The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-11-05
The Middle Florida Agricultural
and Mechanical Association.

This institution, organized about two years ago
and Incorporated April 1st, 1879, has attained
such measure of success in the objects to which
it is devoted that the people of Middle Florida
generally, and OF Leon county especially, where
most of its stockholders reside, may well be
proud of it,
1t is no =" close corporation,' intended only for
local benefit, but embraces in its purposes the
welfare and progress Of the entire section known
rs Middle Florida, district comprising the very
cream of the agricultural interests of the State,
and composed of the ten counties Of Gadsden,
Liberty, Franklin, Leon, Wakulla, Jefferson,
Madison, Taylor Lafayette and Hamilton.
Ouly one of these ten counties, Gadsden, hes
an agricultural fair association with grounds and
buildings, and it is therefore the more important
that the work of the Association should be fully
known and its efforts sustained hereafter in every
county in the district.
The Articles of Incorporation declare the pur-
poses Of incorporation to be the exhibition Of
the agricultural and mechanical productions Of
Middle Flerida as well as the products of all
other industries of this section by the holding of
fairs and such other exhibitions as may be deemed
proper and advisable having in view the reward
of thrift and enterprise, the stimulation Of the
development of the resources of the aforesaid
section of the State and the encouragement OF
immigration" And the Sixth Article provides
that when the citizens of any other county Of
Middle Florida shall have subscribed to the stock
of the Association to an amount ior which the
payment shall be three hundred dollars, such
county shall be entitled to one Director additional
to the number hereinbefore provided, to be elcc-
ted by the Board of Directors, subject to the ap
proval of meeting of stockholders" The mum
Der of Directors previously provided for in the
Articles is nine, and the Third Article provides
that all subscribers to stock will be required to
pay fi;ty per cent OF the amount of stock sub
scribed for at the time of such subscription, and
the balance upon the call OF the President and
Directors of The Association"
Under these Articles the people of Leon cocuty
subscribed for stock in the Association to the
amount of nearly 5000, upon all Of which the
required fifty per cent was paid in, and on some
of it ore hundred per cent A beautiful tract of
land, lying exactly one mile north of the city
limits, was purchased, enclosed with substantial,
high, tight board fence, and suitable buildings
tarys Office, stables, grand stand, toilet rooms for
ladies and main building two stories high and
80 by go feet In size. wide avenue leading
from the city limits TO the fair grounds was con-
st-ucted and the Association held its first fair.
h-o;--i-S n'-~~~s-ys 49, 0fsf dAy Af January
1879, and continuing until the following Saturday.
The fair was success financially, the receipts
paying all expenses, and, with the payments on
stock subscriptions, the entire cost of the land,
buildings and other improvements, and leavinga
small surplus n la
TheLeon county exhibits shown at this fair
were collected and transported to Gainesville 70
the State Fair, beginning there on the 20th day
day of February following, and entered as .
county exhibit to contend for the premium Of
320e and silk banner offered for the best county
exhibit Only one other county, Nassap, entered
an exhibit and the cash premium was divided
between them, while the elegant and costly silk
banner the material of which was presented by
the ladies Of Gainesville and the banner made by
the ladies Of Fernandina. was awarded 10 Leon,
and Il now in the possession Of the eficen Of the
Association, there being no county agricultural
organization In Leon. 'easaa gpisas
The second fair Of the Association was held
beginning on Monday, the 18th Of December.
1879, and continuing during the entire week. In
order to accommodate some thirty head OF racing
stock, {all more or less noted for speed, and
among which were several celebrities. attracted
by the handsome purses offered and the Associa-
ions superior track, which had beeene noted
ferits excellent qualltiesa large number Of add,
tional stables were erected, -, well g many