The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-08-17
THE COUNTY FAIR.


may not be out of place,
With all of our agricultural, mechanical and
commercial wealth, being the first county in
agricultural wealth and second in population
in the great state of Illinois, can see no good
reason why we cannot have fair to rival the
state fair, (and bankrupt no society eithcr)
When the last county fair was first talked
of the universal reply was, 30, the county
fair is dead; | will not give cent; it is
played out" &C. &c. All seemed down upon
the whole society, But by the use OF the names
of some OF our best citizens, guaranteeing the
payment of the premiums and the indeiatiga-
BILE cXcrtions of the officers of tie society,
the people were aroused to take an interest in
the fair; and especially the ladies did remarka-
bly, well; and by all taking hold we had Il
grand succcss-all seemed pleased and the fair
was a success IN point of numbers being pres
ent rs well as financially The fine art hall
rivallcd the state fair and our show rings had
as good stock as any in the state; nor did it
lack in numbers, whilst our machinery show
was good; the poultry show was better than
is often seen at state fairs taking all in all, we
had occasion to be proud of its success Now,
us | hope the plrjudiceS against the society
are removed and all will try to make this fair
eclipse all Of its predecessors. BY the way |
will try to give aword of explanation concern,
inc the far ground. Last year the owners
gave the use Of the ground to the society, and
this year they have leased the ground to the
society (or agricultural board to hold a
fair at Il stipulated price, and, in case the
agricultural board buys the ground, that
amount is to apply on the same as part pay
mcnt
The present owners Of the ground had to-
give the state board heavy bonds to secure am
pie grounds and accommodations to hold their
far and it became necessary for them to adj
vance twelve thousand dollars in cash in order
10 complete the arrangements for the state
fair; and to secure themselves for the same,
took second mortgage upon the grounds,
(the first mortgage being some four thousand
dollars) thus creating debt of $4,000. The
present owners have paid oil $4,000 of the first
mortgage and the interest upon the balance
Having fOreclosed the mortgage they were
obliged to bid the grounds in. Now they propose
to take less than tiftypcr cent Of what itactually
cost them, $4,000 provided the county agri
cultural board will purchase it; it is less than
half what the improvements cost, say nothing
about the ground, (Which Is forty acrcS) We
all now see how foolish it was to get the state
fair to come here. Had zee haocu of ii bctoye-
ha"d rs well II, we ao,r ia, what the result
would be to our local society, it Herer would
have been 1T Ottawa. But there is no use of
whining after split milk, and so the county
board view it They propose that if this is Il
successful fair 10 purchase the grounds, as it is
one amongst the inst ,t;Jr groutdr in the state
nothing lacking but Il little shade.
Now let everyone take hold and do some
thing and it is bound to be a success. Almost
so bring it along; it all helps to make up the
show; do not come emptyhanded and after
you ere there remark, (aS have often hcard)
We'll could beat that, how | wish that
had brought mine along" &c. &c. All can
not have premiums although the list is large
but all help TO make up the show; but if you
cannot bring anything to exhibit do not fail
to come yourself and bring your family, if you
are lucky enough to have one, if not bring
your sweetheart, rs there is every indication
that II will be Il grand success, and YOU viii
go home feeling well repaid for your time and
money, and at the same time help to secure Il
fine, large fair ground, forty acrcsJ well i'm
proved.
Let us see if we cannot beat the state fair, as
the state hoard have set La Sale county at
such discount do hope that LaSallc coun-
ty folks will give them Il cold shoulder 10y
staying at home and attending the county fair in.
stead. And would advise our stock me, those
who have added much To the show rings and
have taken many blue ribbons at state and
county fairs, not to 20 near, And whyy The
state board after bankruptng our local board,
cast, her slurs at us by appointing only thIcc.
persons on committee, in tins county, one gcu-
tlcman and two ladies, all on Unimgorani COM
mttccs at that, whilst Cook county has thirty.
eight committeeman. La Sale county with
her 10000 inhab,ant, has but three, who are
considered by the state board capable. | sup.
pose that Cook being such - g,ootagricDt1,m
cov,ty accounts for this mighty wisdom. Kane
county has nine, VIII eight and kankailec
nine out of over :our hundred all told.
And especially do not forget the township
feature of o,u' fair, for which liberal premi
ums are offered Rural.
Grange Meeting.
The La Sale County Grange held pleas
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