Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1858-10-23


LADlEs-THE CONVENTIONS.
MADISON, Oct. IL, 1858.
FRIEND CovER:-1he last week was
most basy and interesting one, overcrowd
ed, so to speak, with doings Of which an
account would be interesting to your read
erS. 1t was impossible for one person, es-
tecially with other business on hand, to
see aud hear everything that was going on
aud so | shall not Pretend to give you a
full report.
The State Far, as whole, was COM
plete success, superior to any O. its pred5-
cessors. The number of entries Was ,bout
1900; the throng Of people was immense,
beyond calculation. Probably Lot less
than 10000 persons have visited the
grounds, and from $4,000 to 10000 have
been present one time. 1 he hotels Of the
city, the private houses of many citlz, rs,
! the accommodations provided ON lhe
! grounds, were filled to their utmost capaci-
ny. Some companies came with tents and
pitched them i'll the grove adjoining the
Fair Grounds. There Was every DISPOSE
ton OH the part Of the citizens OF Madison
TO extend their hospitality In The most gen
erous manner, but III the great multitude
of lersons arriving at all times from every
quarter, some doubtless, could hardly tinti
Il place to lay their heads. The Committee
appointed TO provide places of enlertaln-
Inent, II. sorbed by other duties, we've moi
so constantly in attendance at their advel-
Used head quarters AS was desirable, and
All efficient. substitute was not always pro-
ers to the Fair were well cared for. The
Editors especially, The Military and the
Fireinen, had little to complain Of in thus
regard.
The weather, during the week, was not
80 pie tsant as could have been wished
Mouday and Tuesday were charming. but
! Wednesday was quite disagreeable, a
ran set in curing the morning Which wa
susrende long enough at noon to sedu, e a
large number to the Fair or unds, to make
( aliN Al Fctd IlS HI tOiiSito VI iaiuf w" Aus
venilg. The lndicrous incidents accom-
panylug their t1ight-a second but reduced
edition Of the stampede from the st. Luis
Falr--~ere sufficiently Numerous and rich
almost TO conn ensate for the trouble oc,a
s ned The GOODNESS with which drive, S,
landing their dripping passengers at the
hotel doors, would sing out, $ this way for
the Fair grounds" going right down,
= only one dime" was ref cshiug. We'd
nesday night d strong wind blew, bringing
With The mornnga clear sky. The ~ind
continued through Thursday and Friday,
" hich We're most unconlfortably cold, ice
forming IN The morning quite thick.
The Fair grounds were located little
over mile from the Capitol in the South
west pat Of the city, he railroad trimming
viii IN d f " yards OF the in:losdre, lani-
Il o arlicIes for he exhibition and passen-
gers al he very gates. With awny slopes,
SiYhily eniinencs :, smooth levels ami sur
rounding groves, with water easily procu-
lable Tor stock, The grounds were beaull
fully a,lapte.l by nature. To those who hal
the matter III charge, great credit is due
for the complete, ju liciouS, and thorough
Is systematic manner in which arrange
nents were made for the different depart
II ents of the exhibition. Especially is
praise due TO D. J. PowERs, the Secretary
of the Agricultural Society, for his indie
fatigabe abors 10 make su, h preparations
that everything woald 90 off satisfactorily.
On the Moth side, surrounded 10y va
lious frfreshment stands, side shows. &c,
were the principal entrances, the entry and
ticket offices, about 80 acres inclosed with
a close board fence. On the left hand side
are long rows Of stables for horses, and
then of sta Is for cattle, occupying tog1th
er about Que third of the circumference Of
the grounds, In the Southwest corner are
pens for he sheep and SWINE, with coops
for fowls On the right, as you entered,
was first the military encampment, guard
ed by seutries from the intrusion Of civil
ians, and with its fluttering flag, white
tents, cannon and other paraphernalia, ma
king fine appearance. Next, separated
by fence from the carriage course, Is a
! large dining anu sicepiHS baii, 1uo eAo1u
tive office, and the we'll furnished room fol
the Press, all we'll constructed wooden bull
dings; then large tent for the products
of the farm, the garden and the dairy !;
another for manufactures, and another tor
fruits and flowers On an emnence COM
manding a good view Of the grounds and
its surroundings, is a most tastetuly con
structed and painted oetagonal building,
called the Fine Arts Hall, with a Ladies
Parlol attached Near this is the enhance
10 MIR. RAREy's place of exhibition, just
outside the grounds. Besides on this side
are two or three refreshment stands. On
the left, smoothly graded carriage way
and trotting course, a half mile in length,
inclosed large refreshment tent, the shed
for the exhibition of operative machinery,
the display of farming implements in the
open air, and well-tenced ring with the
Judges stand, for the exhibition of horses
and cattle.
Now for the way in which all these ae-
commodations were occupied