Year: 1868

Montana's first annual fair is ended.


If il has taught no other lesson, it has


shown us that We may and shall next


year have an exhibition which cannot


be excelled in any of the Territories.


Now that the fair is over we may say


that there was wide spread feeling


that our country was too young to sup


port any such institution, and probably


a majority of our people thought that


the exhibition would be failure. This


being the case there was not that inter-


est taken in 1t which we had hoped to


see evinced, and there was a strong dis


position to regard the matter with in


difference. But, thanks to the energy


of those having the enterprise in charge,


the exhibition was creditable one, es-


pecially so when il is considered that it


was first attempt, and we may con


clude that the annual fairs of the Asso-


citation under whose auspices the one


Just closed was held, are established on


a firm basis. A starter" has been made


and the fact demonstrated that we can


have fair if we try. A spirit OF emu
lation has been awakened among our
producers and manufacturers, and hun
dreds who contributed nothing to the ex-
hibi.ion this season will use every effort
to make fine display next year, While
visiting the fair grounds we
frequently heard those in attendance
remark why l could have beaten that
and Il will show them something ahead
of this next year" &c. The result will


be that every class of Territorial manu-
factures and productions will be repre-
sented next year, and that we shall have
Fair which will possess double the at
fractions of that just closed, Our miners
will take pride in selecting their richest
ores and preserving them for exhibition.
Our farmers will pay particular attention
to certain patches of ground which are
to be represented at the Fair. Our man.
ufacturers will select the choicest ma
terial that comes under their notice,
from which to make articles for exhibi-
ton, and all will have an entire twelve
month in which to prepare for the next
years Territorial exhibition. The mana
gers of tbs association, as well as the
patrons, will also have learned many
lesson from their this years experiences. (
and will so profit thereby that the ar-
for the next exhibition will /.
be much more perfect than were those I
of the present season. Among other I
thugs they have learned that perfect /
simeon frequently beclouds our valleys /
with it's dust, and windows and doors I
will, therefore. probably be more numer-
Gus on the Fair grounds next year than
this, and open sided buildings propor-
rare With the encourage
ment which It has this season received,
the association will feel justified In pro-
viding still more literally for the accom-
mediation of exhibitors and guests, and
we may expect to find at the next Fair a
Floral Hall which shall be larger than
any building which was this year seen
upon the grounds, and which shall be
amply suhSiShe aiihS iot VIC usPlaf Vi
the largely increased number of articles
which will be contributed to it, and for
the accommodation of its visitors. A
lesson has been taught, both to the pros


ectors and patrons of the Fair. and we
believe that both are determined that
next year shall see vast improvement
On the present, in the character and
scope of the great Territorial exhibition