Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-07-30
ICOMMUSICATED.


THE FIRST AGRICULTURAL FAlR.-The first
Agricultural Society, Or, IN other words. exhl-
billon OF live stock, ori glnated aud was held in
Berkshire county, Mas. Frow small acorn Il
large oak has sprung up, spreading It's branch
es over the entire American continent. liz a
volume before u, entitled, Men and rimes OF
the Revo u,r"u; or, Memoirs of E'kauah Wat
son, We lud the following particulars 1t hap
pened in this way: In The autumn Of 1907, Mr.
Ekauah Watson, then resident OF PlttSfeid,
Berkshire county, Mass, procured the first
pair Of MerlnO sheep which had been introduce
ed into that county, aud in order to give the
farmers All opportunity 10 see them, he gave
notice that on u day specified, he would exhibit
the same under the lulty E.m tree on the pub
lie square of Pitts6eld. Many tarmers and
cveu females, were attracted 10 this first novel
aud humble exhibition From this lucky ill.,
cidcnt Mr.. Watson reasoned that If TWO animals
were capable Of exciting So much attention,
what would be the effect OF display on larger
scale OF different animals? The farmers pres
cut responded with appreciation, and soon after
wards the Berkshire Agricultural Society was
organized and received charter from the Leg
islalure Of Massachusetts.
Mr. Watson description Of the FIRST regular
fair is quite interesting ''rhe event was high
~ au>pcious. The day Was beautiful aud at
au early hour the village Was thronged by thous-
ands OF excited aud Interested spectators. Fine
domestic animals We're seen approaching the
place of exhibition fioln every direction. The
procession splendid, novel, and imposing be-
You'd anything of the kind ever exhibited in
America. 1t cost me (Says Mr.. w. an lDinlty
of trouble, and some cash; but it resulted III ex
citing general attention in the northern States,
al, tod
This procession was headed by band of music,
then followed sixty. uiue oxen, connected by
chains, drawing a plough held by the oldest
nan in the county. The members Of the So
city had appropriate ensi gns and were decorated
with badges of wheat IN their hats. 4 platform
upon wheels followed, drawn by oxen bearing
broadcloth loom and spinning Jenny both III
operation by English artists as the stage moved
along Mechanics with flags and another plat
form filled with American manufactures. The
pens We're handsomely occupied by some ex-
ceIlent animals
Such is the description Of the first Agrlcul-
tural Society in America, II not III the history
of the world. What subject for contempa.
ton, and what an example for FlrglDlaus and
FREUD, of agriculture to follow.
Some two years ago We endeavored by wrl-
ting and verbal arguments to start an Interest
for the organization of all Agricultural and Me.
chauira Society iu Alexandria We consider
this civ one OF the most desirable spots for a
Furnishing Society that eau be found III this or
auy Other State. The proximity Of Washing.
ton Georgetown, and Ballm IRE, with their
tens ot thousands ready to take the advantage
Of cheap tare and ample accommodations 10
visit tins ancient and renUuned city, together
with the large aud numerous steamers plying
on the Potomac, would Certainly Grug throng
Of between ~ UOU and 3O,OO'D, leaving at 10"
estimate between $4,000 and $50, OUO Wlthln
the corporation llults but the Houurablc Rlp
FanW mixes could not realize the situailon aud
put IN the plea VI poverty, aud that the at
tempt would be failure. Would to God We
had all Eikanah Watson 10 our midst to Prove
to Us that w here there l. a Will there Is way,
and encourage its Citizens To acIIun. In the
month OF April l778, Mr. Watson visited
Alexandria aud torcto,d a great future III store
for her. We quite his language 'Alcxandrla
Is situated Oh the Putom4c, Oh an elevated PLAIN
overlooking the river. It's streets are laid out
after the plau OF Philldrl phla, and upoua large
scale in the anticipation Of d great city. Cou-
sderlns It's peculiar advantages OF position, at
the head OF the bold navigation OF Que OF the
nublest rivers of the world, | see nothing to
prevent their antIcipations being fully realized.
4 strong commercial rivalry Will, II Is supposed,
SOON spring up between Baltimore aud Alexan-
dlia Ii appears probable that the peculiarly
favorable position Of Alexandria will secure to
that city the pre-euilueuce
When Aexandians lack public spirit, en-
ergy, and Interest sufficient to orgaulzc ami suS-
tain 40 Agricultural and Mechanical AssocIa-
zion that will add Alp much to her prosperity
and growth, shall We wuuder that the prOphesy
cited above has proved so complete failure
If one man aud two Merino sheep under the
shade OF an Elm tree could build up great
Agricultural Society that has existed for sixty
years. what would not the united efforts of the
business men of Alexandria accomplish in the
same praiseworthy cause? PROGRESS.
ITEMS : FROM the Fredericksburg Herald ]
The coutract made last year for dredging the
Rappahannock by Maj Craighil, u, 5. En-
gineer Corps, will be continued by the same
party The wrecks that lie between the lower
wharf at Fredericksburg and the bend 10 the
river are all to be removed.
There are some fifteen or sixteen muls In