The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1859-10-22
An Appeal the Citizens of Nor
folk in behalf of the SeabOard
Agricultural Society.

Agricultural Society.
The Executive Committee OF the Seaboard
| Agricultural Society, in view of the heavy
outlay incident to the approaching Fair,
will send out Committee in a day or two to
| solicit contributions in aid of the Society;
and it is hoped that our citizens will receive
them with --open hands and purses, and give
/ literally TO so worthy and profitable an en-
terprise. ~
1t is well perhaps, that the public be in
formed ia regard to the resent pecuniary
condition Of the Society, that they may be
prepared to extend more liberal aid than
has heretofore been doae. so. - T..s,. .
Every one must know that in order to keep
up the grounds, the buildings, the sheds,and
all its appsrt enances, the Committee have to
expeud every year several hundred dollars
for that purpose, and which must be paid in
cash to the mechanics aid laborers who do
the work. =. .-....
In addition thereto are the costof printing
and circulating intofmation; the hire Of
CLERKS, policemen, watchmen, laborers, and
providing feed tor Che cattle; besides many
other expenses which have 20 be incurred
for the week. And then the premilm list. OF
upwards of four thousand dollars mas also to
be met by the Elk cutiye Com mittee, who
alone are responsible for the payIaent of
these several obligations. To do this they
are dependent upon contributions from the
citizens, and the receipts for membership,
badges and tickets sold during the Fair
week. -,.-.. -.
= Heretofore the receip.s from all sources
have not been sutfi Client to nee: the expead;-
lures, and the Executive Committee are nov
r sponsible f,r a aeot OF Early $500 the
accumulated result Of the Fairs in the past
three years Ano anless the citizens Of Nor
folk contribute more largely than they have
heretofore done, the operations of the Sea
board SJcity must come TO a closs. Are cur
people prepared for this ? Do they wish il?
Saeh a result would evidently be deptovea
By every one who is at all Interested in the
welfare Of our city aud Surrounding cou :
try. .--.,s.s, ss.sF ---.s,aa ID
! To allude to the vast benefits derived from
the large concourse of people who annually
come 10 eur city, drawn hither by the at
tractsons OF that week, besides the general
benefit resulting from the exhibition, is alto
gether Unnecessary and superhuous. We
trus: that self int.rest-if no other ihcen-
tive is off red-will prompt eur merchants
and tradesnan to give literally, that they
may reap abundantly during the harvest
time.
1t c4nnnt besupposed that the member of
the Executive Committee (outside OF their
official positi,n) have any more interes. IN
the we fare, or success Of this Institution
than any other citizen, and i. is too much to
expect, that they will devote several weeks
OF their time in preparing for these annual
exh bi i,ns and then wind up, with debt
upon them of several hundred dollars,
The receipts OF the Society, other than
the contributions by the citizens entirely
dependent upon fair weather AID auspicious
circumstance; and if disappointed in these,
the Society is necessarily left in debt. And
the Committee unwilling to incur further ex-
penses, without knowing the means of pay
ing them, are prevent ID from Offering still
further inducements to exhibitors in the
shape OF premiums, which is the great at
fractions, to owners OF stock, machinery and
all kindred articles.
The Society now require over two thous-
and dollars to pay old debts. Notwithstand-
ing this, the COMMITTEES, urged on by the hope
that liberal aid will be extended, and desir-
ing too, that the next Fair of the Society shall
be more attractive than any that has preced-
ed it herd, have made repairs and improve
ments on the grounds in the past few weeks,
as economically as possible, and are giving
such publicity to its 'Sche dule of Premiums
and to the various attractions of tie week,
a, will doubtless make it the Fair Of the sea-
son.
The Committee have deemed it proper TO
make this appeal to the citizens OF Norfolk
hoping that when called upon they will give
literally to the important object. They will
thereby secure continuance of these annual
gatherings, and enable the Committee to
prosecute with renewed vigor the plans and
purposes intended to be accomplished by the
organization of the Seaboard Agricultural
Society.
1t is proper to state that voluntary contri-
buttons will be expected, without regard to
certificates of membership or tickets of ad-
mission, for which a suitable charge will be
made at the gates, and for which the contrib
utors as well as others will be expected to
pay. A liberal voluntary contribution by the
people generally, in addition to the regular
receips, will accomplish the desired and laud
able object for which this appeal is made;
and which we do not believe is made in vain.
Then give the money cheerfnlly and we
shall have an exhibition OF which we may
well be proud, which will injure none and re-
suit to the advantage Of every class OF the
community.