H. W. Alberts Addresses
Agricultural Fair
At Juneau
Prof. H. W. Alberts, head of the
United States Experimental Stations
in Alaska, one of the ‘speakers on
last night’s program at the South
eastern Alaska Fair, gave an inter
esting talk on the history of fairs,
entitled “Fairs and Fairs in Gen
eral.”
“Agricultural fairs in this coun
try were first organized more than
100 years ago,” said Mr. Alberts.
“The first fair held in the United
States was an exhibition at Wash
ing, D. C., lasting three days, begin
ning October 17, 1804. In 1809 the
State of New York appropriated
$20,000 for two years to be divided
among county agricultural societies.
Since that time the legislatures in
the different states have appropriat
ed funds for agricultural exhibitions.
Golden Age
“What may be called the golden
age of agricultural 'fairs, extend
ing for a period of approximately
20 years, was from 1850 to 1870.
During this period the agricultural
fairs were the predominating form
of associated effort among the farm
ers;
“They performed a great ser
vice in diffusing new ideas, in cre
ating an atmosphere of social unity,
and in introducing better mehods
of farming, new types of stock,
grams ana trull, ana in iurtnering
the use of farm machinery. The
educational feature was prominent.
In Massachusetts, for instance, men
like Webster, Everett, Emerson, and
Thoreau delivered addresses. The
affair often included horse racing
and was a gala day, but it had a se
rious purpose and did a great work.
It was, for all this period, the chief
Institution for the formation and
for the conservation of rural inter
ests
Character Changes
“Since 1890 the character of the
fair has changed. The different agri
cultural societies have commercial
ized them. Business enterprises in
the towns in which the fairs were
being held made an effort to further
their own interests at the expense of
the crowd. While the fair as such
failed financially, liberal contribu
tions were made from year to year
by those whose business interests
profited by the ‘wide open’ town.
“The purpose of the fair—to aid
agriculture for the betterment of
both rural and urban life—must
be borne in mind. The fair must
he an educational institution and
cannot be commercialized if any
benefits are expected to be derived
from. it. While the purpose of the
*-*
!
SHELBY C. SHURICK
Physician and Surgeon
Upstairs over U. S. Customs
Hours: 1 to 4 and 6:30 to 8
Sunday by appointment only
Telephone 57
*-—--*
Thwaites Photo Shop
Ketchikan
Kodak Finishing
Copying—Enlarging
Wrangell Steam
Laundry
M. O. JOHNSON, Prop.
First Class Work
Telephone 28
Butterhorn Bakery
The House that Quality Built
Ketchikan, Alaska
HOGUE & TVETEN CO. |
Dealers in |
| General Merchandise |
I “The Best of Everything for |
| Everybody |
| CITIZENS CO-OPERATIVE |
| WHARF CO. |
| Trade in Petersburg— \
| Port of Prosperity j
| PETERSBURG ALASKA |
nnniimfliffliiiiiniiinniniiiiiiiniiiiHiimiimiiiiuiiiiHiiiiiiiiHuiiiiiiiiKP
KARL HANSEN
Port Alexander Alaska
Is equipped to supply all the needs of fishermen
at reasonable prices.
Alaska office, Seattle office,
Port Alexander. 1911 L. C. Smith Bldg.
t^= ■
The First National Bank of Ketchikan
A National institution operating under charter and supervision
of the United States Government. A safe and conservative b«ak
that you will like to do business with.
COMMERCIAL ACCOUNTS SAVINGS ACCOUNTS
3 c/c and 4c/c paid on TIME DEPOSITS. Safety Deport Mages
for Rent.