, 1861-09-03
The State Fair.

With Mr. George y. Gage, visited the
State Fair grounds on Monday mesnina, Aug.
26th, and report my observations for the bs5-
tit Of all concerned-aud everybody should be
concerned in this years exhibition more than
any previous one, and mainly On account of
the war and Its exigencies
HeTetoiore, the writer bas stre1uoue1v Cd.
posed au connection with military display, fe
n5aie t4uesfrlanlEm, and the like, at our fairs,
pnt nor ne Tould encourage the former, and
even tolerate the latter, as veil suited to the
occasicn. We Ieed great gathering Of the
people Of the West, and every other interest
must give precedence to that Of war. Speech
ef, it for war, fast horses, martial music. mus.
ters, drills, farget-shcotng, artillery pracsice,
ard nnmessured excitement, and all in place
at THIS ta1r. Let the people come and see,
hear, anu learn WEat they can OF the one great
suh]sct that Justly outweighs others at this
moment. Preparation for The field Of bloody
afolt1atlon mrst to great extent supetcede
our usual displays Of art and skill
IN the old field of laboT-Tu1s ONCE
81 integrity, when we meet again. The law
O. necessity is the law Of to day, and oil must
knsW it, anG shall not even hint at the yerv
few ehort comiEgs in the arrangements, that
struck my professional eye during this visit to
our slate Fair grounds; and, dare say, not
unless pointed out to them.
But the point Of most consequence to visit
ors and exhibitors. The place ia bv no me ms
d1f1icuit of access. We drove out from the
Irtment House in ;crty minutes, without
Pre-: sipg our light animal in the least, and re-
turnea By another road equally well. The
horsed carriages OF the city can take out and
Ie1uIh 10 ,UoO peTsors per day with ease, and,
i Iced be-aDd there will be need, trust
the country and accessible towns can furnish
conveyance for about as many more. Then
the tug-boats can move 10000 to within 8
md
st. Louis Railroad is pledged to carry 20 600
up 10 the main entraEce at ore dime eacn aod
What more need We ask for? Sixty Thousand
per dsy, With those who will stay there, will
make qnite crowd, let me tell you; and ne
mt an tc haye tntm Efere.
There is no fear IN regard to water-:he next
local reqnisite- Asteam force pump, within
the enclosure, with pipe to the nearest branch
OF the Chicago river, will supply any failure
IN the arclts, ZOE being euDk. Accommoda.
lions tor horses and cattle, and their public
o,fp!ay n Inc rlrg, are, Us usual, on grand
Scale. Five hundred frst-1ate stalls were
complete, and more in Irogre=s; AID GOV.
cred amphitheatre Of the first cIass, caIcu-
Lated fer 1o,0oo-and fully up to 5000 seated
vas in state of forWardEeas ana nearly al,
tne Offices "ccmpletsd. OF The show haE6n
l cannot eag so much !; but they will co we'll
q aLcpgh Tor var times, and are really no worse
than those at Freeport, which many Of us
deemed superior, and have promised not to
point ont defects which may never be noticed
y any ot you, Or interfere, to any marked ex-
tent, with the efficiency Of the ehow, In nv
own SPECIAL apartment of Horticulture and
itr products, the brotherhood intend to shoW
fhs fruits Of PEAcR,-and talk about them
ane yet, talk about WAR, as we'll We cannot
help it. In enc company, row in camp q:
Chicago, are more p1acticed horticu1turists
tEan the State contained, since the memory Of
some who will be there. LIST rs see how many
OF Us can meet tters-"Old Egotists"-to fla
tsr themselves and be datte5eu, young patri
cts, not yet In the ranks ssfor the war" to ioin
those who are-the practical to exhibit, and
see what others have to show-aud all Of US
to be hopeful and jolly, and SPEED THE WAR,
while We neglect not the pillow,
Your old friend, JoHN A. KESN1coTr.