Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1868-10-30
AUGUSTA COUNTY FAIR
GREAT SUCCESS.
1900 TO 10000 PEOPLE PRESENT.

been perfect success.
On Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock, the
corporators assembled, on New Court House
Street. and formed in mounted procession as
follows:
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.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES, Blue Rosette.
SECRETARY and ENGINEER Augusta County
Fair, Red Rosette.
BOARD OF D1REcToRs, Blue Rosette.
STANDARDS and BEARERS
CoRpoRAToRs, two by two.
ASSISTANT MARsHALLs, with Red Scarfs
CoRpoRAroRs' FAMILIES, in Carriages.
CoRpoRAToRs' FAMILIES on Horseback.
ASST. MARsHALLs with Red Scarfs.
CITIZENS Generally.
Ali decorated with their appropriate Badges.
The procession then moved by the evil
low Glen Road to the Fair Ground Gate,
through which they filed and by the right
hand track. reached s'Gatherem HALF where
the dedicatory ceremonies took place. At
ter very appropriate prayer by Rev Mr..
Baird and music by Smiths Richmond Band,
Col Baldwin, President Of the Augusta
County Fair, delivered the opening address,
in substance as follows:
He welcomed the vast audience to the
first annual exhibition of the Augusta Coun-
ty Fair.
He said if an apology were necessary for
the unfinished condition of the Grounds, it
needed only to be stated that since the first
of May the money had been contributed by
the citizens of Augusta. the grounds pur-
chased and paid for, the labor organized
and directed and the grounds put into their
present condition. He said, if we reflect
that the whole amount has been contributed
in. sums of 800 each and consider the time,
circumstances and condition Of the country, it
argues that there is some life and vitality in
Old Augusta He said that, altho' located
in an agricultural community, the Fair was
not intended to be exclusively agricultural,
but looked to the advancement Of the natu-
raj and industrial productions and Of the in
dustry, enterprise, energy and economy of
our people He said when the Fair was pro-
posed it met with opposition on the ground
of the unsettled condition of the country but
the idea did not prevail and he regarded
the time and circumstances as most propitious.
Before the war every man, in whatever
business, looked forward to owning little
farm and spending his days in agricultural pur-
suits but now owing to the war and the disor-
ganized condition Of labor, agricultural pur
suits we're less attractive to our people and
the general desire was fer town, city, me-
chanica or manufacturing life. Agricul-
ture is to be made attractive though we should
Diversity labor We felt the want of diver
sity of labor during the war and resolved
never to be wanting in this respect thereafter
The change in agriculture was not less
striking than that in labor The people of
our valley were peculiarly assaulted during
the war their barns, dwellings and mills
off, agricultural implements. old and patched,
were also destroyed. but new barns, dwell
ings and mills had sprung up, better than the
old; improved agricultural implements sup
piled the place Of the worn out ones, and
while our fine stock could not be replaced at
once, vet we could console ourselves with the
reflection that we were in position Of being
greatly beneftted-really and substantially
benefited. He concluded that this was the
time, therefore, to meet and confer together,
to get new ideas and new lesson for a new
departure The fair is designed to
bring together the old and young in
: kindness and good will, to draw
them from the fields and workshops for few
DAYS for fun and froiic and to be given up to
enjoyment and relaxation. He asserted that
there was future full fhope and prosperity
before lis and concluded by again welcoming
all to the enjoyment and pleasures of the Au-
gusta County Fair.
After music by the band, Col. Baldwin
ntroduced Hon. A. FL. FL Stuart who de-
livered the following appropriate address:
Felloao Citizens
The duty of delivering the address of wei
come, on this interesting occasion, has
been appropriately, confded to my friend Col.
Baldwin, think I hazard little in saying,
that he is the Author and founder Of the
augusta county Fair" 20 his zeal and
energy, seconded as they have been, by the
liberality and public sTirit OF the people Of
Augusta, we are indebted for the success Of
the enterprise. Every one will, therefore,
recognize the propriety of calling on him
to deliver tie inaugural address, at the cont
mencement Of the first exhibition
He has performed his part in q manner,
which, [ doubt not, has been acceptable to
all who had the pleasure Of hearing him.
We have now arrived at the second stage
of our proceedings We are about to dedi
cate the grounds which have been purchased,
to the use of the Fair. and | have been
called on to say few words, in connection
with their auspicious event
Why [ should have been selected to per-
form this interesting task may not, at first
view, be entirely clear. But when we advert
to the nature Of the duty to be performed,
and the obvious propriety of entrusting it to
one of your most slSilful, experienced, and
successful practical farmers, modestly infer
that all doubts, as to the reasons for and the
propriety of selecting the person who now