Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-08-26
THE AGRICULTURAL AND ME
CHANICAL SOCIETY.
Meeting Yesterday at the Cham
Der Of Commerce Rooms.
shelby County to Have a Fair.
The Day Fixed and Active Prep
aFatIODs Already Entered
Upon.

EADSA gWCANI pOAoOho @ooCl1OlCd -
the rooms Of the Chamber of Commerce
yesterday pursuant to the call issued In
the papers of yesterday morning.
In the absence ION account Of iIlness) Of
y the President, the meeting was called to
order by Geo. @. Holmes, Esq, the only
Q one Of the Nice-Presidents present.
q The Secretary, s. D. Greer, Esq, read
the minutes Of the last regular meeting.
The chair stated that the present meet
ing was an adjournment from a meeting
>, held at White Station last Saturday, at
!, which but few persons were present, and
nothing was done. The object OF the
present meeting is to discuss the propri-
ETY. of holding and making arrangements
for an agricultural fair this fall.
Squire Goodlett said that in view of
the existing state of municipalities run
ming so high and the Isteness of the sea-
7 ssn-he did not think q fair a feasible
undertaking.
MI. Brooks said that this was q matter
properly sppertaining to the duties Of the
T Executive Committee, and suggested a
report from them, before proceeding
with any discussion of the subject.
Mr. Hayes, OF the Executive Commit
tee, said the Chairman Of that Commit
tee had never called the members to-
gether, and that was the reason why
they had not already taken some action
in the matter. He thought that owing
, to the lateness of the season, and,
as Squire GOodlett says, to the
excitement in politics, and to the
ignorance among the people Of the
existence of any such move, an
agricultural fair was imprActicabls.
It would take some time to inform the
people OF the movement, and b. was
afraid it would not DO a success. Some
gentleman had suggested to him the
propriety Of having a sort of horticultu-
raj fair, where flowers, vegetables, gar
den implements and ladies' fancy work
could be exhibited. There could be no
live stock exhibited, but a hall might be
obtained and such q fair gotten up, and
two or three thousand dollars made to
start on.
Capt. R. G.. Mathews advocated an ag-
ricultural fair, and said he had under
stood that the Central Park had been Of
fered by its proprietors free Of cost. He
argued that it was necessary to have a
fair to show tie Northern people who
and what we we're.
Squire GOodlett said he did not wish
to be understood as opposing holding OF
= fair, but making q failure at 1t, if
held.
M. D. L. Stewart, Esq, one OF the
Executive Committee, spoke earnestly
in favor Of holding a fair, Offering a res
Olution to that effect.
The Hon. John w. LeftWieh thought
the very arguments which were urged
as objections or impediments to holding
q fair, were arguments for holding ore.
We are excited noW-have our blood up,
and would go IN with q vim. We could
not have better crops, and the people are
grateful for them. We ought to have a
fair by all means. Before the war cur
fairs were a source Of pleasure and profit I
to Us. Now, we could not only make
them more pleasant, but more profitable.
We should go into such an affair with
enlarged ideas. The one staple idea has
been exploded, and we know now that
there is q vast mine Of wealth in our soil {
and country, which we can and must {
develop. We have so many natural ad- {
vantages which we will learn to make
use Oh. We have the advantage |
Of st. Louis, for instance, by several !
weeks, not only in p~erishable
vegetables and fruits, but in our cereals. I
We sent, this year, the first wheat, by t
several weeks, to the st. Louis market. |
1t was made into -four and returned to !
Us. Next year we would manufacture q
our products and send them the first I
1our OF the season. The city Touring G
mills, in which he, the speaker, was inter- I
ested, had determined to offer on their I
own responsibility, several premiums G
this fal-one for the largest crop, another 8
for the best grain, etc. An occasion Of l
the kind holding a fair would make c
Memphis, for the time, q sort Of bazaar,
and would bring vast crowds Of people \
hither. He would also advise as many
Memphians as possible to go to the fair
at st. Louis and Maury county. 4
Mr.. Brooks thought, in order that /
things should progress properly, Mr.. f
Stewart should make his resolution In b
form, and IL should be seconded. t
Mr.. John Donovan said he felt very a
glad to see so much attention given 10 8
this project Of q fair. He hoped it would
be held by all means. The fall meeting
Of the Racing Association takes place on I
the 9Th of November, and lasts until the
18th. He thinks Immediately after that, t
would be a proper time for holding it. {
Hedid not wish to seem to be trying to a
Guido the liberal offer Of the proprietors a
of the Central Park, but in behalf of the T
Memphis Racing Association he then +
and there rendered them the use of the 4
Racing Association grounds free, without v
any reservation. He added that there v
were forty stables on the premises, which
were also at their disposal, and would be
excellent for the housing Of such stock as 4
might be brought for exhibition. .
Mr.. Stewart then moved that the Agri-
cultural Society hold a fair this fall. 6
The motion was seconded and carried y
unanimously. q
DR.. Keller moved that it come off after d
the fall meeting Of the Racing Associa- a
ton, which would be the 18th of No "
vember.
Mr.. Stewart thought that would be too v
late, as it would then be too cold. 9
Mr. Hayes said, as it has been deter =
mined to hold the fair, he would move =,
that 1t be held at the Memphis Racing l
Association Course, to m on the u
10th day OF October, and continue three :
days. :
This was seconded and carried. :
DR.. Keller moved that the thanks Of :,
the Society be rendered to the Memphis :,
Racing Association for their liberal :,
offer. T
This was amended 30 as to include the =
proprietors of the Central Park, and was !.
passed. :
Sometime was spent in arguing g prop b
osltion Of Mr.. DoDoYan's, that the Chair n
appoint q committee of five to prepare a Il
programme. The motion was finally b
made and carried to refer the programme
to the Executive Committee, who are
empowered to act In the matter. -
On motion, Mr.. Donovan was added !
10 the Executive Committee. 2
DIR. Leftwich moved that q committee !.
of three be appointed by the Chair to .