The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1855-10-13
iowa state Fair.
EliIor.al Corr p1ncnce. !

The FIRST dnY OF the falr 51s opened and
closed. Bot TO begin NJ the beginning, |
must give you passing glimpse Of the scene
If operations. THIS town Of Fairfield i one
90 the very pIeasantest among the many
pleasant prairie towns Of our State. The
buildings arc quite good, aud Il large portion
Of the citizens are quite we'll off. intelligent,
and entcrprising. Being the county seat Of
enc Of the finest agricultural counties in the
state, and located in the centre of the coun-
ty, it has line and permanently increasing
business and with ample privileges of an cd
ueatonal and religious character, it presents
an attractive point for cmigrants Of the very
bes. Class, of whom II i constantly receiving
fresh aceeSsons
The Fair grounds are located half a mile
southeast of the public square, on bcauti-
ful rise If ground. of which some eight or
ten acres are enclosed with n substantial
plank fence. Within the enclosure there are
several hundred feet Of shed buildings. with
/ shelves and tables designed for the display Of
/ vegetables. fruits, household manufactures,
and such like articles j circle embracing a
good portion Of the ground is partially sur
rounded with a platform of seats, and on
one side Of this a spacious tyo-story board
tent is erected for the accommodation OF the
officers, directors Of the Society, and other
privileged characters, while the centre Of the
circle is graecd with an open elevated plat
form with seats and balaetrades. which was
occupied day by the Bloomfield brass band
These Improvements cost some two thous-
/ and dollars. Outside the Fair grounds a
very spacious tent was erected, which COM
tanned tables for tie accommodation Of some
-four hundred hungry persons at once.
About 9 o'clock this morning the Society
met on the Fair grounds, and proceeded to
business BY filing NJ the boards Of delegates
from the county societies after which com
mittees We're appointed Of which noted
keokuk seemed 10 haze very liberal share,
and by the way judge there is no place
as far off that is anything like as fully rep
resented here a our city. There must have
been over fifty IF our citizens on the ground
to-day.
We Were all sorry to hear that in conse-
qnence OF the sickness Of one of the StuartS.
OF our county, they would not be here TODAY
with their fine stock, and We have heard
many persons from other portions Of the
State regretting the absence Of the Stuarts.
But although our county had but a very -len-
der representation in the cattle line, the show
IN that department was quite full and re-
markedly good. There were a great many
young cattle and calves. Of first rate prom
lse, and there MAS fair show Of bulls ami
cows, both d hlooded and common stock.
Tim Day, Of Van Buren, county, was on
hand with n whole drove Of fine cattle, and
bore off such large proportion Of the pre-
MUS that il is hurdly worth while to men
ton any body else the s,same day. unes.
indeed i be a son and cousin d ''Old Tim, =
also by the name Of Day, who came IN fol
small sprinkling Of premiums for the sun,
kind Of stock. There has been an cyiden
Improvement both in the quality and number
u cattle exhibited compared with last year
The exhibition Of cattle closed about I'll,
middle Of the afternoon, and then the stall
lions were brought into the ring. This wa
fine display. We could not count them
hat there was ten aero field of them, an,
the great majority were really very fine hors
cs There were two very hne Morgan horse
from Maseatine, and another from this place
that attracted good deal Of attention
"for all work. the first premium was ac
corded to a beautiful, high spirited. chesnu
sorrel, Of medium size, five years old, an
y owned by A. l.. Ioombs, Of Davis county.
y This part Of the exhibition Was not close
to-day, and We did not learn v hat other pre
s. miums were awarded.
q There were good many jacks and mule.
}. and q very few good ones exhibited.
The show d swine was poor. and not I
be compared with that AT the Lee Count
!. Fair in number ana quality. We could sa
d but little for the sheep department, eithcl
= winch We regretted 10 see made but poe
Il hgure IN the general exhibition.
. Az the day WAS devoted TO sslive stock
~ the programme, We did not extend our oil
sersaiions particularly to other department.