Daily Kennebec journal., 1870-09-20
local anD State Nems.
Ninth Exhibition Of the Maine State Ag.
ricuItural Society.

The Maine State Agricultural Society was
incorporated in 1855, and held its first exhi-
bition at Gardiner, in September of that year.
The second was held at Portland in 1885, the
third at Bangor in 1857, the fourth in this
city in 1858, the fifth, also in this city in 1859,
and the sixth at Portland in lo6o.-
During the rebellion its fairs were suspended,
but the Society always kept up its organlza-
ton. The venerable DR.. Z. Holmes was the
first Secretary of the Society, which position
he held until his death, in 1865. Mr.. S. L.
Boardman, his successor in the management
of the Maine Farmer, was elected as Secre-
tary. and has held the position ever since,
having been annually reelected to the posi-
tion which he has filled so ably. The Presi
dents have been successfully: Hon. S. f.
Perey, Hon. Thomas S. Lang, Hon. VIM
c. lIammatt, John +. Anderson Esq, Sew
ard Dill. Esq. and Hon. Seth Seaman, the
latter gentleman having been three times re-
elected, which is deserved compliment to
his manner of filling the place. The present
Treasurer, Hon. VIM. L. Morris, now Mu-
ncipal Judge of Portland, has served in that
capacity three years, and has proved most
efficient and gentlemanly officer. The Board
of Trustees, at present, is composed OF the
following gentlemen: Hon. Warren Percival,
Cross Hill Hon. Samuel Wasson, Ellsworth;
S. r. IIobrook, Esq, Oxford; Nathan Dane,
Jr. Esq, Kennebunk; Seward Dill, Esq,
Phillips; Hon. VIM. p. Wingate, Bangor.
After the close OF the rebellion, the Trus
tees deeming it for the interest of the Society
and the advancement of agriculture in the
State, resolved upon resumng the annual
fairs Of the Society. Accordingly that for
1868 was held in Portland, and also that for
1869 in the same place,-i latter having
been held in connection with the New Eng
land Agricultural Society, and under their
rules, although the entire arrangement of the
exhibition in all its details was arranged and
carried out by the officers of the State Agri-
cultural Society, nearly all of whom are now
also connected with the management of the
present exhibition.
Two exhibitions of the Society having
been suct es sively held in Portland. the Trus-
tees desired the fair of 1870 to be held in
some other part of the State. After visiting
Bangor, Lewiston, and other places, they de-
cided to locate the fair in Augusta, the city
having appropriated for the purpose of aiding
in erecting the necessary accommodations
the sum of five hundred dollars, and offering
to the Society police force OF fifteen men,
during the days of the fair. In addition to
this, Mr.. w. NJ. Thayer, generously gave
tba of Am nriy will
additional ground adjoining, and the citizens
made up a subscription Of something like
81 800. The Council also granted the use of
the State House for the purpose of the fair
and the County Commissioners gave the free
use of the Court House for the evening dis
cussons. Altogether, these offers held out
far better proposal than the Trustees
ceived from any other locality in Maine,
hence their decision in selecting this city as
the location of the State Fair of 1870.
The work of experimenting the erection
Of the stalls. pens, sheds, etc, was entrust-
ed by the Trustees to Hon. Warren Percval,
Vice President of the Society, and so far as
we can learn, that gentleman has fulfilled his
duties with acceptance. The work has been
performed by contract and to the satisfaction
of the Board.
The chief work of the preparation for such
an exhibition as the present is necessarily
crowded into few weeks time, although the
correspondence and general arrangement ex-
tends nearly throughout the season. Conse-
quently. in order that the arrangements may
be complete and all run smoothly, the whole
labor must be systematized and sub-divided.
This the present Board of Trustees are fa-
miliar with, and if acquaintance with the du-
ties of their several positions is worth any
thing toward ensuring success, we may be
sure with good weather, that the fair will be
the most successful ever held by tn" Society.
At the State House, where the Fair, prop
er, takes place, we find Hon. Samuel Was
son in charge with an able corps of assist
ants, among whom are John X. Hooper, Esq,
Assistant Superintendent, and A. r. Board
man, Superintendent of entries, both of whom
assisted Mr.. Wasson in the New England
Fair of last year. The several departments
of the Fair are each in charge of competent
men, and there is no confusion or disorder.
On approaching the Fair Grounds, we find
the building at the entrance occupied by the
Treasurer, Mr. Morris, who has entire con-
troll of the Ticket Department; and by the
Secretary, Mr.. Boardman, and his assistants.
Here all the entries to the show ground ex-
hibition are made, but entries for the State
House are made there. The whole depart
ment of entries for both departments of the
Fair being regulated and controlled by the
Secretary. AT the State House we find Mr..
Milliken, of Portland, formerly the popular
engrossing clerk as chief clerk, and at the
ground Mr.. Weston Lewis of Pittston.
Close by the Secretary's office is the Presi-
dents tent, where the guests of the Society
will be received, committees made up, &c.
To the south of this is the mammoth tent,
where the agricultural implements are to be