Arizona State Fair

By the 1880’s the Territory of Arizona was the Wild West. With a total population of around 60,000, the Territory was just starting to get organized through the 13th Legislature which became known as the “Bloody Thirteenth” or “Thieving Thirteenth” because of its spending habits. At one point, acting Governor H. M. Van Arman stated “…the territory is quite poor in purse although rich in mineral wealth. All the citizens have a holy horror of being assessed, or paying taxes…” The “Bloody Thirteenth” gave out many of the institutions that still thrive in Arizona today. They kept the capital in Prescott for the time being. The Legislature left the prison in Yuma. Even though it only cost $6 per week to send patients to California, the Legislature authorized $100,000 ($2.1 million in current dollars) to built an insane asylum near Phoenix. Tempe received $5,000 to start a teacher’s college. Tucson was granted $25,000 to start the University of Arizona. One reason for the smaller allocation for the University was “…who ever heard of a professor buying a drink?” Yet, Territorial Governor Frederick Tritle was concerned about several other issues. Cowboy lawlessness was a big concern for the Governor. One editorial writer indicated “…a lot of loose, marauding thieves are scouring the country killing good, industrious citizens for plunder. The officials are out in every direction, but nothing is accomplished.” Governor Tritle was also worried about the Indian situation. He felt that the San Carlos Reservation was being used as a terrorist training ground. Indians there were clothed, fed, and drilled on tactics. They used their knowledge to leave the reservation and murder citizens before the military could restrain them. At the 1885 Arizona Industrial Exposition in Phoenix, Governor Tritle stated, “I have urged repeatedly that these Indians should be removed from our Territory and their lands opened to occupation…the life of one industrious white settler…is of infinitely more value than the lives of all the non-producing Apache vagabonds in our Territory.” The Industrial Exposition of 1884 and 1885 was the precursor to the modern Arizona State Fair which sprang to life in 1905. It was hoped that the Exposition would showcase the products of the Territory. However, early editorials pointed out “…the total lack of an agricultural exhibit…will convey the idea that the valley has nothing in this line worthy of exhibit.” The Territory was experiencing a business depression during these years. Getting to the fair was a daunting commitment of time and resources for everyone that lived outside the confines of the City of Phoenix with a population of less than 3,000. Plus, there was that question of the Cowboys and Indians. Governor Tritle spoke at the Exposition. He praised the fair as a way to “…promote knowledge, stimulate industry, develop resources and increase commerce.” The Governor also looked into the future of Arizona. He could see “…a major proportion of our Territorial area can be only used for grazing purposes…” and “…mining will for many years remain one of the chief industries of Arizona…” Governor Tritle tried to encourage the expansion of the railroads in Arizona. He felt that easier access to and from the mines would make Arizona ore more valuable to industry. More railroads would also encourage farmers and ranchers to market their products to the mining industry. The Governor naively predicted “…the miner would work as readily for three dollars per day as for four now providing his cost of living were proportionately less.” Governor Tritle even spoke of the need for money to expand the infrastructure of the Territory. He said “…the people are often afraid of taxation, but it does not necessarily follow that because the rate of taxation is high that financial interests are depressed…or that there has been useless and reckless expenditures of either private or public moneys.” The two year run of the Territorial Fair was not considered a success. The Exposition was abandoned after 1885 with little fanfare for 20 years until the Arizona Territorial Fair was revived in 1905.