VOL XIX.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., SATURDAY, NOV. 15,1884.
NO. 46.
Written forthelndlana Farmer.'     '
How to ReforniShe Fairs.
BY D. D. T. MOORE.
In yonr Issue of August 23, under the
heading of "County Fairs," Mr. B. F.
Spencer severely criticises the management of the last annual exhibition of the
Ripley Connty Agricultural Association.
After averring that "the name is a libel on
agriculture," he proceeds to give cogent
reasons for thus characterizing an organization whose proceedipgs Jie witnessed.-
In his arraignment and indictment of the
association he states that "the stock exhibitors principally belong to the jockey
class," that "the directors could not pursue a course better calculated to secure the
attendance of professional gamblers and
the abandoned classes," and proceeds to
say the point he wishes to make is this:
"The officers and directors are among our
most substantial citizens. Among them
are ex-offlcials of the county, those who
aspire to be law-makers, successful farmers and business men, some of whom lament much over the bad condition of the
people, and would like, no doubt, for
Providence to turn reformer and make
them better." After referring to the statute laws forbidding gambling and games
of chance, Mr. Spencer speaks of the disgraceful and demoralizing exhibitions at
the fair, and adds that "some 25 or 30 different games of chance were on the
grounds, and the noise and din of these
and sellers of swindling goods made the
grounds a perfect Bedlam."
Without quoting further from your evidently justly irate correspondent—for
most readers of the Farmer interested in
the matter doubtless remember the drift
of his article—permit one who has had
somewhat to do with the management of
both State and county agricultural. societies and their exhibitions to make a few
suggestions touching the abuses complained of and how they maybe reformed.
Indiana is by no means the only State
wherein reform is demanded in. the conduct of fairs, for from nearly every section of the country come complaints in
regard to their objectionable fe-tures.
Earnest members of various agricultural
societies are, like Mr. Spencer, justly
grieved and disgusted at the latitude allowed by fair managers. They think the
"agricultural hoss trots" are demoral-.
izing, while their moral feelings are outraged when gambling, liquor selling and
ridiculous side shows are permitted on
grounds designed for the exhibition: of
the products of rural and mechanical
skill and industry. Very properly they
look upon these things with disfavor, and
are wont to express themselves in strong
.terms of condemnation. Sensibly concluding that the benefits derivable from a
display of stock farm products* implements, domestic' manufactures and the
like, however, complete "and instructive it
maybe, are" more than overbalanced by
the pernicious scones^, and temptation to
evil presented, especially to the young,
right-thinking people naturally feel disgusted and express indignation. And not
a few good but impulsive men annually
throw up memberships in societies which
allow disgraceful features at their fairs, |
instead of retaining their positions and
exerting whatever influence they possess
to institute reform in management.
But what, the reader asks, is the remedy
for an evil which is proving so detrimental to the usefulness of many agricultural
societies? It is very simple and easy of
application. The true way to radically
reform fair management is for right-
thinking, progressive farmers to attend
the annual meetings of their respective
societies and actively participate ln the
proceedings. Those who object to the
pernicious features of fairs can most effectually enter their protests at the time new
officers are chosen,and action taken as to the
rules and regulations of future exhibitions. They should then and there see
that the right men are selected as directors, such as will not mismanage the affairs of the society, and that measures are
adopted to prohibit objectionable displays
on the fairgrounds. This is the true course
to pursue—the incumbent duty of every
member who desires true progress and
improvements—instead of keeping aloof, as
many do, and afterwards complaining of
omission and commission at the fair,
which their timely presence, voice and influence at the annual meetings might have
prevented. Let those therefore who are
opposed to the abuses which prevail at
their fairs, act the part of wisdom by being
promptly in attendance at the coming annual meetings of their societies and using
their best efforts in favor of thorough reform in management. So doing they will
aid in promoting the substantial interests
of their fellow ruralists, and also do somewhat to prevent the farther .demoralization of community through the misman.
ageinent of industrial exhibitions.
Near New York, Nov. 3, 1884.
From Northwestern Nebraska.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
Thinking perhaps a few lines might
be of interest to your readers from
this wild prairie land, I will give
you a few items. I left the old Hoosier State the 26th of last March with
a colony from Sullivan county under the
leadership of R»v. J. A. Scammahorn.
We landed at Valentine, this State, on the
28th of March; went into camp for ten
days or two weeks, then pulled out for
Gordon, Antelope valley where we landed
April 28th. This being our objective
point, here we pitched our tents on our
respective homesteads and preemptions,
and commenced the struggle attending
pioneer life."How we have succeeded
will
BE SEEN FURTHER ON.
This is a good country, made up of valleys and rolling prairie lands, of good
fertile soil, black sandy loam with clay
subsoil, and good well water can be had
in abundance by going from 10 to 40 feet
down, according to lay of land. Antelope
valley is situated 100 miles west of Valentine, the present terminus of the Sioux
City and Pacific R. R. The road is now
being extended farther west, running
through our valley, the grade being nearly
completed as far as Gordon, and track
will be laid thus far in early spring, and
perhaps yet this fall if the weather continues favorable.
