Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-04-06
LEGAL lntelIigencemCity Affairs, &c
STATE FAIR.

ehe Virginia State Agricultural Society will be
held in this city in October next We hope aud
frnat for the honour of the State thot .' Far
mers, Manufacturers aud Mechanics of Virginia
will use every effort to render the Exhibition
worthy of the occasion, worthy of the State and
worthy of the enlightened age in which we live.
Will not the Manufacturers and Mechanics of
our sister towns come forward on this occasion
and dispute the palm with our metropolitan ar
tizans! Ample provision will be made so as to
give all fair field; and from the liberaty of the
public as already evinced we feel fully warran-
ted In saying that the premiums will be by all
odds The best ever offered in the State. Nav
we not then, expect to see at the Fair in this
city in October next, glass from Wheeling, fur
niture and locomotives from Alexandria tobacco
from Lynchburg, aud contributions from all the
cities and towns within striking distance of the
metropolis! The farming interest we feel war
ranted in saying, will be fully represented on
the occasion. Let the Mechanics and Manufac-
turers, then, bestr themselves. Let n spirit of
generous emulation animate the whole State
We know we have here skilful mechanics. but
are they more skilful than those of our sister
coming Fair will afford the only mode of settling
the matter satisfactorily. Fore-ourseves, we
are tree to confess. we entertain the opinion that
we have now engaged in.the workshops of this
city, In nearly all branches of the mechanic arts.
as skiful workmen as are to be found in any cjtv
in the Union But this fact is not generally
known to the Southern people, or if known, is
not faithfully treasured. Hence orders from our
owAState almost daily find the. way to the
Northern aud Eastern workshops. These ought
to be retained here. Now it seems to ns. no
mole more suitable to test the capacity of orr
mechanics and africans can be devised than an an
nua Fair, where their handiwork may be EXPOSED
to the gaze Of the increduous, and where tangi.
Bile impressions will be made. The Mechanics
and Manufacturers, then, are peculiarly interest
Cd In this matter. Let US have steam engines
from our finishing shops agricultural implements,
mill gearing and other specimens of iron, brass
and wood work from our fouudres; let us have
specimens of typography, book hi nding. &C.
from orr printing offices; furniture from our ware
rooms; fabrics from the cotton and wooden mills
n word, let all trades and callings be represen
ted on the occasion. Depend upon it, good ef-
fects will follow. Year after year, the number
OF contributors will increase and the quality of
the articles exposed improve. A generous spirit
of rivalry will spring up, and in the fullness of
time This spirit may be so directed as to bring
forth wonderful and glorious results. Observe
what it has already accomplished in the neigh
boring city of Baltimore: few yenrs since
charter was obtained from the Legislature of
Maryland for the Incorporation of an institution,
wherein American Mechanics, Manufacturers,
Inventors and Artists might be enabled to exhib-
it the productions Of their skill and Ingenuity
splendid building, at once an ornament to the
city and blessing to the community, has been
erected at cost of 800, OOO to serve the follow
ing useful purposes:
LIST. For holding an annual Exhibition. where Ameri.
can Mechanics, Manufacturers, Inventors and Artists
ana all who have made any discoveries in the Arts and
SCIENCE may be enabled to exhibit the productions
OF their skill and ingenuity in competition for the medals
qplomas and other prz-s which may be offered by the
Institute for superiority
End. For examining andreporting upon the merits of
ne" Inventions and improvements whenever desired.
ord For the formation of School of Design, ad pted
TO Mechanical manufacturing and scientific purposes in
which the members of the Institute NAV be taught the
art of Drawing and Desgning-a branch of education so
necessary IN every business and profession connected
with the Mechanic Arts.
the useful arts. 49,
9Th For the formation ola Library and leading Room
Cabinet OF Minerals, Models and Philosophical and
Mechanical apparatus.
Och For establishing a school of Applied Chemistry,
where the science may be thoroughly taught in all its
branches
This Institute has only been in operation a few
years. yet Its beneficial influences are beginning
to be felt and appreciated. 1.-THE School of De.
sIgn,' as we learn from the published proceed.
lngs OF the "lnstitute for the Promotion of the
Mechanic Arts" re-opened for its annual session
OF four MONTHS in November, 1852 under the
most enlarged auspices. The scholars enrolled
during the first two weeks numbered OPS, giving
employment to no less than twenty two teachers
Of designing and drawing. Besides this thirty
lectures upon Literature, the Arts and Sciences
have been delivered during the Fall and Winter,
to all OF which these scholars aud other members
have free admission. At the annual fair or ex-
hibtion in May last. the number of depositors
reached 2,578-being an increase of 500 above
the previous year: there were awarded in all 80
gold. l53 silver and 100 bronze medals and IS
diplomas. OF ladies' and childrens' premiums
there were awarded $50, amounting in oil to
Sl064 OF. The aggregate paid for premiums of
all kinds amounted to $2,434 SO. The receipts
at the door and from minor sources, reached the
sum of Sl2,O62 55-leaving clear profit over
all expenses of S5,411 43. Independent of this,
the receipts from members amounted to SeO5O-
thus creating fund equal to $l3,46l 40, appli-
cable to the Of the Institute. In few
years, it is confidently believed, this Institute
will be enabled to fill all the departments of the
arts in Maryland with accomplished draughts
men, whose attachments will be alike honorable
to themselves aid beneficial to the community in
which they reside.
But, great as these advantages, they by no
means constitute all the benefits flowing from the
est ahlish nant of the Institute. handsoma Ii |