Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-06-30

night last, Mr.. Turner, having introduced
preamble and resolutions in favor of an appro'
priation of $500 towards fund to be raised to7
the purpose CT holding an agricultural and me-
cbapica fair 10 this city next Autumn, SAID
Mr.. President Notwithstanding leading |
and most worthy member OF this Board, saw
fl at our last meeting to class all agricultural
fairs as nuisancea, and that Virginia IL al
ready Inflicted with five "shows oi this KIND,
and in danger e being run down by the aad
five, | beg TO say that | most respectfully an
far with huI, and sincerely nope That ihr
snid worthy member will change his oplnInh
after giving the subject cir.'lii c'1'e''''a''n'
and subscribe literally tnr tli' noble en"lrri>r.
| admit to commence an enterprise OF TINS
kind, it requires money, energy, prompt az
lion and will to work for the public good,
hut when once started, the object in flhanela
view, is accomplished; all that Will be ncehrd
afterwards, will be energy enough TO call inc
neoplc together, and brains enough to use the
money to the advantage of the society. o.,
The first move is the selection c. a commit
tee composed OF Influential an. vide wake
citizens and farmers to secure sr!tao!e lou %
ground within or near the city limits; Lease the
same for term OF years, or purchase :! luauS
will permit; then estimate the cost {. enc'oH-
inc the same with fence and gates, IL iltaole
hniIding for exhibiting fine goods, fruits and
flowers then pass around your snba'rIptlon
naner call on your Corn Eychang', rd.! rail-
road managers, steam ferry ccmpaul-5, your
numerous secret and benevolent societies, yoHr
commission, wholesale and retail merchants,
ard the business men generally, aad Tor IA: l
have no fears OF the result. The r!aXlnl,
where there is will there is a way, will not
nrove TO the contrary in tho attempt TO cs;au'
| lish a grand permanent Agricultural ra!r III
| Alexandria.
Now, Mr. Chairman, word as % the L!l"ty
of n we'll ORGANIZED agricultural society. Fr3ia
thc organization OF the cst society lor lro
| noting agriculture" in l7Sj, every ,roi.:l!!eI't
| man from that day to the present. has IacE,l'
| fled himself as the firm friend OF these societies.
| namely: Washington, Adams, Jetterso',
| Franklin, Madison. Jackson, Clay. " cbs;er,
Harrison, and hundreds of others: From that
me seed planted in the city OF Philadelphia, II
| 1885, has sprung into existence, ana now exists
o79 agricultural societies IN these United E!atC )
and the benefits that the nation has uerlved'
and still derives, are almost beyond cacu: 1t! %.
! Yes, Gen. Washington, the sage OF Mount
| Vernon was a true friend to agriculture: was
onr Of the first, il not the first, honorary Aeln-
|
memorable event took place, IN Phlladel, h.1,
July 4th, 1885. His farewell address, deliver
ed on the 18th day Of Decomhar, 1896, ! o.tcr
az an evidence oil the deep interest which he
| took in forming societies similar u the one
now proposed Here is an extract:
ut p III not he doubted that, With rGirrencc
To either individual or national welfare, ag;l'
| culture is CT primary importance. In proper
ton as nations advance in population and other
| circumstances OF maturity, this truth becomes
more apparcnt, and renders the cultivation OF
the soil more and more an Object OF public pat
ronagc. Institutions for promoting 1t grow w
supportcd by the public purse, and TO what 90
irct can it be dedicated with greater rroprtciy
Among the means which have been employed
! 10 this end none have been attended VII Rteat
| er success than the establishment "1 boaia:
composed Of proper characters, charged W.T.,
collecting and dif'usiu& Information, and chahl
cd bv rremiums and small pccrnary aids, Il
encourage and assist asrlrlt OF discovery ant
;.,,,,,,ont rh;, snpcias Of cstnhI .h n'e"t '''"
improvement. hh,s st..s incrnnFa 81 improvement
| Uy Stimulating to enterprise and IIhent
| and by drawing to q common centre the results
everywhere, Of individual ri III a!u ooSI' "''o"
and ,rrcaLing them thence over the whole ne
lun. Experience, accordingly, has shown hat
th'y ar. very cheap Instruments OF im!ncn;c
national benefits.
| IIUw grand the sentiment, ami low cou'-
! plctelY The prophesy has been lulhled. Shall 1t
| be SAID OF the city he loved 80 we'll and SD often
| visited, that It's citizens arc now totally indl
| icrent TO his teaching and his noble example
| Why is it, Mr.. President, that Virginia,
| with upwards Of one hundred counties has but
| five orsix agricultural fairs, whIi. New York
with her fifty nine caunllGa has "n" hundred
| and sixteen county AMI township fairs? While
| New York has upwards OF 2o,oO0,mw OF
farming implements, Virginia has bnt :;l0,-
| OOO 900 New York S000u0 horses and Vlr-
pinia only 100000 New York produces ljO,-
GOO, 900 lbs. Of butter and cheese and Virginia
only - ,00O, 900. Where is the ianIt? Not the
| soil, not the climate, not Tor the want OF mar.
kcts for in these she IS hot c%cel'ed y any
State in tho Union. IS it not bccilliG her soil
has been cultivated on erroneous principles, and
| agricultural societies anil farmers clubs amoet
| unknown
| 1t is a we'll demonstrated fact that States and
| communities having the most wealth, most
| population, most internal improvements, most
| Of everything necessary to make people great
and happy have the most agricultural lars and
and farmers clubs. For instance New York
has TIC, PENNSYLVANIA -, Ohio lIj, Illinois
90, Indiana SO, Iowa ll2, Vermont IS, Mas
sachusetts SIS, and New Jersey %, while all
the States south Of Mason and Diznn'a line
have barely enough to claim an existence, or
an interest 10 agricultural affairs.
These arc stubborn facts and worthy the st
tention OF thinking men and every We'll wisher
for his Stale and community. But VIC are told by
the worthy member of the first ward that Flr-
GINA is too poor to organize and sustain agrl
cultural societies. This is the best argument
could be offered that she should have them
Rich and Independent DO not need them. 1t is
the sick that need physiciau, the cripple
that needs crutch Something is wanted to
stimulate the farmer and mechanic, to call into
action desire to excel; to arouse healthy
competition, and the best uso CT their talents
and means to win the prize and esteem OF their
associates.
In many different ways the farmer Is bcnc
fitted the mechanic, the merchant, the city,
the railroad and ferries, each and al! are benc
fitted. Such has ever been the case in other
States, in other cities, and why should Alex
h. will tnl-n Il