'■ The tide of immigration has been immense all season and still continues, and
while there is  still some vacant land near
Gordon, it will be but a short time until
all will be taken that is at all desirable;
though there are vacant lands on farther west of us on the line of this railroad.
Anyone expecting to come west should
not delay; and I know of no other portion
of the west where government land can
be obtained that excels ours. I planted
eight acres of sod com the last days of
May, which yielded about 20 bushels per
acre and a great portion of it matured
well. I have saved my seed from it for
another year. This is the greatest country for vegetables I ever saw. It is almost incredible to state the size of potatoes, turnips, melons, pumpkins, etc.,
grown here this season. Suffice it to say
that Hoosiers never saw the like till they
came here. We had a very good season,
no drouth of any consequence, and we
verily believe that this is to be in the near
future a first-class farming country. The
climate is healthy and the weather has
been much better than what a Hoosier
would expect. The wind is not near so
bad as reported, in fact we have had a
splendid season, and everybody is well
pleased, having raised enough to keep
them through-the winter, and that., does
well for a new country the flrst year.   )
Seeing an inquiry from J. S., of Jackson
county, Ind., in the Farmer of Oct. 18th,
in reference to Government land in this
State, I reply: It can be obtained at the
land office at Valentine, both prairie and
timber land, at a total cost from the government of about $18 each for homesteads
or tree claims, and f 1 25 per acre for preemption. The timbered lands are not
considered of much value except for the
timber alone. Anyone desiring information in reference to northwest Nebraska
can address me and I will cheerfully
answer as far as I am able.
The Farmer Is a welcome visitor here.
Having been one of your pioneer subscribers in the old Hoosier State we can't
do without our old friend in our new
prairie home. Our best wishes for your
success. Joseph Van Buskirk.
Gordon, Neb., Nov. 1,1884.
Postoffice Conveniences for Farmers.
J—itors Indiana Farmer:
The postoffice department of our government is maintained for the convenience of
the people. It is not expected to yield
any revenue tothe general government
after paying its expenses.
It seems unfair that the legislation in
reference to the postoffice department discriminates against a large portion of the
farming community. The only means of
transmitting money possessed by the
country postoffice is the registry system.
In addition to this system, the postofflces
in towns and cities issue postoffice money
orders and postal notes.
Now see how unfair this arrangement is.
I who live five or ten miles from any large
town, wish lo renew my subsciiption to
the Farmer. I can either enclose my
money in an ordinary letter and take my
own risk, or pay the postoffice department ten cents to keep track of my letter
and still take my own risk. My friend
who lives near the large town can get a
postal note for three cents which is about
as safe as my registered letter, ox for eight
cents he can get a postoffice money order
which is absolutely safe.
My ordinary letter containing ?2 would
probably reach its destination in safety.
But if I had to send silver, which would
be the case if the amount were a fraction
of a dollar, I would be almost compelled
to register it. If I wish to send 75 cents,
?1 25 or $4 50, it will cost me ten cents,
while my friend near the city can send .
the same amount as safely for three cents.
Now I am sure that the farmer, living at
a distance from the large town or city,
has the greatest need of a cheap way of
transmitting small sums of money, and
the postoffice department ought to afford
him this convenience, even though It
slightly Increase the expense at country
postofflces. But probably the increased
revenue would pay all the extra cost. I
do not propose to make all postofflces
money order offices, but the postal note
system could be improved by making the
postoffice department liable for all losses,
and it could be extended to all postofflces.
Kingston, Nov. 10. Luctlitjs.
Strawberries in November.
Edltora Indiana Farmer:
While passing through my strawberry
patch on the 20th of October I found a
plant on which were several berries. One
of them was ripe, it was an inch and a
quarter long, and an inch in diameter at
its base, and was a very perfect and well
shaped berry. It was a Wilson's Albany.
Several days afterwards I found quite a
number of berries and a large number of
blossoms, and at the present writing there
are a few small green berries on some of
the plants, but I do not think from their
appearance they will mature. For the
past week I have been protecting them
from frost to see what they will do.
W. G. A.
Jefferson ville, Ind.,-Nov. 8.
English 'Wheat Growers.
The London Economist says: The tremendous drop in the price of wheat has
produced something like a panic among
the wheat growers of the country. When
they had to sell at 40s. a quarter they declared that they could only do so at a loss,
and now that good red wheat Is selling in
the country market at 30s. they are talking about giving up wheat growing altogether. What will farmers do? They
certainly cannot keep on growing wheat
to sell at 30s. a quarter; and if they were
sure that such a price would prevail next
year, there would probably be a greatly
diminished area sown with this cereal.
It Is doubtful whether English farmers
can profitably grow wheat at 40s. a quarter, and we may be certain that if the
average price should be permanently below that figure, the area of land under
wheat will in future decrease even more
rapidly than it has done during the last
ten years. In no country will farmers
keep on growing wheat at a loss. Even
the ryots of India cannot send us wheat at
30s. a quarter, and it may be concluded
that no other country can; therefore, the
present low price will not last long.
—A quarter is 50i) pounds or close upon
eight bushels; 30s. a quarter is therefore
equivalent to about 05 cents a bushel.—
Eds.