Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-10-08
agricultural.
S ia TIE FAIR .
The following address was delivered by
the President. at Bangor:

Exhibition To- the encouragement of Az
ricultulal and Mechanical industry open
ne o-lay. has ia reason To doubt The
proprietv of its coming togvthSr, or the
wisdom OF those who organized these
festival assembliags. which serve to slim
ulale into greater activity the farming In
tsrosts OF the Stale. aud upon which sll
classes Of society depend Tor their pros.
perity.
Notwithstanding the progress Of tho
society under whose auspices We meet,
may. at times, have bseu impedsd by a.
li5cral legislation. or beclouded by caSG-
ali,ieS, vet It's course has been steady aud
onward; each succeeding exhibition Civ
inc it \ character of greater prominence
aud Importance.
To bridge over that disastrous ''brcak
down" at Augusta in 1870 made such in
roads on the assets IS compelled the
Tre.sursy to pay the premiums AT pro
rata reduction Of 80 per cent. Aside from
sbc ''frse-will Offering" OF the locality
vhere tue Exhibition is INSIDE. the Socie-
Tvs only source OF revenue Is The almis-
s,ou tee. the nay cents entrance money
paid at the gates, with which, cost OF fix
lures. premiums and incidental expenses
are met. Sir the holding OF the State
Fair in this city III lS57, the price OF IA
Dor and lumber has more than doubled,
which has correspondinsly enhanced the
coat Of preparation. Reference TO nv
memoranda shows the expenditures ioy
fitting up" grounds snd halls to be So
900; adding 20 this - 600 70 be paid in
premiums. will give the sum Of $4,000
81, he aggregate outlay for the present ex-
hibition. With resources 80 uncertain,
while the present penurious legislation
continues to withhold Stale all or stipend,
even With the mos, prudential mauage-
ment, there can be no great width Of mar
gin "lett over" TO cover accidents
But, gentlemen this Exhibition en-
teypri.e has a higher market value than
that OF premiums paid Is dividends are
in better stock than sreenbacks. diplo-
mas or medals.
These yearly gatherings become the
,isndpoints from which VIC can survey
tie laboys OF the wear. and note the adj
vance We have made - ,i..ers o., IL soil.
They become points ot departure" IS
wei. igum which new courses" may De
projected TO avoid ,be failures o., ;h- ra-,.
and guide 10 the .u'ure - better results
iu tha; vocation in " L.ci sc.eacy aal AZ.
Sad themselves ,ENed 20 tine utmost.
These auuus, festival, bryomeJhc s'a,-
%, .i1e Of agriculture, after tb' wj>,lul,
anxious days are ended; after he pcyils
of bl'ghting drought sat predatory in
sccts are over. vA,u Wa can relax from
the heavy tolls and cares which .eed.timS
ani h,rvss; have laid upon u, and give
scope 10 mirih and satisfaction in regard
ing our iriumphs ever the ,oi', and learn
uev lessons 10 benefit "a, FOR greater
achievements in The grand old Art-the
base Of the industrial column.
The AZ, OF Agriculture canuo, be moor
ed immoyaJie in the passing caueu,. It
must 20 forward in tho tide or back ward
iu the eddy" One of he chief values
olthcss annual State Fairs is 20 point on,
which Of these way. our fsrming IS -ojaE
and which of the branches OF our mixed
husbandry droop and wane, and which
push the higher mp the 'reI'i. of practical
value.
Those who have been close observers
"a, these shows, have NO, failed to ses the
changes which are going on; some, more
slowly, others as il by magic - in the
cN:tle stalls. where, but few wears since
% Thoroughbred would have been rQr1-
arts, or In "ciass horses, which from
pUny scion. has grown into "a t1'r.rtg
interest. A, the first Maine Stats Exh.
.i,iou held ia 1872, the best time ON
lhe track WAS . SOC; and n The Rhode Is
.,,rd Haze Sbo,- a.. - ,.,~ I'm. .,.!,
rt.y.g.,.,,,, .,.,J o,, ....,r,-, .s....r. arc
roo SLOW in these exciting days in the
,rn,l. nj rscirg -, tho .s,.ss no,r,rv -
,,L,.h E, tho ;,'.r,il. .l.,. ~ a.. S,.;s,r
Va. horribly ,.cocn,z.3 a.. ~. .,,,;o;.r,
importance TO iucite competition by the
3fer Of premiums b.s BECOME rron,i.
mem, rs.,rr, in ,b. sb,,. .,l , Ie,,l,,,,
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