Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-02-03
lCOMMUSlCATED.

As the canvass for subscriptions to the capl-
tai stock of the Potomac Agricultural Society
is about to begin, requ st room Tor the foi-
lowing:
The State fair at Richmond last year. had
over 10, 900 visitors during the four days II COD
tnued The price of admission was lty cents
for each grown person. The following estimate
is based partly upon the State falr and partly
upon the receipts of the provincial fairs held
at Culpeper and Leesburg, both OF which have
proven decidedly successful. Ii lar can sue
coed in small toWus like the above-Rockvllle,
Md; Danvie, Va, and dozen other Isolated
points, what is to cause it to fail here where
We have every uatural advantage for such an
exhibition.
The cash capital needed to ipclose fifty acres
of land, erect the necessary buildings, &c., Is
only $4,000.
The present Legislature has granted char
ter to Johu 3. Smoot, Andrew Jameson, Ar
thur Herbert, r. NJ. Lawson, 7. b. Hooe, >.
T. Beckhan, John W. Green, and 4: J.. Wei
derburn, of Alexaudria; Gen. ". fl. +. lee.
Ed Daniels, and Chulkley Dillingham;. ot Fair
fax; Gov. VIM. Smith, and Robert Beverley,
of Fauquier; s. S. Bradford, of Culpeperi aud
Hon. John F. Lewis, OF Rockingham, lLcorpo-
rating them under the name OF the Potomac
Agricultural Society, Of Alexandria, The char
ter provides that the minimum stock shall be
S., 900, which may be increased to Sl5O,O0O at
the option of the stockholders.
At recent meeting Of the corporaturS 1t W IS
determined to open subscrlntivn books at ouce.
The shares arc to be for S25 each, collectabIt
| 50 upon the Organization of the company, aud
81 month thereafter. No one is expected to
pay anything upon the subscription Until 5000
is subscribed.
Alexandria is so situated as to be adapted in
every respect for an Agricultural and Industrial
Exhibition of the best kind. With the lair
grounds located Oh the line OF the Il. 4 W.
r. persona can reach them either lrOm Wash
ugton or Alexandria and return every hall
hour at q cost OF only twenty cents, and 1t
| is expected that this price Will be reduced dur
lug the fair. Residents of Baltimore can get
to our fair grounds with less trouble and 10
about the same time IS they can get 10 the
Pimco grounds aud at very little larger cost,
las our grounds can be reached by rail- and the
Pimlicu grounds can only be reached by car
riaRe.) The cities Of Alexandria, Washington
and Georgetown give Us q population OF l3O,-
| 900 from which to draw our Visitors Ia Say
nothing Of the surrounding country, vale
Richmond has population OF only about Co.,
| 900
The following estimate, which docs Tot reach
| the number of visitors to the RlchmuDd grounds,
and which places the admission fee at thirty
cents instead of fifty cents, must fall below
rather than exceed the average, if we have
clear weather.
Estimated Receipts and Expenses for the P6t0-
mac Agricultural Society: .
For i've days exhibition, averaging the at
tendance at $4,000 daily, and deducilng Tor
stockholders, guests, DC:
Receipts
600 season tickets a, Sl.25, ) 5000 90
81, 900 tickets at thirty ccuts, l5,OOO 90
| Lease of yr3urds zoo on
Sale of privileges. HOO 20
Total not including vehicles, exbi-
bitors' fees, &C., $4,000 90
Expenses.
Premiums, s $4,000 90
Interest on ground, 8 OOO w
Advertising, printing police, nar
shals, and other necessary em-
poyees, lo'Ooo w
Balance for profit, Sc, $1,000 Oo
The above estimate is low, but still leaves
room for large amount Of contingent expen-
| Se6 anu luz per CeuI upuh tuc uuIidS' 1ho|
pendent of any dividends that may accrue, our
people should remember that an exhibition Of
this kind will attract to our midst large mum.
Der of visitors who will in all probability spend
among US more each year than the entire lm-
provemeuts cost. Again, in estimating Tor
5000 to be expended in premiums, our peo-
pie will to large extent, become the reclpl-
ents of there premiums, as they will have on
exhibition goods of their own manufacture and
goods for which they are agents or have on
SALE There are many other advantages that
could be named that we may expect from
6rst.class agricultural society, but having al
ready trespassed too much upon your space,
We must conclude by urging the merchants aud
business men of Alexandria to take this mat
ter 10 hand and push it to successful couple
ton, so that it shall DO logger be said Of US
tha, every city the size of ours in the State,
and many of the smaller towns, are ahead OF
| ia in this respect. PROGRESS