The Billboard 1924-03-22: Vol 36 Iss 12 (1924-03-22)

pry fF has been demonstrating at State and Agricul tural Fairs thruout the United States the wide range of the natural resources and agricultural products of Canada by means of attractive exhibits. Such fairs are still among the oldest and the most effective methods of showmanship. Displaying the resources of a country or the wares of a manufacturer or merchant at fairs is an old business, which began in eirnest with the great European fairs of the Middle Ages. Travel was difficult in those days when railways were unknown and the still more modern automobile and airplane were not thought of by even the most fanciful dreamers. Traders soon discovered that the fairs were great places for business, and there is evidently still a univarsal appeal about the fair, for to this day the fairs in the Old World that were started generations ago are continued, with no sign of waning popularity. The famous fair at Leipzig has been held regularly for 650 years, and other fairs dating from medieval times are such as that at NijniNovgorod, in Russia, which continues to PF: several years the Canadian Government The Billboard By Robert J. C. Stead ECOGNIZING the value of the fairs in the R United States, the Canadian Government thru the Exhibition Branch of the Department of Immigration and Colonization, puts in attractive exhibits, made up of products of the farm and orchard, and of displays of minerals and other natural resoruces, of which Canada has so generous a supply, and other features that will serve to give accurate information about the largest part of the North American Continent—a part which Canadians often think is not favorably known as it should be among their American cousins. Last year the Canadian Government exhibited at 24 State fairs and at 60 smaller fairs in the United States. Each of the 24 State fairs was held for an average of ten days and the combined estimated attendance was placed at over nine million people. The other fairs attracted 7,000,000 visitors. MARCH 22, 1924 under cultivation. Of the 240,000,000 acres await. ing the plow much of it reasonably close to the railways can be bought at prices ranging from $15 to $20 an acre. Last year from the acreage under cultivation the largest grain crops in the history of Canada were produced. Wheat yielded from 22,732,723 acres 469,761,000 bushels, an avevage of 20.75 bushels to the acre; the production of oats totaled 535,000,000 bushels from 13,729,000 acres, an average of 38.75 bushels to the acre, and barley, rye, flax, corn, ete., gave yields proportionately high. Canada is now the second largest wheat and oat-producing country in the world, and last year jumped into the lead among the wheat exporting countries. Moreover, it is the largest producer of hard spring wheat in the world, which is regarded as the highest grade of this grain that is grown, dicate the growing importance of the Dominion as a dairying country. The dairy products of Canada yield over $250,000,000 annually, and among the best customers for these and Bi tiesto a of cheese and butter are used to in retain its importance and attracts people from all parts of the country, and during its ‘height spreads itself over an area of seven square miles. In the United States and Canada, fairs, or, to give them the name which some regard as sounding more erudite and euphonious, exhibitions, are not so much markets as they are in Europe, but temporary centers for the exhibition of ag all other Canadian agricultural and manufacturing products are the people of the United States and the British Isles. Displays of mineral and forest resources are used to conv3y the information that Canada has the greatest asbestos, nickel and cobalt deposits in the world; that it contains 16 per cent of the world’s known coal reserves; that it is the third largest producer of gold in the world; that it is the second largest pro ricultural products, live stock and industrial products, with horse _ race ing, Vaudeville programs, side-shows, which usually flank the principal thorofares of the fair grounds, known as the Midway, as additional attractions. In many respects the State and smaller agricultural fairs of North America differ very considerably from somewhat similar institutions in older countries. On this side of the world fairs are undoubtedly important as social centers. The State, provincial or district fair is the principal annual rendezvous where old friends and relatives meet. “Fair Week” or “Fair Day” is an important local or district event. It is a kind of institution in itself. It commands the enthusiastic support of the merchants and every localand district organization. One side of exhibit in the Canadian Government exhibition automobile, which travels all over Great Britain The record attendance was at the Texas State Fair, held in Dallas, where 1,150,000 people went thru the turnstiles. The Canadian exhibits at these fairs covered an average of 1,200 square feet of floor space. At the smaller fairs an average of 600 square feet of space was occupied. |: addition to the exhibits of farm products and samples of the natural resources of the Domin ion the advantages and opportunities Canada holds out to settlers are made known, and in this respect the Dominion has something to offer. It is estimated that there are 300,000,000 acres of very fertile agricultural land in Canada suitable for settlement, of which less than 60,000,000 acres are ducer of newsprint paper in the world, and that lumber and other forest products are immensely important. Such information as this illustrated by attractive exhibits serves to educate those that see them in a rather positive and impressive manner. Strangers to Canada have their curiosity piqued by these exhibits and are anxious to learn more about the country of their nextdoor neighbor. There is a sincere desire on the part of the Canadian Government to disseminate accurate information about the Dominion in order that the bond of understanding between the people of the United States and Canada shall be made stronger. The fairs are excellent mediums for this purpose. The Canadian Government, however, does not (Continued on page 283) Left: A Canadian Government exhibit at the Dairy Cattle Congress recently held at Waterloo, la. Right: Section of the Canadian Government exhibit at This exhibit, tho not competing with other exhibits, was awarded the grand diploma because of its excellent arrangement. the Florida State Fair, Tampa. | AT US. FAIRS | ¢