The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-08-13
M. afafe Agricultural Exhibition
GENERAL RICHARDSON'S LETTER ,.,,,

cal 49,
The State Agricultural Exhibition
GENERAL RICHARDSON'S LETTEsk,
we insert this morning the PROMISED ie.'e'
of Gen. RICHARDSON We have hi'n .en
pletely on the score OF the obstacle p,eseno1
by the length of his letter to It's pao ~
We have plenty of room ior - = W..
match and would even il it were longer. W.
sor,,,,arI, !, 70 the attention of Farmers, Mer-
-. "a Mechanics. 1t contains what VIII
- -, ,ham ALL We know well the truth OF
Cen : assertion, that Virginia has the ma
.ss;., eo- . splendid cattle show if she viii
usa Il And why may she mott The owners
&c f;ne cattle are offered . free transportation
80 Thorn over the Railroads, and remission
~ tolls for them upon the canal, We hope
thew win have enough personal ambition and
State pride, to give the world fair specimen
of what Virginia can do. With a public spir-
it worthy of all commentator, the Railroads
also offer free tickets to the members of the
State Society and their families when they
visit the Fair, and gratuitous transportation
for every article for the exhibition; and the
tolls on the canal win be RENTED on all such
articles.
/ To the Valley people, Gen. Richardson of
fers some very timely suggestions. They
should not fall UNDECIDED. We trust those fine
women who are an honor to their sex, the
housewives of our noble Valley, will get eve
ry thing in readiness for grand demonstra-
tion against s.Goshen butter and that they
viii make the Virginia cities entirely lnde-
pendent of Northern markets tor butter,
which they can produce of a quality not to be
surpassed. The Valley farmers should give
their serious attention to what the General
has to say upon the subject of his interests,
and that very remarkable fact that the arti-
cles of hay and potatoes, which can be pro-
fiuced in such abundance and of such superb
quality in the Valley, are supplied to the Vir-
ginia tide water cities by the Northern States
the Northern hay absolutely finding its way
into the very gorge of the Blue Ridge noun
tains for the food of the horses employed up
on the canal! This is lamentable fact
Let our farmers reform this course of trade
altogether They can do it, if they will.
But we are only keeping the reader from
Gen. RS interesting letter. Init are sugges-
tions for various sections of our State at once
timely and judieious:
RICHMOND Aug 9. 1853.
Messrs Editors:-You call upon me for further
intelligence as to the progress of the State Agrcul-
fural Society," but have little to add to that already
labor of printing.
The public spirited and liberal appropriation by
the Common Council of Richmond, is rapidly pass
ing into the form of beautiful square with appro-
pirate buildings and the requisite stables stalls and
pens for the cattle show under the supervision of
a committee of gentlemen eminently qualified for
the direction OF such work; and before the day of
exhibition, it viii be quite show OF itself.
As to that really important event, both TO the So
ciety and the State-whilst should be unwilling
to boast that it will leave any other sightless dis
lance in the rear,I feel fully justified in antcipa-
ting that it viii be creditable to the State and
ply reward the extraordinary exertlons OF the ex-
ecutive committee. The amount of fine stock in
Virginia far exceeds what is generally known, and
we know now what she can do; what she DiU do,
remains to be seen. Upon the proprietors of that
stock therefore, depends the success OF this branch
of the exhibition. Who can doubt that it will be
met with the State pride and public spirit the
sion is SO well calculated to excite.
The enlightened liberality of the merchants and
mechanics in the tde-water cities, has done almost
as much for the Society as the farmers themselves
Among our sterling mechanics, it is hoped that the
note of preparation for its first great Fair, is
sounding every where, especially IN the metropo-
lis.
The Railroads convey members of the Society
and their families also stock and implements to
and from the cattle show, without charge, and tolls
upon the canals will be RENTED. The presence OF
many distinguished citizens of our own and other
States is promised and everything seems to indicate
success to the first agricultural jubilee of the Old
Dominion. A jealous member of the Society, who
is both merchant and farmer, writes me as follows
from Norfolk:
81 am truly glad to hear of the well-earned sue
cess which is likely to crown the jealous and Judi
cious efforts for the prosperity OF our State Agrcul
tural Society. remember, on more than one &C.
casion, in Witnessing those grand and interesting
exhibitions which have for many years been annu-
ally recurring in some of the States north of us, to
have felt pang of modification that ptrgfeiG was
go far behind them in spirit of improvement in
agriculture, as scarcely to show sign of any Just
appreciation of the value of such enterprises for
had then never heard such thing Virginia State
Agricultural Fair ever spoken of, much less seri-
ously undertaken"
The writer will be present with some as fine stock
as the State can shew. So much for the Fair.
Having to attend the annual examination at the
Military Academy visited Lexington the last week
In June. The drought prevailed there as elsewhere
and seemed to have destroyed great part of the oat
crop. 1t is the 18th annual visit have made to
that place at that season, and have never before
seen so little tobacco standing or so much prepared
the mountains the first week in July; have since
then been pretty general, and in time to save the
corn crop, which promises to be a fine one. Re.
turning to Richmond, visited the Blue Ridge Tup.
mel now about half through the mountain: and
so far as am capable of judging progressing as
rapidly as science, skill and energy can drive on
the work. Indeed was not little surprised at
the progress which has been made within the mast
year, through the very hardest rock ever saw and
deuges OF water to keep down and discharge at the
western entrance When this great work is finish.
ed, Staunton viii be within few hours run OF
Richmond; and the good housewives of Augusta
Will have 1t IN their power to supply the eastern
markets daily at all seasons, with an abundance Of
me hnest fresh butter-an article, as every house
keeper IN Richmond knows, always in demand
and often not to be had any price If to the
dairy the farmer will add stock OF storepigs &c
consume the offal, he will always find for them !
ready and liberal market here and NAV. bv tbf
combination, realise 25 cents per Gallon for hi.
miik-more than double what Il is worth NOW =
This may seem TO be small trade for GREAT rrnn
W but will be profitable to the farer and to fb,
citizen. Richmond, Petersburg and Norfolk will
all be open to the producer and take up all the,
Sixty miles above Staunton. the canal penetrate
ne great valley, and affords a co,nmuncation wifi
.;s, sh,ae points Not indeed as speedy but suffi
., ~ ~ ~ enable the farmers of that region Il
1n cuI OF lne eastern markets eyery bale of north
80. cay ano pushei of Irish potatoes which art
sss. furnished by our more enterprising brefbrer
harsas S.ates ihave been told that even the boa