The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-03-28
virginia VIZ State Fnir-GcncraI Lee i'm
consultations with some OF our Lead.
Ing Citizens. 81;

80 zL''- "Asn ssSEae Oh OUR LeaQ.
ing Citizens.
In pursuance Of the following call. issued
by Mr.. b.. G. Leigh, Secretary Of the Stale.
Agricultural Society, number OF leading
men representing the various interests of the
ci.y met in the rooms of the Chamber Of
commerce at noon yesterday. ~!
! General Lee, president of the Virginia
State Agricultural Society, acting under adj
vice and authority of the Executive CON-
miltee, with view to giving prominence to
tue industrial and commercial interests of
tne city OF Richmond at the next Fair, de-
slres an informal conference with few of
tne leading citizens that aplan may be con-
| certed Tor the attainment Of so desirable an
object To that end Mr. McCance, president
OF tue Chamber OF Commerce, has named
thursday the 9th instant, at IL o'clock, for
such conference, at the hall of the Chamber.
BE pleased to indicate by initials opposite
your name whether it will be convenient to
attend"
General Lee, president of the Agricultural
Society, stated, after reciting the call, that
this meeting was to consider the question
| whether Richmond would take any active
steps in the matter; and if she did, the best
means Of getting upan interest which would
l.insure the cooperation not only of her citi-
zens, but Of the various mercantile bodies
| in her midst. They should all be interested
| in successful fair on account of the large
amount Of money expended by visitors. He
alluded to the western connections recently,
completed, and suggested that something
might be done to elicit interest from that
quarter.
Mr.. 3. C. Gray suggested called meeting
| of the Chamber of Commerce, and expressed
the opinion that the other mercantile organ.
izatioDs would follow their example in the
matter, and do all that lay in their power to
make the fair q success.
MIR. l.. D. Crenshaw approved of that plan,
but preferred that some scheme should be
presented by the Executive Committee OF
the Agricultural Society for their action.
General Lee did not want 10 ask the
Council for an appropriation. He wished
the citizens to take the matter In their own
hands. Let these various bodies appoint
committees, ask subscriptions from the peo-
pie, and apply the money thus collected TO
the payment of premiums for articles sent
from this city, and to publish at the close Of
the fair report Of their transactions.
MIR. Crenshaw proposed, if This were
adopted, that every city and town in the
State be invited to take similar action, and
MAKE SElCCEil pleiuiuulS iol suCa aItlCleS H.
they may select. -.
General Lee, speaking for himself, had nc
objection to such action on the part Of Other
portions of the State.
!, Mr.. Thomas Branch thought that 1t would
be better for the proposition to come from
!, the Society then the Boards would have
, something TO act UPON. He was opposed tc
the Council appropriating money to the fair
!, | op1 fbonuht that Wh1tpvar fhpv ropoiypf
from the city should be by voluntary contri
buttons.
General Lee mentioned that $4,000 coul(
be raised by subscription of so each from
: 500 firms, and that it would all bc returned
to them by moneys spent here during tho
!; fair. All that was asked for was q contriblr
ton, and il is for our citizens to say how II
shall be raised. #4..
Colonel Knight cited the action of the peo
pie of st. Louis in regard to their State fairs
special premiums having been offered by
them for articles sold, raised, or manufac
turcd i'll the State or city, and suggested thai
the same plan be pursued here. In one in
, stance Il premium OF 81 600 had been offered
) for pork, another Of 5000 for cotton, &C., &c
Il General Peyton Wise suggested that it wa:
not the proper season in which to exhibit
leaf tobacco, and that the entries Of that ar.
J tiele would always be insignificant.
DIR. Walker, of GoOchland, said the idea
had formerly prevailed TO some extent thai
| the interests Of the city had not been repre-
scntcd in these fairs, and the Society now
wanted 10 give her citizens the opportunity
to fix the premium Isis of certain classes fol
) themselves.
Mr.. B. G. Gray thought the idea that some
; thing should be done by the city good one
: and proposed that each mercantile organiza
ton should hold meetings aud propose suct
, plans rs suited the views of its members. HI
did not think the object could be accom-
plished in any other way.
General Lee thought that some genera
representative meeting of all these bodie:
} with small committees would be the mos
efficient means OF getting the sense of tht
different bodies. -....t,
7 DR.. Walker suggested that the Chamber O
Commerce appoint committee to confe
with the Executive Committee of the Agri
cultural Society, Which meets early IN April
in regard to some plan by which the objec
sought may be obtained; whereupon the fol
lowing preamble and resolutions offered BY
: Mr. Gray were unanimously adopted;
W nefeas III view of the great coDnec
tions OF the City Of Richmond, just opened
| , oo"s " De COli ipicleu, IL is LIE OI)lulUl
OF her business men, and Of the representa-
/ ives of her various trades and cailings, tha
some special exhibition should be made at th
earliest practicable moment of her large ant
{ growing industries, and of her capacity t
supply varied needs and whereas the ap
proaching State Fair seems to offer prope
:, opportunity for such an exhibition; there
, fore be it
"Resolred, That the president Of tn
, Chamber of Commerce be authorized to cal
: meeting Of that body in order to deliberate
upon the propriety of appointing commit
, tee to confer with the Executive Committe
of the Agricultural Society in order to or
ganize such plan as may be promotive of tn
interests of Richmond in connection will
the approaching fair" HE
. TRADE WITH THE WEsT.-Another articl
OF commerce opened to us directly by th,
completion Of the Chesapeake and Ohio rail
road is kerosene oil. Heretofore our receipts
OF this article have been through New forl
and Baltimore. We now have equal adyan
tages with cities north of US, and can supply
the South with this important article of trade
, with the added advantage Of distance o
| fnfin in f,x.