In 1885 the Oregon State Legislature officially charged the state board of agriculture with the management of the Oregon State Agricultural Society and the State Fair.
Discussing the first fair in 1861 the Oregon Argus on September 7th stated:
We are a go-ahead people, and if we design to keep up with the people of other States, we must not forget that all improvements worth anything – of whatever character – are effected only by zeal, labor, and perseverance. Come up, brethren and sisters, to the work expected of us.
Next year, in 1862, The State Republican’s had a gloomier take on the state fair.
Of home manufactured articles on display was rather slim, but all that could be expected of a people who have depended on foreign manufactories so long that they can’t make a broom stick or an ax handle until poverty drives them to it.
The articles above are both drawn from the excellent Historic Oregon Newspapers website. I think we can agree that Oregonians today are filled with zeal and labor and are not only driven to axe handle manufacture by poverty.
No comments:
Post a Comment