The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-09-07

4
PEcTs FOR THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES,
| &C., &C.
The eighteenth annual exhibition of the
| Virginia State Agricultural Society will be
held on the Fair Grounds near this city on
| the 29th OF October, and will continue four
days. Already extensive preparations are
| being made for the success OF the Fair, and
| improvements nf all sorts are In progress on
| the grounds. Tie indications are that the
exhibition will not only be largely attended.
but that there viii he an unusual display OF
articles OF domestic manufacture, cattle,
horses, dc. A force OF hands is engaged IN
putting the place in order, cleaning. repair
ing, and making ready generally for the an
nual meeting Of so many thousands OF our
people. The secretary is daily in receipt OF
letters from various parts OF the State and
points beyond. making inquiries as 10 the
prospects OF the Fair, asking information
concerning the time for making entries,
&C., &c.
AaUsEMENTs.
There will probably be 4 greater variety
OF amusements this year than for many
years past, and they will doubtless prove 4
great attraction. One OF the most interest,"
ing will be the sham battle to take place on
the third day. The spacious lawn to the
left and in front OF the granG-stand has been
selected as being The most available position.
From the granI-stand all the manGuyres Of
the military can readily be seen, and no
doubt that eligible position will be resorted
to by everybody who desires TO witness
so novel and Interesting IN exhibition.
In addition to the sham battle there will be
a competitive drill on the third day OF the
Fair. The Society offers as premiums 5000,
! I.x,.. . bat
drilled company, $500 to the second best,
and 800 to the third best drilled company
competing. In addition to these anluSe-
ments the Manchester Ragamutfins will. br
invitation. spend day on the grounds, and
there will also he an exhibition OF national
games that will afford abundant amuSc-
nent in the interval between the eEamiEa-
tion Of stock. agricultural machinery, inn
plements, and other articles relating to ma
terial progress. In these games American,
English, Scotch, German, and Irish citizens
OF the State have been invited to take part.
MINOR IMPROVEMENTS.
Next year the old stalls on the southwest
OF the grand-stand will be removed and
new and permanent stalls and stables sub
stituted. \ new shed has Just been erected
between the machinery-ha,l and the art
=
ton OF carriages. light vehicles, and ma-
chinery requiring shelter. The old eye
sore, the carriage-house and she'd on the
| west side of the pavilion, has been removed.
and the stalls heretofore used for officers
horses will also be taken down before the
Fair, and that portion OF the lawn cleared
up and put in neat order. This will be q
great Improvement.
THE Snf1ETy'c ROOMS ,SD NAILS
| Since the last annual exhibition of the
| Society the Executive Committee has re-
moved the office of the secretary from the
| former location in the Corn-Eychangc
building, corner OF Thirteenth and Cary
streets, 10 the spacious new building on
Ninth street near the Virginia Opera
House, and Immediately opposite the Capt.
tol Square. The whole OF the second tloor
| is now occupied by the Society, tue ctfice
| being in the front room. The rear room is
really 4 commodious hall, and will shortly
be fitted up with platform, chairs, etc. and
used Tor meetings OF the Society. II Is also
designed at future day to make au attract
i've reading-room OF it, and supply it with
4 useful library, specimens OF the minerals
OF the State, models OF mechanical appli-
anccs, &C., &c.
OTHER PURPOSES OF TIE SOCIETY.
During the summer Colonel Knight. by
authority OF the president Of the Society,
issued an address TO the judges and super
viSors Of each OF the counties OF the State.
in which he asked, among other things, that
| the supervisors furnish the Society with
map Of the several counties, neatly pre-
pared and OF 4 suitable size, giving its geo
graphical outlines, rivers, railroads, princl-
| pal county-roaGs, &C.; and as far as prac-
ticable its physical ieatures-mount;iins
mines, cleared and forest lands, &C., with
marginal statistics OF population, products,
churches, schools, &c. Many maps have
been promised. but up to this time only
one county has sponded-AlocGarle.
| These maEs are designed for the Use Of
the Society IN giving information to settlers
and land purchasers. They will, when re-
ceivct. he property displayed, and add not
d little to the value OF the Society's records.
| THE PAINTING.
Colonel Knight, secretary. with the Local
Committee, have contracted for the repalnt-
ing of the entire woodwork on every build
ing on the SocietE'S grounds. This alone
will add immensely to the appearance oi
things. The brackets, shelving, &C., inside
the pavilion will be painted with bright
colors. so as to contrast prettily with the
4
| buildings to be thus improved will be the
grand.stand. the main pavilion. the art
gallery, the water-tanks, the six offices. and
the automatic gates, &C., &c. The painting,
which is already in progress. will be COM
pleted in ample time before the Fair for tie
work to thoroughly dry.
THE AUTOMATIC GATE AND REGISTER.
The Society has been troubled for many
years to know how to get II the number OF
! persons who visit their grounds during the
annual exhibitions. They have also been
annoYed by occasional robberies-ticket-
men leaving their offices In case OF an eX-
citement outside to see wha: was going on,
and when they returned to find the cash
| gone-Somc enterprising thief having en-
| tered in the absence Of the cashier and
made off with the funds. Secretary Knight
has adopted plan which will effectuaily put
4 stop to these troubles. He has invented
| an automatic gate, and to it attached the
Tucker register, by which only one person
| can enter at time, and each visitors en-
trance to be recorded on the register. The
gate is somewhat after the plan OF the Cen
tenniaI gate. but is Colonel Knights own
| idea. The entrance is so arranged that
adults 60 in on one side and children on
the other, meeting within the grounds.
The ticket-man is stltioned in central po-
silion. and as he receives the gate-fee drops
the money into secure receiver, where ii re-
mains until the collector comes along, takes
it out, seals it up In q linen bag, aud after
entering on tag the state OF the register
deposits the money in bank, and when the
| treasurer settles up the amount in the bags
must agree with the registrations, or the