The Tiffin tribune. [volume] (Tiffin, Ohio) 1848-1859, 1858-11-19
nuR COUNTY FAIR.

OUR COUNTY FAIR.
EDlroRs TwTrN TmpUN;-As the subject of
County and State Fairs seems to interest the me.
chahic and farmer. both in Seneca aud the ad
joining counties, in fact throughout the State Of
Ohio, and the leading mechanics throughout the
State have withdrawn from the prCsolt Board o.
Agriculture, the grievances, and complaints are
general and, os we believe, good cause has been
given Tor such complaints. Now, speaking Of our
county Fair, It presents the following order Of
complaint; First, that many Of the decisions
were ,roncous and unfair. Second, that the
time was devoted, almost entirely 20 the Hall oi
Fine Arts, 10y the Judges, aud the Mechanical
Department Of Agricultural machinery was very
much neglected Third, that proper Judges arr
seldom If ever selected. We as mechanics, claim
that where a decision is 20 be given on the work.
ing oroperating Of geared, combined or compli.
Gated piece Of machinery, such Gs reapcrs, now
ers, thresling machines horse powers, wheat ur
seed drills, or ~ short any kind Of machines that
requires good mechanic To make, rCquires the
same to be Judge thereof. Now We ask that
where it is possible TO give trial of any implement
or piece Of machinery, it may be done, aud that
the selection Of Mt least two of our best practical
mechanics should be made, in connection with
two on more Of our best operators, with such inn
plenent or piece Of machinery as may be under
consideration. Then have the decision publish
cd IN full, giving the names Of tho Judges and
their decision, and wherein certain points have
the advantage oter other machines Of a similar
kind Then use the premium moneys topay the
printer for suc lengthy report NJ may be made,
and those who furnish the fur grounds will be
well satisfied. and those who take your valuable
paper will not find fault with that character Of
reading matter, though il be lengthy, and il we
want the Ohio Farmer, We viii send for IL. II is
a good paper, hut the idea Of one person getting
three Ohio Farmers Tor premiums, seems 10 be
OVERRIDING the thing I~would here remark that
the Scientific Artisan, published weekly at Gin
cnnau, is one Of the most valuable papers in the
State, both for The farmer aud mechanic. Every
body should have It in their reading room. II
contains all the late improvements, both Of the
manufacturcr and farmer, Mt two dollars per year.
Now Mr. Ed, on the list of premiums there
seems 70 be but one wherein the Judges show an
Interest," that Is the report on tanning mills in a.
vof Of W d. Palfiief, which reads ds follows
''Not having been made IN the county under |
the rule ofthe Board, could not compete for pre-
niun but commended hy committee and a IA. !
ploma awarded" This report seems 70 present |
a good and proper showing, but docs any of our
other foreign friends receive such favur2 Read
the premium list
Mess. II. & j. Wiugert Of Bucyrus, furnished
a very fine looking plough, They proposed to
have plowing match, b Il could not get one up.
This should always be provided for by the OIL
GERS Of the Fair A plOwing match is certainly |
one Of the most attractive features at a Fair.
Next comes tho K'apcrs and Mowers. on the
premium list, they were all awarded the same
Now do not feel able 10 do justice TO that dc
partment, but will refer you TO number Of our
responsible farmers, who have used the varieties
of Reapcrs and Mowers, now in use. There wns
on the far grounds the Ketchum Combined
Reaper 4 Mower, tho New York Hand Rake,
Reaper & Mower, the Aliens Combined Reaper
& Mower and the Burly Reaper Il Mower. The
ketchum Combined Reaper 4 Mower seemed 10
meet with universal favor. HereI give the opin-
ION OF some Of our rrsponsble farmers Mr. l.. |
Ahbott east Of Fort Seneca the Mess Hoks, west
of Fort Asneea, Mr.. s. Baker, Mr.. Bennyhof |
south Of Tiiiln and A O. Baker, cast Of Tifiin.- |
This machine Nds furnished by Alr. Eli d. Cat |
lin, the agent for Ketchwms Reaper, who left the |
fair grounds seemingly victorious.
The Allen Reaper Mower was furnished by |
the well kd0wn firm Of Loolnis d Nyman, who |
propose 10 Manufacture tho machine, which is
sufficient to lead me to think tho machine is a
good one, knowing that the firm Of LOomis 4 Ny.
man has stood so long mt the head of their bust
ness, as founders and machinsts, and Of course
would not take hold Of an inferior Article
Mr.. Jno, Swigart of Repu lie furnished the
New York Hand Rake Reaper q Mower, which |
appeared to me TO be very fine machine One
great te lture presenting it, advantage 10 INC was |
that the raker stands in the centre of the platform
which gives him full use Of his physical powers
in raking OF the grain.
At our last county fair, our home manufactur
ed machinery was furnished principally by the |
firm Of Smith Barnes & Co., whose foundry and |
machine shops are located at the south end of !
! INN, Hear the Catholic Church This Arm did |
themselves groat credit, as their productions |
equalled any like production at the State Fair;
IN fact, this firm took the second premium on
threshing machines at the State Fair. held at
Sandusky, and II was said by one Of the most OK
tensye manufactures in Ule State, to be the bes.
machine by great odds, aud was entitled 10 the /
first premium. What object had the reporter Of |
the state in passing by unnotced the premium |
awarded to the firm OF Smith Barnes & Co of /
this placer Was It by contract or actual sale or |
was It because they would not attach the mark
OF their significance, awarded by a board of Tail
ors for Judges on machinery. At our last fair |
the above named firm furnished variety of farm
ing machinery, such as thrashing machines,
Horse'powers clover seed hullers. wheat drills
and seed planters, straw and stalk cutters, also
u very ine cast iron perpendicular sugar mill
which has since proved TO be a number one arti-
clio. Now, Mr.. Ed, as promised my fclow-me-
chanies and farmers to give full statement of
matters relating to our county fair must here
offer an apology. In the first place. did not
get a report Of the premium list for three weeks
AZ that time my health and business was such as
~ f'N'Nlt an chIilef IlIlthlhhce OF thlA aFtcle-
hope this will be satisfactory and / viii try TO
keep pace with the times hereafter and / hone
that by the 10th Of March 1859 you may all be In
readiness 10 give your views as TO the bcst mode
of conducting a Spring Fair Of mechanical fix.
lures for Spring farming purposes; and then fora
hll exhibition Of all manner Of farming imple-
ments and mechanical fixtures. Farmers. we
want your voice; let il be p iblic that we may
get the bestmeans Of introducing the bestarielos,
Tor farming purposes as well as mechanical.
i will only answer such Communications oa !