Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1858-09-25
For the Telegraph.
Ohio State Fair.

or this, as whole, it is not easy to write. 1t
Is necessarily complex concern, aud its re-
suits, when put in the best form, equivocal
A few characteristics of the one just held may
be set down here, and more intBe way Of details
and general observations will follow as soon as
time and space will allow.
THE LOCALITY AND SITE.
1t was located at Sandusky in order to ac-
cOmmodate the central and northwest section,
of the State. and because the railroads pointing
and terminating there would bring in stock for
exhibition, easily, and multitude to SEQ the
show. All this was accomplished--except bring
lug the crowd; and it is now demonstrated that
unless the fair is held where the immediate pre-
cinct can furnish large attendance the people
will not be there. Sandusky itselfis small and
waning place, while il has literally nothing in
the way of suburbs, and the avenues leading to
it plunge through swamps and wastes.
The site was beautiful, and nearly every way
fitting, and the scenery fine as any absolutely
level landscape, main wild, can be.
| THE PREPARATIONS
Were well designed, and nearly complete, and
were more commodous and full than at any
former fair. The expense was some three thous.
ana~dolars less than usual, though reaching q
respectable fgure--not under six thousand. A
system Of water works precisely similar to that
at Cleveland was got up for the occasion, and
by the board, and iced water furnished freely
to the crowd The ladies Of the place volun-
teered to do the work Of decorating Floral Hall,
which was vast space, elaborateS filed with
evergreen ornaments.
THE ARRANGEMENTS
Made By the officers were well planned, and gen
orally well carried out especially the police de-
partment No dram selling was allowed near
the grounds, and drunkenness was of course
scarce, while pickpockets received very special
attention. BY some unseen process the census
of these worthless was soon taken, and amounted
to some sixty or MORE representation Of whom
we're collected at the police stations, under keep
ers.
THE EXHIBITION
Was, on the whole, large and superior, though
some Of the lesser departments fell below good
show in q county, or even a spirited township
fair. The staple of our own county were not
represented at all. though some of our veteran
dairy men sent forward fine lot Of cheese, IN
good season, but it failed to arrive. That part
OF the show would have been well equipped but
for that mischance.
BY the addition Of the whole Cosmopolitan
collection, which was done for advertising pur-
poses. the Fine Arts show was much enlarged
possibly improved; bat there were still want
ing some Of the gems Of our recent county ex-
hibition. Not case Of wax fruits or flowers.
and but single piece Of hair work, and that
indifferent Floral Hall was wilderness Of ev.
ergreen, with not enough Of cultivated blooms
to alleviate the strong aroma Of cedar and pine
Fruits were there in moderate plenty bat
they did not represent the fruit:prOduct Of Ohio
as it is;--they were placed there by foreign
nursery men. TO advertise their trade.
The great features Of the fair were the shows
Of stock and farm implements, and that was all
as it should be.
THE ATTEHDAScE
Was respectable, but did not come up TO the
wish Of the managers. Probably forty thous-
and people attended the fair. and on Thursday
the crowd reached twenty-five thousand. Rail-
road trains carried immense loads hotels and
some private houses oyerfowed, but the filling
up by bone population was not accomplish
ed, for that did not exist Perhaps PaiuesYille
or any Lake shore village might gather as good
an attendance. if the people but felt the near at
traction. All who attended had to put money
10 their purses" and brief sojourn among the
'bospitable Eries." under the system Of increas-
ed rates. served to relieve them rapidly Of any
possible surplus
The necessity OF The crowd is the only guage
adopted by pubIicans, either regular or i'm
'romptu. and in the use Of this rule the Sandus-
Iiaus proved themselves sufficiently dexterous.s
THE INCIDENTS
We're, some Of them. exciting. and 10 two or
hree instances unpleasant and disastrous. We'd
lesday, after gale which demolished large
eut covering one department Of the exhibition.
heavy rain continued two or three hours and
Illl the crowd we're forced TO disperSe. Thura-
day the rain was repeated; both days II occur
red when the attendance was AT IFS height.
A spirited horse ran away. frightened By the
giving out Of one wheel Of a gossamer suIky, and
dashed through the crowd. iniuFing several per
IONS. one a. two, il was beloved. fatally.
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