The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1877-10-04
SPEECH OF HON. TH0S. RYAN,
AND PRESENCE OF MANY
VISITORS.
A FULL LIST OF PREMIUMS AWARDED
AND OTHER THINGS.
A GENERAL ACCOUNT OF ALL THINGS PER
TANNING TO THE GREATEST FAIR
EVER HELD IN THE Ar
KANSAS VALLEY.
Full Account Of the Old Settlers Meeting and
Correct Report Of the Shooting
Tournament.

liest exultation and peculiar gratifica-
ton we announce to to our readers the
grand success of Scdgwick County's
Fifth Annual Fair, which closed last
Friday evening. From the morning
of the first day until the going down
of the sun on the fourth day, the Fifth
Annual Fair of Sedgwick County, in
the year of our Lord 1877, was, we re-
peat, grand success. The peculiari-
ty of the qualification alluded to upon
our part, consists in the fact that the
EAGLE, since the 9Th of April last,
has, in season and out of season,
through editorials, locals and through
its many valued correspondents, held
to and advocated such a possibility as
a "grand success" The thousands of
people on the grounds on both Thurs
day and Friday silenced all cavil the
splendid array of products convinced
all doubiers; the classes of thorough
breds, the stalls and pens and the hun
dreds of other attractions silenced the
last whisper of opposition. Every
year. except last year, the EAGLE has
maintained with all its might that the
great, grand, rich territory bounded
by the lines of Sedgwick county and
marked by the course of three splen-
did rivers and their adjacent mex
haustible valleys, with its population
second TO none in enterprise, thrift
and intelligence, could annually en-
compass all the possibilities of sue
cessful county fair in spite of every
opposition at home or abroad, and
thanks TO nobody.
1t has been done and we stand vim
Dictated.
The benefits and advantages of such
exhibitions of the industries, and pro-
auctions, and the happy results gained
by the intermingling of people
whose interests are identical in all
that pertains to the material, political
and municipal environment are SO
well recognized and have been so long
and so ably advocated by the best
minds of the country that il is unnec-
essary for us to recapitulate them at
this time. There may still remain
that fag end modern civilization
known as sold fogies," who can see
good nor conceive of any advantage
to be gained in these gatherings Of the
people to celebrate their industrial
triumps, but few of that stamp can
be found in Sedgwick county. From
a social standpoint alone this gather
ing together of the people of one COM
mon interest is matter that can hard
~ be too highly estimated. Selfish
ness and exclusiveness give way to
that sympathetic acquaintanceship
which marks the progress of all civil
izations. Consequently exhibitions or
fairs, from the national 10 the county
effort should be in the interest and un-
der the control of the people and not
of individuals or individual interests.
OF the management of the Fair,
full account, in detail, of which fol-
lows in these columns, we have not
word of harsh criticism-only praise.
Any name of exhibitor.or officer, then,
omitted from this report, will be set
down as overlooked and not intention
81,
1t was estimated that four thousand
people were on the grounds Thursday
and Friday. All teams, carriages and |
horses were allowed to enter the gates |
free which resulted in making a lively |
scene.
THE OFFICERS DID THEIR WHOLE |
DUTY.
Every officer from the President of
the Society down to the gate-keepers,
acted with the most hearty good will
and untiring energy. w. Ii. Ransom,
who was chosen President last April
at the time of the new organization,
because of his well-known abilities
and in Difference to the agricultural
interests of the county; VIM. Grifen-
stem, Vice President, who has been a
prominent officer of the Society for
five years, and who has been its most
liberal patron and comprehensive adj
wiser; M. w. Levy, who retained his
old place as Treasurer, and w. p. Stem
the hard-working Secretary, all de-
serve the unqualified thanks of the
people. These officers, in connection
with the regular board of directors.
namely: n. A. English, Geo. L. Har-
ris, John Forrey, j. II. Dagner, NJ.
Mead, j. b. York, Sol. ii. Kohn, Jos.
thurman and w. I. Jewett have,
the entire summer, work ,
ID unselfishly to make the Fifth An
nual Fair worthy the name. Week az G
,er week they have met, consulted, |
planned and acted. Geo. +. Hargis. {
he General Superintendent, dis t
charged the onerous duties of his po- {
ut an most admirably so well and
withal that we believe q
,e did not give cause for umbrage in