Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-11-03
AUGUSTA COUNTY FAIR.

/
On Tuesday morning, the 9th ult., at II
o'clock, the Corporators of the Augusta count!
Fair assembled on New Court House Stree
preparatory to marching in procession on horse
back to the Fair Grounds half mile from
Staunton. The procession was formed in thu
following order: -e
CHIEF MARSHALL, White Rosette and Scarf
His Two AIDS with White Rosettes
BAND in Wagon.
GUESTS and SPEAKERS in Carriages.
PRESIDENT Augusta County Fair, Green
| Rosette. 4u.i't
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, Blue Rosctte.
SECRETARY and ENGINEER Augusta County
Fair, Red Rosette.
BOARD OF Directors, Blue Rosette.
! STANDARDS and BEARERS
| CoRPoRAToRs, two by two.
ASSISTANT MARsHALLs, with Red Scarfs.
CoRpoRAToRs' FAMILIES, in Carriages.
CoRpoRAToRs' FAMILIES on Horseback
| ASH MARsHALLs with Red Scarfs.
| u CITIZENS Generally.
ALI decorated with their appropriate badges.
| After arriving at the large Building erected
on the farther extremity of the race track the
ceremonies were commenced by an appropriate
prayer by Rev. Mr.. Baird, after which the ad
dress of welcome was delivered by Col. John
B. Baldwin, President of the Augusta county
Fair. The following is the substance of his ad-
dress as furnished by the reporter of the Rich
mond Wing:
The Presidents Address of Welcome.
Colonel Baldwin, in one Of his most felicitous
speeches, welcomed the vast concourse to the
grounds of the Augusta Agricultural Society,"
These grounds, he explained, were the dona
tion of the people of the county, having been
purchased by means contributed by them in
sums of one hundred dollars. Itwas only since
the 1st of May that, by the voluntary subscrip-
tions OF the people, the funds had begun to ac-
cumulate; and when it was borne in mind that
much work had to be done on the grounds af-
ter they were purchased, buildings erected, &C.,
they would readily account for, and excuse any
incompIeteness in their condition. What had
been done in the formation of the society and
the preparation for this exhibition, the condi
ton of the country being considered, argued
that there is some vitality in the old county
yet, and proved that when the citizens of Au-
gusta give their sanction to any enterprise they
are ready to back it with their means. He
claimed for them creditable public spirit and
county feeling.
Though this is an agricultural district princi.
pally, said the speaker, this is not in strict
sense an agricultural, but an industrial Fair,
L. ~ 1
the country. Its object is to promote energy
and economy and thrift among the people, and
it addresses itself to no peculiar class of labor,
but to all classes
When it was first proposed to hold fair,
there were some who thought the time unpro-
pitious, since the future was so full Of uncer>
tainty, and that we should wait until the affairs
of.the country were settled He was glad that
their counsel did not prevail and that the MAJ
jori;y held and acted upon the opinion that no
time called SO urgently for efforts to promote
industry and the products Of labor, as when
we had least to expect from the administration
of public affairs. .
Before the war the people of the Valley were
mainly occupied in agriculture, and even those
engaged in vocations other than tiling the soil,
looked forward as their highest ambition, to
spending the evening of lite in the calm pur>
suits of agriculture The war, in its results,
changed our system of labor and rendered ag>
ricuture somewhat less attractive, and the peo~
pie now are, in some measure, disposed to turn
from farming to manufacturing, mining and
merchandising. We are now in the beginning
Of the process of diversifying our labor, in the
transition state from purely agricultural to
mixed agricultural and manufacturing people.
Whatever else may result or fail to result from
the war, it is obvious that it is daily producing
change in our agriculture We Of the valley
thought it dreadful calamity when our barns
and mills were burned and our stock destroyed,
but even this has not been without advantage,
in the manly and irrepressible energy it devel
oped. You have built large barns and mills,
and the fruits Of your energy and skill have
come to be SO recognized, that the same power
that issued the order to apply the torch to your
mills, now orders that no -four shall be used by
the troops in Virginia but that having the
Staunton brand on it. Old time implements
Of husbandry are being substituted by those of
improved design and greater efficiency; and al.
though it took two or more crops to restore the
ravages Of the war, the Valley is to>day ben
Gifted by the changes that have occurred.
Now Is the time tor the people to meet and
compare ideas. to learn what Improvements
have been made in the machinery of farm labor,
and what advance in the system and science of
agriculture. At such a meeting it behooves
US to forget politics. by which we have been
SO often misled in the past, and to ditect our
attention to the practical affairs of industry =
Besides, it is one of the good effects Of such
meetings as this, that they make the people
better acquainted with each other and cultivate
spirit of social kindness. The war brought
us closer together, and eugendered kindlier
feelings towards each other. He wanted the
people, too, old and young, once year, for a
few days, to leave their toll and devote them
selves to recreation, to fun and frolic.
The present gathering is full Of promise to
the county and to the Valley-it is full of ami
mating and suggestive hopes for the future
In conclusion, be expressed the hope that all
present would find the occasion one Of pleasure
and profit.
After music, Colonel Baldwin introduced
Mr.. Stuart, to whom had been assigned the
the duty Of making the Dedication Address.
Address of Hon. A. II. II. Stuart
Fello,o Citizens
The duty of delivering the address Of well
come, on this interesting occasion, has
been appropriately, confded to my friend Col.
Baldwin, think hazard little in saying,
that he is the Author and founder of the
'sAugusta county Fair" To his zeal and
energy, seconded as they have been, by the
liberality and public spirit of the people of
| Augusta, We are indebted for the success Of
the enterprise. Every one will, therefore,
recognize the propricty of calling on him
| to deliver the inaugural address, at the COM
| ,naneeuent If the first exhibition