Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-11-14
For the Spectator.


Col. BALDWIN In continuation of my
communication in last weeks Spectator, on the
success Of our County Fair, I have several sug-
gestions which | respectfully submit for your
consideration:
1st. I think the Examining Committees
should be composed of Corporators only. 1t
is too much the habit Of picking up any visit
or to ill up committee, and sometimes OF
making him Chairman of said committee
End There should be a larger number of
cattle sheds built on the hill, and all the cattle
sent to that point. These should be laid Oft
into Departments, and each Glass kept togeth-
err the Thoroughbred cattle in one depart
ment, the grades in another, the fat cattle in
another, and the oxen IN another, SO that the
committee could see all of Glass together,
and thus be the better enabled to give fair
decision on the merits of each animal.
This year the cattle of the different Glasses
were SO scattered some on the hill and some in
the hollow-in the old sheds-that some were
entirely overlooked The horses, sheep and
hogs should be arranged in the same order.-
1t would obviate great deal of the contn sion
that attends the present arrangement w hen
certain Glass of horses is wanted the III arshal
has to ride along the whole line of sheds and
call as he goes for the horses OF that Glass, and
some Of the keepers, many Of whom are ne
groes, do not understand the order. By my
arrangement all the keepers would act 10 con-
cert, upon the call of the Marshal for each sep
arate Class sAo ss
Sd. There should be another carriage track
| made from the upper side Of the Rotunda,
along the hill to the far end Of the grounds,
| above the horse sheds, with gate above the
| Rotunda, or not, as the Directors may deter
mine. Indeed, that track might be continued
around and back Of the horse sheda. aud enter
| the present track at the creek 1t would be a
great accommodation to the country people, in
| getting into the Fair Gsounds without causing
such jam near the Rotunda
| 4th. I would suggest that Corporators who
exhibit for money premium be put on level
with all other exhibitors, and be required to
| pay the same per cent in cash. | know this
will seem little hard on them, as tits the only
way In which they can ever hope to recover any
part of their money paid for stock. For YOU,
| long ago, announced that the Stock hol lers
need never to expect to get a cent Of dividend,
as long as you we're President as you intended
| to expend every doIarof dividend in approving
| the grounds and paying large premiums.
| But the gentlemen who were liberal enough
| to give the hundred dollars 10 Advancing the
| agricultural and mechanical interests Of the
| county, will not hesitate TO do this, when told
/ that It will not only Increase the amount of mo-
ney at the disposal Of the society, but also
remove the cause of dissatisfaction on the part
Of the public.
| Many regard this as an iuyidious distinction
| in favor of the few over the many, forgetting,
of course, that the favored party has paid IN
advance for his privileges. and therefore refuse
to enter their articles What say you, gentle
men?
| 5th. There should be more care observed IN
issuing to Corporators their tickets for the ca
son. as some get more tickets than they actual
| " have persons in their families, and to that
extent curtail the revenues Of the Fair. Daily
tickets might be issued to them for each mem
! Der Of their families, and the guards at the
gates should demand the tickets OF all persons
| Having the Fair Grounds. and return them tc
! the Secretary's office, where, after counting,
| they should be destroyed thus preventing their
being used on the next day by any one | have
| no doubt we are often imposed on In this way
and some means ought to be instituted to cor
| rect the evil.
| 9Th. ARRANGEMENTS should be made to have
| the water piped from the city to the Fan
| Grounds, and [ would suggest that one ny
drant be situated near to the Rotunda, one a
| the far end Of the grounds, and one on th'
hill, not far from Mr. Pratt's house. There
might also be letting fountain 10 the centre
| of the lawn. The latter would add to the beau
| ty of the grounds.
| It'll. The trotting track, on the west SIDE
ought to be ttraightenad, SO as to remove 6n'
| bank where 1t causes an inner curve OF M
track. 1t would made the trottlng much cas-
| Ter on the horses, and drivers too. no.,
I2ORp0R ATOR