Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1860-10-17
Large Premiums for Trotting Horses.

RI 'N oNANA1 4d-N WIN AhAN VIC hbIAu law
something mere to say respecting the ac-
tiOn Of the Agricultural Society, of this
County, in fixing the amount of premiums
to be awarded to the fastest trotting horses
at the late Fair regarding which, as we
mentioned before, there was some dissatis-
faction or the part of a few Of the owners
Of fancy STOCK.
The Agricultural Society was formed
for the purpose of developing the resources,
and encouraging the Improvement Of the
AGRICULTURAL horticultural. and mechanic
al interests Of the County. Its fairs are
held for the purpose of enabling farmers
and mechanics to compare their products
and manufactures, one with another, and
while the Board Of Managers are willing
to do something for the amusement of those
whose sole parpose in Attending the fairs,
is simply amusement, they arc not willing
to lose sight of the fact that the great and
primary object Of these yearly gatherings
IS the benefit Of the farmers AMI mechan-
les and their families, and to foster the
great agricultural and mechanical interests
Of the County. They are willing to award
to horses just as large premiums in proper
ton to the extent of the horse interest, as
to any other, and no more. They are will
ling to give to the exhibitors of fast trOt-
ting horses just as much prominence. and
quite as much, perhaps a little more o fthe
time of the fair. as to the exhibition of.
draft horses, or of cattle, but they have no
intention of turning the Annual Fair into
a horse race, or the County Fair Grounds
into a race course, and there is no question
that the farmers and mechanics of the
County will fully sustain them in :his II
solve.
The premium awarded Tor the best stall
lion (sweepstake) at the late fair, was
eight dollars, and that awarded for the best
bull was the same amount. Now, let US
see which is the largest interest in the
County. the cattle or horse. The books @
the Auditor show that in this County,
there are 1851 horses; value $500, no, 90
and 46, 100 cattle, value s5t3,473,00.
We speak within bounds, when We say
that the yearly income to the County, for
cattle sold, is at least ten fold that ~receiv-
ed for horses. For every drove Of horses
which have been driven from the county,
within the last five years, there have been
at least, ten droves of cattle. Ten to thir-
ty is the number of horses usually taken in
one drove, while the cattle number from
fifty to three hundred, and the average val
ne of each drove of cattle is quadruple that
of each drove of horses.
The value of the sheep and wool annu-
ally sold from the county for cash is more
than double that of the horses sold, and
yet the premium given for the best sheep
is just one fourth Of the amount given for
the best horses.
The amount Of money paid to the farm
.rs of Trumbull County annually for cheese
and butter, is ten times as much as that
received for horses, yet three dollars is the
largest single premium given for the best
cheese, and the gross amount of premiums
awarded to horses is twenty times as much
as is awarded to the dairy men.
The whole amount of premiums offered
for all kinds of Horticultural products was
some fourteen dollars, less than one third
of the amount $500 demanded by the
fancy men to be given to one trOtting horse,
and the same may be said of grains, and
agricultural implements. The amount of
time and labor expended by every farmer
who brought to the fair a bullock, or a
sheep or hog, was double that # the man
who brought a horse, and yet the men who
have the largest interest Individually, who
represent the most important agricultural
interests Of our County. and who take the
most trouble to bring their stock and arti-
cles to the exhibition, make no complaints.
A fair degree of prominence should, IN
doubtedly be given to the exhibition of
horses, and reasonable premiums be award
ed to them, but an undue prominence or
extravagant premiums, at the expense of
other interests Of qualimportance, should
not be given.
We hope the Managers Of the Society
viii steadily maintain the position they
have taken. The quarreIing, the rowdy-
ism, betting and drunkenness at the exclu
sive horse fair of the 4th of July last, gave
sufficient evidence of the quality of fairs
where fancy horses were exhibited. and
men were the ruling spirits.
Personal. :