The Portland daily press., 1870-09-21
The State A gricultur al so.ie,y,. Fair.
CuPoLA OF THE STATE HoUsR, l
: AUGUSTA, Sept. 20, 1870.

'ood location from which to sketch briefly the
allent points of the rinth. annual exhibition OF
he Maine State Agricultural Society, decided
upon this spot; one reason being that as he had
ately come from a. region where the Senator |
question had agitated the public mind, be de- |
sired to get above the vexatious subject and |
all its com plications, and enlarge and ex-
pand his ideas of the noble profession of
There is nothing here to bias
my Judgment or arouse my prejudices and
can the better overlook any little mistake
which may have been made by our good
friends the Trustees in preparing for the i'm.
portant events Of this and the succeeding
three days.
The view of the grounds from this point is
superb, and the eye commands every part OF
the Fgreat enclosure, with its big tent and its
little tent, its long tiers of stalls, booths and
offices, the trotting park beyond, with its
white track, capacious grand stand, judges
station and reporters quarters. And the
broad panorama of natural scenery which
stretches out on all sides, adds to the reward
for my industry. With the key of the stair
way in my pocket, SO that am secure from in
trusion, and good field glass in my hand, l
propose to occupy this place for half hour,
returning by-and-by to wrestle with the things
OF earth, earthly such as root crops, agricul-
tural implements and such like But the poe
try of a horse-trot is best enjoyed from some
elevated place, that the Inspiration of the no.
BILE sport and the standpoint may accord.
Looking through my glass I find gathered in
the pens splendid display of neat stock, bet
ter in point.of numbers than 1 expected to see.
In quality was prepared for something nice,
for the famous grazers of the Kennebec and
Sandy river valleys have sent their fat and
sleek herds here with pride and confidence.
Except the herds of Mr.. Anderson of Wind
ham, and the Messrs. Dane of Kennebunk,
and the noble teams owned by the city of Port
land, have not yet discovered any stock to
speak of from that section of the State, and the
Secretary's books last night showed scarcely
any stock from east of Bangor. But all grades
and strains of blood known to our Maine farm
ers are on the ground-natives and thorough
breds-and this part of the exhibition is supe-
rior to that of last year.
The useful branch of the horse family is here
in strong force, and if should walk among
the stalls should discover an unusually large
collection of colts of all ages, many OF which I
know are remarkably handsome And the
dams and sires are present, too, many of the
latter having place in the turf-record. The
fancy horses are to come on by and by. There
was fright smart sprinkling" Of horsemen at
the Mansion House last might, where the en-
tries for the races were rapidly recorded, and
all parts of the State is represented among
these men.
Among tie animals known as particularly
rapid in their movements may mention the
celebrated Gen. Knox, Gilbreth Knox, Fear
naught, IT,, Carthage Boy, Right Bower,
Dare Ia Portland horse) Lady Fairfield, Lady
Burleigb, Lady Moscow, Beauregard, Buz,
Gen. Hooker, Gen. Lyon, Lothian, Black Sui
tan. These are all Maine horses, and if any o.
the names are not IA niliar to you; readers, I
would say that they are young aspirants for
fame, whose owners aud friends have good
opinion of them, and they consider. their opin-
ion worth something in currency
Among the good people who are indspensa-
BILE to the success of a show of this kind, 1
found our friend Seth Scammon of Scarboro'
the President, bard at work. Mr.. Boardman
the efficient Secretary, has on his staff such
experienced men as A. r. Boardman, Super
intendent of Entries and Mr.. j. r. Milliken.
Mr.. WATSON, one of the Trustees, has gener-
al charge of the State House, where the in
doors departments are located. assisted by Mr..
John K. Hooper of Portland, as Assistant; and
Mr.. William Foster ALSO of Portland, who has
charge of the doors. Judge Morris, the Treas
urer, has his corps in their places, ready to
gather in the anticipated harvest of paper cur
rency. The Judge is the most important man
in the crowd just now, for he gathers and se-
cures the rich results of his co-laborers efforts.
good nature and urbanity.
This morning opened clear and cloudless,
with warm atmosphere that makes much
out-of-door travel burdensome. The crowd
arouud the State House is increasing aud
from early morning country teams have been
pouring into town, and there is every pros pect
of brilliant success for the Fair The Secre-
tary's and Superintendent offices are crowd
ed with people depositing their contributions
and making their final entries.
There was considerable delay this morning
Al SOttiuS do tuO plOSAdmmC VI luC udy duu IL
was late before an audience had gathered at
the Presidents headquarters, when the open
ing address was delivered by Seth Scammon,
Esq, the President Mr.. Scammon said:
Gentlemen of the Maine State Agricultural
Society:
Another years duties have been fulfi led
another years labors are ended, and your gen.
erous impulses have prompted you to meet to-
gether and congratulate each other upon the
progress and success OF our industrial ent err
prises, and we recognize the kind hand of
Providence in SO ordering the ratn and sun
shine and warmth in such quick succession
as to reward the farmer with bountiful har-
vest.
The occasion affords you ample opportuni-
ties to observe and note the various points of
excellence, and the improvements made in
your horses and ueat stock, your sheep and
swine and poultry; to exhibit the various pro-
auctions of your farms and gardens; to display
your agricultural implements, and manuac-
lures OF all descriptions; to show the taste and
skill of your wives and daughters and sons !;
and last though not least ia meet the inteli-
gent and worthy men and women, boys and
girls Of Maine
Surely may I congratulate you on this oc-
caslon Tor the suspicious in-gathering of this
exhibition. One year ago New England and
the Provinces exhibited the best of their d, O
ductions on your soil, and it was conceded to
he superior to any preceding exhibition of the
kind in numbers and quality. But to. day the
exhibition is confined to our own State, and
the entries for horses and neat stock exceed
those of last year. Maine has done herself
much credit, or rather some OF her worthy sons
have, in so improving ths breed of horses that
now she takes the lead. And some of the best
cattle shown upon the grounds at Manchester
stock raising al,ne that Maine can excel For
while you have heard the neighng of the hors-
es, the lowing of cattle, and the beating of
sheep upon thousand hills, your busy hands
have filed your granaries with an abundant
supply for man and BEAST thus proving the
capabilities of our soil, though rugged, to make
adequate returns for intelligent and persever-
ing labor.
FarmeIs, mechanics industrious and monied
men OF Maine, we have the elements of a great
and HouriShing people within our own domain
Invest your capital so as to put our extensive
water power under intelligent control, thereby
giving employment to our mechanics and labor
ing men, creating a market for the products
of the farm at houe, and thrive you must, and
thrive you will. 1t will give an impetus to
business that will naturally check the large
migrations annually going on OF our enterpris-
ing young men to 9th sr parts of the country
for employment and lucrative business
Gentlemen, by the untiring efforts of your
trustees, aided materially by the literally and
cooperation of the city and citizens of Angus
ia the extensive accommodations and conven-
fence spread out before you have been provid-
ed for this Show and Fair, and your liberal
and unprecedented contributions OF stock and
articles are avidanoe of your ieep intere st and
appreciation of the occasion land the suspicious
opening of this morning is an earnest of sue
cess
SAM MAYALL.-This gentleman, who form
erly resided in Gray, whom the Democrats
took up and elected to Congress in 1852, from
the "a district III this State. who was drnnned