, plums, pears, apples and other grains and
New Mexico has livestock, fruits and produce which,
il attractively displayed, would make a state fair in New
Mexico a worthwhile institution.
Aibuqserqae eomplacently asserts its position as the financial
this city has held and still holds by the grace of geography, favorable
railroad facilities and a past record OF community activity which
We still enjoy the geographical and railroad advantages. For
the past ten years we have done practically nothing ,, as,s a community nm.
prise we have had, beyond a doubt, and have it now. Our efforts
ishing point We are living and thriving, in so far a we can lay
any claim to either, on the community efforts of a previous decade
We are beginning to feel those effects in general business and in our
individual sa businesses in Sc Any careful stock taking will reveal the eff
One of the community institutions that had to do with making
New Mexico and northern Arizona was the New MexicS state fair.
We called it the Territorial Fair. - This city supported it; put on
the whole show as an Albuquerque enterprise. 1t is true that it was
more Of an amusement enterprise than a bona fde display of pro-
ducts In the earlier years We didn't have much in the way of pro-
ducts to display. But the annual fair brought the people of New
Mexico together; It brought the people Of Albuquerque together at
least once each year in united, community effort and the harmony OF
thought and action so inspired continued throughout the year and
until the next fair stimulated it all over again.
displays Of agricultural products, livestock, fruits, increased in
variety and volume. The increase was in proportion to the agri-
Then came statehood and the idea that the state should sup
port the state fair o IS a public institution, paid for By the taxpayers
by the state OF what was recognized as strictly a community enter
prise. The inability of New Mexico to finance a state fair by state
appropriation, as is done in some of the older and richer states, was
recognized by all The legislature was induced to appropriate a part
Albuquerque. The scheme was ioredoomed to failure. AIbuquer-
CUES responsibility, as a community, was lifted onto the shoulders
only partly supported by public money. Albuquerque, its response
biity removed lost interest in the institution as a community. The
other inevitable result occurred in the appearance of political influ-
ences IN the fair management and the use of the institution as a lever
to lift personal or partisan political fortunes.
The New Mexico state fair blew up. The explosion was almost
noiseless. There was not much left inside the she'll to make a noise.
New Mexico State Fair and to forget even the influence it once exert.
cd Tor the benefit OF this state and for the inspiringl Of this city to
healthy community activity. As a community we have forgotten how
it feels to go out and raise the moneys all the money required to
have forgotten the healthy public spirit and the material growth
following those annual efforts.
We may say that If Albuquerque wishes to forego the effort and
the benefits Of an annual state fair, it is the sole concern of Albu-
querque.
But is III
During the ten years since the state fair, half saddled onto the
state government, began to fade out Of the New Mexico picture, this
state q enjoyed a very important agricultural development There
is no clearer illustration Of this development. than in this years flock
have been inspired by county agents and extension workers of tn,
agricultural college but they could not have been held without tn,
Now the specialists of the agricultural college, the lei who
know what they are talking about, announce officially that New
If New Mexico needs a state fair II is just a question of a litu,
time until that institution will materiaize. Things happen that way
IL is entirely up TO Albuquerque whether this city reviyes and main
tains that institution or whether we permit some other and more en-
terprising city to do il.
II Albuquerque expects to remain the financial, commercial ant
distributing center Of New Mexico there are several things this cit
must do within a very short time. The revival Of the New Mexic
state TAR Is one OF those things and not the least important.
Albuquerque should re-establsh the New Mexico state fair, e
fectiye IN October, 1922. Plans to that end should be made and an
nounced now. The fair should be a statewide institution, on suc
a scale as TO attract the attention, support, patronage and approve
OF the whole state. It's financing and management should be IN
business OF Albuquerque; because the state government Is unable 3