Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-09-11
Address to VIrg 1nians by Major Drew
ry, President Of the Virginia Agri-
culturaI SOCieLY.

cultural Society.
OFFICE OF THE VIRGINIA STATE AGRI
CULTURAL SOCIETY,
RICHMOND. September I, 1877.
10 the People Of Virginia:
The Near approach Of the next fair OF the
State Agricultural Socety suggests the pIroprie
ty Of brief appeal to you in behalf OF the So
eetY. Its fairs exert an important ln1oence
on the material interests of the people, and Its
work 10 collecting and disseminating important
information bearing on practical agriculture,
horticulture, stock breeding, manufactures, DO
mestic economy, &C., &c., brings it 10 contact
with and constitutes it friend Of all efforts TO
advance the arts Of civilization and the wealth
OF the State.
Il ia not corporation laboriog Tor the sci.
fish ends of corporators, but from the terms OF
it's constitution and charter has noble and
disinterested work to perform. With one ex-
ception it has 40 paid officers, and all lts re-
sources are devoted, 10 the words OF lts constl.
tuition, to the advancement Of agriculture and
the auxiliary mining and mechanic arts. 1t has
the highest claims, therefore, to the confidence
and support of all classes of the community.
The life membership. which constitutes the
corporate strength of tie organization and reg
ulates it's affairs, should embrace men and VIC.
men from every county 10 the State, and OF all
occupations; and when brought together an.
nually for short recreation from the labors OF
The YEAR, for Information 10 be gained and
acuuaiutance formed by contact and association,
tor inspection and study of the large display OF
the products of the farm, garden, orchard.
vineysrd, mines, ard factories. Of animals and
poultry, aud Of the household arts. not one
will return home without feeling of sa,isiac'
ton that something has been gained, and with
out also feeIiog of just pride 10 the people
and the resources o. the Commonwealth. Why,
Their, should Just expectations be disappointed
in respect to this membership? The cost 10
small to each individual; say twenty dollars 10
cash, or FIVE dollars annually for tive years.
The aggregate should be large, AID would en-
able the society TO expand its efforts for useiul'
ness ia many ways. The last cersus shoWsthat
there are 10 the State about eighty thousand
persons who are the owners OF isrms and
about twenty thousand moro who are co.
gagged 10 niaiog, merchandise, manufactures,
and the professions who live ty tho products
of agriculture Now if but one 10 ten OF this Gun
Der would identity himself with the society by be.
coming q member upon the terms Indicated there
would be ten thousand new members, bilDelnglu
the aggregate two hundred thousaoo dollars:
with O reasonable annual increase, winch would
afford al income sufficient 10 double inc annual
its means for the general good in olhar respects,
and each member at the same time nave an am
pie consideration for his expenditure. ! he priv
ilege of tho fairs for the period OF his HE, to-
gether with his wife and children under twenty.
one yesrs OF ago and unmarried daughters and
his constituent voice il the general management
of the &c cety, to say nothing of Incidental and
other sdvantae 81, furnish valid and adequate
equivalent for his outlay.
More than this and better tEal al:.-each
mem bec must feel that no is one of number of
citizens who are devoted to the interest of our
will devo!op resources sllke benefeo1t TO prlysto
and public interest," virtue and credit.
The coming fair promises to be ono OF tia beat
srco ths war, Or, indeed, in The history OF the
society, and as grand reunion OF ths best men
and fairest woman Ct tbs CID Commonwealth, 1t
pleasure Bear IL mud. however, that the great
noed of the society is membership, which tur,,
nishes the bond OF union and creates force and
means for its work Tho rooule in every county
Of the State should oreaoizs club OF member
ship. and thus bring to bear an influence which
monwealth. With such local efforts to be- con.
centrated in the society, the citizens of all Sec
tions and all occupations will be brought to.
geher, not only in their annual reunions but IN
their daily thoughts and laoors.. which contrib
utc to individual, State snd national prosperity.
The Ulcers CT the society cxpect large attsn-
dance at the Fair a2d they will greet and well
come all who n ~ cot-e but they earnestly hope
ia st the question of membership, will not be
ove1l ,oked, rs this moro IAN NIL else give vgor
aad effect to al that tn, Society is de:igned to
1t gives me pleasure to add that on tho second
dsy of the Fair the asnusl address WI be dolly
q, al IN tho orounfs nv thet distineuishad cit.
iz4n and planter, Gov. Hampton of South Car.
lima, and tina; President Hayes will &c present
on that day and prohabl, on tho next The
re cent circumstances which have brought these
cenllsmep 81 prominently before III . nation ao
famil Or to AL, and tle satisfactory manner in
which each has discharged his public trust COM
mends them to confidence, and tho large asscna-
blage Of Vi-ginisns on the occasion W IL 6e
Glad to welcome and do them honor.
A. II. DREWRY,
President OF the State Agricultural Srclsty.
Tim N naInuafQ