THE SOCIETY'S EXHIBITION IN 1869. The sixteenth annual fair was held on the grounds of the Union Agricultural and Stock Association, situated near the city of Keokuk. The object of the formation of this association, is the importation, exchange and rearing of improved breeds of stock. Through the enterprise and liberality of its founders and managers, fine blooded horses, cattle, sheep, jacks, jennets, swine, &c., have been introduced, and the general public recognizing the utility of such a society, and availing themselves of the opportunity to purchase thoroughbreds, or to cross with them, has been largely benefitted. The grounds comprise fifty-seven acres, fitted up with a fine half-mile track; an amphitheatre with a capacity of five thousand; a fine art hall, in the shape of a Greek cross, thirty by one hundred and sixty feet, three commodious halls, one for fruits and flowers, another for grains and vegetables, another for the display of machinery to be moved by steam; over four hundred admirably constructed stalls and pens for live stock, large cisterns and pools for water, carriage drives, saloons, &c. There are on the grounds several beautiful young groves; the soil is sandy, so that even a heavy rain would not incommode an exhibition any great length of time, the surface sufficiently broken to give good drainage and make the appearance picturesque; and the whole is substantially enclosed. Contiguous to it, the society owns about twenty acres, which served an admirable purpose, affording space for hitching teams, camping, &c. The local committee completed all arrangements agreed upon, and more. They caused to be opened up a new street, more than a mile in length, to give better access to the grounds; they caused the passage of an ordinance by the city authorities, fixing the price of transportation to the grounds at twenty-five cents; they aided the society in securing a full representation in several usually neglected departments; and in every other way possible contributed to make the exhibition a memorable occasion. The ladies of Keokuk worked with energy, and after decorating the halls, filled them with articles of merit and beauty and value of their own. handiwork. It is worthy of special notice that the citizens of Keokuk were the first to offer special prizes to any considerable amount; these were a potent agency in filling up some of the classes. For example: The Union Stock and Agricultural Association offered $60 for best colts got by their horses; Capt. Ad. Hine, $25 for span of draft horses; the Pork Packers' Association, $125 for best boar and sow; the butchers, $100 for best beef cattle; C. F. Davis, $5 for best trio chickens; Wm. Stimpson, $5 for coach dogs; Kittle, Boner & Co., $25 for two-horse wagon; Sam'l G. Bridges, $25 for best jewelry; Robertson & Athers, $20 for fall wheat; Wickersham & Delaplain, $5 for early rose potatoes; D. Reddington, $5 for wine; Mrs. C. F. Davis, $15 for silk quilt and tidy; Mrs. Jas. F. Cox, $10 for butter; &c., &c. The competition was greatly increased by these special inducements, and the parties offering them are entitled to the highest praise. The fair was national in its character. The competition is open to the world; and this wise and liberal policy induced many from a distance to visit our State and enter into friendly rivalry with our people. Thus, in the classes of live stock, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan and Missouri were represented; and the counties of Jefferson, Des Moines, Lee, Washington, Wapello, Lucas, Louisa, Polk, Henry, Johnson, Keokuk, Mahaska, Van Buren, Dubuque, Story and Black Hawk. There were samples of implements from New York, Iowa, Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Nebraska, Indiana, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Michigan, Massachusetts and Maryland, and from sixteen counties of Iowa. In other classes, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana were represented, and the counties of Clinton, Scott, Clayton, Muscatine, Allamakee, Jasper, Iowa, Marshall, and Winneshiek, making in all of States of the Union eighteen, and of counties in Iowa twentyeight. These all had articles on exhibition. Some of our friends complained of the action of the executive committee locating the fair at Keokuk, a point so far removed from the geographical center of the State. They condemned it in not the mildest terms, and for a short season exerted adverse influence, to our manifest injury. But they seemed to conclude it were better to await results than to prophesy failure, and it is believed that the above synopsis will indicate with great clearness that the location at Keokuk was after all the dictate of a sound discretion. The Illinois State Soeiety has held its fairs at Quincy and Chicago -the Ohio, at Toledo, Cleveland and Zanesville-the Pennsylvania, at Pittsburg and Philadelphia-the Michigan at Detroit,— besides at numerous other places, indicating that the true policy of such societies is to give each portion of the State in its turn, the benefits of the annual exhibition. name: And what are these benefits? Very many, among which we 1st-The inducement held out to breeders of fine stock to place their animals on exhibition and to find a good market for them. 2d-To compare the hundreds of implements of husbandry, and have opportunity to make a competitive examination. 3d-To allow exhibitors to reach a new class of people every two or three years. 4th-To enable the citizens of each locality to compete in those divisions which are essentially made up of the contributions of those living within a few miles of the fair grounds. 5th-To afford amusement and recreation to thousands-to afford them a holiday, from whose enjoyments they will return with renewed alacrity and delight to the toils of the office, the shop, and the farm. The weather was generally favorable during the fair. Monday, Sept. 12th, a high south wind prevailed and the dust was insufferable; at night copious rains fell, relieving that difficulty, and being followed by a cloudy, cool day, Tuesday 13th. Heavy rains fell early Wednesday, 14th, but it soon became clear, warm and pleasant, and from this to the close of the fair on Friday, it was all that could be desired-clear skies and balmy airs inviting the thousands to witness the grandest display of articles ever collected on a State Fair ground in the northwest. The following table shows the entries for the years named: ENTRIES. 1856 1857 1858 1859 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 Cattle... Horses.. Mules Sheep Swine... 145 169 146 125] 841 741 671 791 94 105 129 Thus the entries exceeded the highest number ever reached before, by 849; and was nearly three times as great as the third exhibition in 1856. This fact is highly gratifying to the friends of the Society for it clearly indicates a steady, healthy growth in its extent, and gives evidence of continued public confidence in the administration of its affairs. The subjoined table shows the receipts during the Fairs, and the amounts distributed in premiums for the several years named. RECEIPTS. 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 $3062 $3054 $2843 $2116 $3726 $2056 $3576 $4454 $7877 $8522 $4460 $9527 $7132 $12075 PAID IN PREMIUMS FOR THE SAME YEARS. $1834 $1679 $1612 $1932 $2307 $2055 $2844 $3988 $3349 $4183 $3680 $3947 $4810 $4775 These figures demand a brief explanation, and deserve a word of comment. By receipts are meant the actual amounts realized at the Fair: the gross receipts since 1857 are $2,000 more than the above, being the annual State appropriation. The other expenses than premiums are for salaries, stationery, postage, printing, police, forage, etc., as indicated by the vouchers accompanying the treasurer's and secretary's financial statements, and published annually in the Volume of Transactions. The following comparative table has been compiled to indicate with what degree of economy and with what reference to the objects of the Society, its affairs have been administered. Or, while Indiana has paid respectively 56 and 17 per cent; Illinois 32 and 35, Wisconsin 28 and 58, New York 13, 16 and 22, Iowa has paid 60, 42, 52, and 34, rising above the highest, having a greater average than any of the States Societies named, and never reaching anything like the lowest figures. |