Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-10-01

ness of phraseology used by me- which the Times
intcrprets disparngng to them or others, l can
only say that intended no such meaning when
pcnning my article, Respectfully,
c. l.. IlEYDr.
The following communication from a Di-
rector of the Vermont State Agricultural So
ciety will be read with interest, for the in
formation which it gives both Of the progress
of the Society and of the acts and purposes of
the Directors to promote its objects. Few
in the community are aware of the amount
of unrequited labor which the officers of the
Society have performed for years past, or of
the amount of individual pecuniary respon-
sibility which they have been at times OBJ
liged to assume and the personal expenses
which some of them have incurred, without
any remuneration or the expectation of any.
The conduct of any such enterprise is attend
cd with great labor and solicitude on the
part of those who are charged with it, and
is beset with difficulties little thought of by
the public generally. What our correspon-
dent has said covers some points which we
had intended to remark on. There are, how
ever, sundry other topics of remark in con
nexion with these Fairs, which we intend
shortly to devote little attention to. Tho
proverb with which our correspondent closes
his letter, like many others, can be applied
wrongly as well as rightly. 1t is the spot
on the carpet that cannot be remored, which
it is the part of prudence to cover. The one
which can be removed the good housewife
takes care to eradicate as soon as possible.
And no one has been more earnest to act on
the latter principle than the author of the
communication, throughout his entire career
as Il director of the Society
For the Free Press.
Messrs. Edtors.-Some structures by Mr.. C. L.
Heyde, respecting "Floral Hail. its construction"
&c, requires that the position of the Directors of
tho State Agricultural Society should be clearly
understood. And first, the public should know
that all which the Society ever received from our
State Government is the Act of Incorporation,
and that, after it had become successful. Never
has the State given one dollar for its support.
Last winter, Messrs l., s. Drew, S. S. Smith
and others, contracted with the Directors to fur
rish grounds and certain structures, including n
Mechanics Hall and Floral Hall of specified di-
mansions, in consideration that the Directors
would hold an annual Fair at Burlington, for the
next three years. 1t was, of course, implied from
the kinds of property to be placed in them, that
they should be secure, and the roofs impervious
to rain. The Directors supposed, and they do
Mr. Drew and his associates the justice to believe
that they supposed, them to be When they
had provided committee universally allowed to
be well chosen, II competent Secretary, Mr.. r. W.
Chase, and courteous and efficient assistants in
Mcssrs. Chapman and Smith, the Directors had
fulfilled their part, They were highly gratifed
to have the aid of Mr.. Heyde's genius in advoln-
ing the Hall, and pleased that the committee show
ed their appreciation Of his merit.
moments reflection upon the vast amount of
property exhibited must satisfy Mr.. Heyde, that
no sensible man could regard premium as a COM
pensation for contingent damage and anxiety. AS
have already intimated, the buildings were con-
sidered safe, and no damage was anticipated. But
the windows of Heaven were opened and some rain
found its way through the roof, as it also did
through many others. The Managers would have
deeply regretted that any injury should befal those
beautiful paintings; and they know that even tho
Ladies of the Committee, with Messrs Chapman
and Smith, stayed by through the deluge, and pro-
tected the property entrusted to their care
Tho suggestions of Mr. Heyde, for improvement
in the construction and finish of Floral Hail. seem
judcious, and we hope the contracting party in
Burlington will adopt them. Certainly the Hall will
not be again occupied for the same purpose, till
the Managers well assured of its security.
The Committee haze " arbitrary power" over the
entire arrangement of the Hall, and if they do not
exercise it, is, probably because they are indu-
ced to yield their better judgment and taste to the
opportunities of Exhibitors, all anxious to obtain
the best position.
"The demand for the articles at an earlier day."
has often been made; never complied with, and
cannot be enforced.
Allow me, Messrs. Editors, a few general re.
marks.
1t is easy to point out improvements, and to
dilate upon what should be the aim and scope Of
State Fairs; but it is worthy of consideration,
whether rigid adherence to utility would lead
to the greatest success. Amusement is one Of the
necessities Of .nankind and the greater part think
that amusement and utility should be combined.
Means, too, are indispensable to the accomplish.
ment Of even moderate aims.
Seven years ago, Frederick Holbrook, Edwin
Hammond David Hill, j. A. Beckwith, Solomon
W. Jewett, A. L. Bingham and few others, asso.
cated themselves together under the name of the
Vermont State Agricultural Society" with a
view to promote tho Agricultural and Mechanical
interests Of Vermont and held their first Fair at
Middlebury, in 1851 the second in Rutland in
1852; the third in Montpelier in 1853, when the
Society, for the first time, offered Prize List"
Neither "a Progressive Age" nor the Union of
nemispheres by an Electric Cable" has given US
an overlooking Treasury by uniform prudence
and economy, Society has distributed eleven |
thousand dollars in premiums, within five years. |
This is more than our State Government has
appropriated to the several Counties for the
same object. Without entering upon an argu-
ment To show that Fairs are beneficial | claim
that, if it is true the Fras Press states, that
"four hundred and hity-6ye specimens Of horses