No. 7. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 373 



With a full comprehension of these conditions, with discourage- 

 ments and disappointments of past years, with their trade gradually 

 slipping away, but still with undaunted courage, that final rally was 

 made in 1898— but without competition from other states, without 

 paid premiums, and with repeated failure. Then it was that the 

 stockmen of Pennsylvania woke up to the full realization of the fact 

 that Pennsylvania had no State Fair, and never could have one under 

 such conditions, and, so far as the stockmen were concerned, there 

 has never been an attempt at a State Fair since, and, under a continu- 

 ance of the same conditions, there never wijl be. That two thousand 

 dollars would not be enough to run an ordinary vegetable show of 

 a Pennsylvania township subordinate Grange. Gentlemen, the West 

 Chester Dog Show paid more than that for premiums on canines last 

 Fall. 



Closely following the last apoJogy for a State Fair in Peimsyl- 

 vania, the Livestock Breeders, throughly discouraged with the then 

 existing conditions, decided to form an- organization; the article 

 calling a meeting for the purpose of completing this organization 

 was written by the present Secretary of the Association, Mr. E. S. 

 Bayard of Pittsburg, Pa. One of the chief objects set forth in this 

 call was to devise ways and means by which a State Fair Commis- 

 sion might be established, which would be commensurate with our 

 rank among the states in representing all of the industries for which 

 our great Commonwealth is noted, and which would be in harmony 

 with the spirit and progress of the times, and our growing industries. 

 In response to this call, a large number of the leading and most 

 influential stock breeders from all parts of the State assembled at 

 Pittsburg, and the Association was completed with a large member- 

 ship, in January, 1900. Individual members and ofiicers of this As- 

 sociation have spent much time in research, visiting many State Fair 

 Associations and similar high class expositions in the States and in 

 Canada, for the purpose of ascertaining the best and most practical 

 methods of establishing a State Fair in Pennsylvania; they have 

 submitted their plans to the highest authorities for criticism; they 

 have not been content with formulating plans as good as others, but 

 they have tried to get them a little better. Its membership has 

 been, and is now, in close touch with all branches of agriculture, 

 manufacturing, the sciences, etc.. etc., and the bill which has been 

 formulated by them, and which is now before the Legislature, de- 

 mands representation oi all our interests, is the best and broadest 

 document of its kind ever drafted, and has the endorsement of all 

 the State's leading industries; and the Allied Agricultural Associa- 

 tions, now in session here, are looking forward with pride, and in 

 anxious expectation of its passage, and endorsement by his Ex- 

 cellency Governor Edwin S. Stuart. 



I might speak of the advantages to be derived by our agricultural 

 interests from a good State Fair, but I think at this time, when we 

 have so many examples of the enthusiasm, increased interest, and 

 the improvement which has followed in all branches of agriculture, 

 that keen competition and the high standards set at the great ex- 

 positions, that it is unnecessary to consume time in discussing the 

 benefits to be derived from a well conducted State Fair in Pennsyl- 

 vania. I believe that the advantages of such a Fair are conceded 



