Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-10-19
ADDRESS OF
HON. ISAAC WELSH,
DELIVERED AT THE BELMONT FAIR.

DEIlN EhED Al JHE BkLhONT FAIR.
Ladies and Gentlemen 1t would affor,
me much pleasure to address you on thi
occasion if were able to do so in name
corresponding with the importance of tn,
occasion. This, fear, / shall not be abl'
to do. The notice was so very short tha
there was desire on the part of many tha
we should have an Agricultural address de
livered some time during the Fair, that
have not been able to collect and arrang,
items of interest which should be embrace,
in an address Of this kind. But will en-
deavor to make up in brevity, in some de
gree at least, what may lack in interest.
Neither the County Fairs nor State Fair
have been as well attended or as prosper
our for the past four years as they previ
ously were, or as they probably will be il
the future. There was q cause fer this
War-grim visased war, with all its blight
ing influence, existed in the land. Our
strong Young men were called from their
agricultural pursuits-from the workshops
and studies, iu fact from all the industrial
pursuits Of life, to 20 forth in defense of our
common country and its free institutions. -
During the four years Of this terrible CON
fict, over three hundred and seventeen
thousand of the hardy sons of toll from
Ohio, have been called into the Gold 1t
may not, then, be wondered at that the sue.
cess Of our County Fairs should be slightly
interfered with. But this cause, thank
Providence, has been, at least, partially re-
moved, the evidences of which We have on
all sides of u.s. in the re-appearance of the
"boys in blue" They have finished their
contract and have returned, bearing with
them their sheaves. They carry aloft the
proud banner Of their country, on which
they have inscribed, victory, victory, victory.
This fact, Mr.. President, adds largely to
the interest OF the present occasion. A
commingling and re union of the soldiers of
the Union armr with their friends and
neighbors at home, cannot fail to be attend
ed with the most salutary consequences.
If there we're no other advantages grow
ing out of the system of Annual Fairs, it is
believed that the assembling together Of
the people once a year on common plat
form, would amply repay all the trouble,
loss of time, and expense attending these
Fairs. Man is socia! as well as initiative
being; he seeks social enjoyment as an ele-
ment of happiness, and seldom fails, where
his efforts are properly directed, to confer
equal blessings upon others. We may see
at these Fairs nsarly every body, male and
female, and everybody may see us if they
wish; where We have an opportunity to com
pare notes upon the passing events Of the
season, to form new acquaintances and re-
new old ones, as well as exchange civilities
generally. Bu', important as this incidental
advantage is to the interests of the social
system, it is nevertheless not the great OBJ
ject OF the Fair .-r
To promote the interests of Agriculture
and the Mechanical arts. is the profess
ed object of County and State Fairs. The
object is one which at ence addresses itself
to the judgment and approval of all. The
Agricultural interest of Ohio is the great
interest of the Stats, and should receive the
fostering care of the community. Every
other branch of business closely sympa-
thizes with this, and largely depends upon
it. Ohio is emphatically an Agricultural
State; not however necessarily so, for our
Mills team with minerals, and our valleys
run with oil. But these resources are as
yet but little developed and consequently
unproductve. What here say Of Ohio is
especially true of Belmont County.
The State of Ohio was admitted into the
Union in 1902, about So years ago, with
voting population OF about 5000. Belmont
County was established in 1901, one year
before the State was admitted into the
Union, and was the ninth County formed in
the North West Territory. The name Of
the County is said to be derived from two
French words, Belle and Monte. The for
mer signifying fine lady and the latter an
airy mountain. Without vouching for the
accuracy of this item Of history we might
well accept the idea as appropriate and
probable.
Sixty-three years ago Ohio was almost a
barn len wilderness, and her lakes and rivers
q desert waste Of water; now she holds the
third rank in the Union in point Of pOpula-
ton and material resources. Her dense
forests were made to give way speedily to
the we'll directed blows of the axeman, and
her rivers and lakes to bear up the rich
treasurers of her Commerce.
Agriculture, Mechanism, Manufactures
and Commerce are closely allied in point OF
interest, and should not be separated where
they can live in the same community. la
OnlO Inucn Iue laT8er iuteroet 10 hSiiOui-
ture According to the Grand Duplicate of
the State for 1854 we find the valuation of
Lands to .p45o, All ,0o9
Town and City Lots. l57,276,5ll.
Chattle Prepsrty......"...... 35l, l9S,Olo.
Total taxable valuation. 81 COG, ,696, ll6.
by these figures it will be seen that about
three -tourths of the taxable property of the
State belongs to the Agricultural interests,
and that the Agrculturists pay about
three teurths of the State ami local taxes.
This fact alone may account, in some meas
ure, for our steady prosperity and compar;
alton freedom from those violent financlal
aud commercial commissions, which fire.
quently visit other portions OF the country.
I The taxable valuation of property Tor
Belmont County in 1864, was as follows;
! Real Estate in Towns .'''''''.''.'''.' e3eo5
Chpttel pronerty 4icoOoo'
Total valuation
This exhibit for the County, shows about
the same relative proportion of taxable
property and taxation as that borne by the
Agricultural interests of the State at large
The calculation is not pretended to be pre-