The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-12-03
THE STATE FAIR.
FUN Report of the Committee.

The following is the full report of the COM
mittee on location of the State Fair:
The undersigned, committee appointed at
the annual meeting of the society, held in
Lewiston ON the 9Th day of September, A. ID.
1881, to ascertain upon what terms the grounds
now occupied by the Maine State Agricultural
Society in Lewiston can be purchased; also to
ascertain upon what terms suitable grounds for
permanently holding the fairs of this society
can be obtained by purchase or otherwise, in
Portland, Augusta and Bangor, and report the
facts and their recommendations to a special
meeting of the society to be holden in Lewis
ton, Tuesday evening, Nov. LIST, beg leave to
report that ON the evening above mentioned
they did report to the society the several pro-
posals made to the con mittee, and were in
structed to give the matter further considera-
ton and report finally to an adjourned meet
ing of the society to be holden at Lewiston on
Thursday evening, Dec. LIST. In accordance
with the instructions the committee now sub
NIT their final report;
From careful investigation of the history
of the society, from the expressions contained
in the press of the State, and from interviews
held with men interested in the welfare of the
society in various sections OF the State, an6
after corresponding with the officers of like So
cieties in nearly every State of the Union,
your committee are of the opinion that it
would be unwise for the society to establish
PEI manent location for the holding of its an
nual fairs.
The Maine State Agricultural Society has
since its creation held nineteen fairs. The
first fair was held in Gardiner in 1856 the
second in Portland in 1856, the third in Bangor
in 1857, the fourth in Augusta in 1858, the fifth
in Augusta in 1859, the sixth in Portland in
1860, the seventh in Portland in 1868, eighth in
Portland ia 1869, ninth in Augusta in 1870,
tenth in Bangor in 1872, eleventh in Bangor in
1878, twelfth in Lewiston in 1874, thirteenth in
Portland in 1875, fourteenth in Portland in
1876, fifteenth in Portland in 1877, sixteenth in
Portland in 1878, seventeenth in Portland in
1879, eighteenth ia Lewiston in 1880, and the
nineteenth in Lewiston in 1881. 1t will thus
be seen that the fair has been held in Gardiner
once, in Bangor three times, in Augusta three
times, in Lewiston three times and in Portland
nine times The records show that the fair,
wherever held, paid its own way provided it
was held during good weather, with the single
exception of the fair in Augusta in 1870, when,
owing to the accident causea by the falling of
the grand stand, it incurred heavy debt. 1t
has however, met with more success whenever
it has been held in Lewiston than when held
in other sections of the State. In the three
years that il has been held in Lewiston the net
profits have been over SIG, 600.
The only States in which the State agricul-
tural societies are permanently located, so far
as your committee is aware, are Indiana, Min
nesota and Ohio.
The society is now out of debt, and has
lunuo III lto tiCdsulyp anu ohCAO 10 OsoAJ Aoes-
son to believe that its career in the future will,
if properly managed, be of great benfiet to the
agricultural and manufacturing interests OF
this State.
Your committee are Of the opinion that it is
for the interests of the Society, as an invest
ment of its funds, to purchase the Lewiston
Trotting Park grounds, provided perfect
title to the same can be obtained, for the sum
of five thousand dollars.
In Iowa the State agricultural society has
found it for its interests, although rotating be-
tween the several large cities of the State, IN
holding its annual fairs, to hold fair grounds
located in the city of Madison.
Your committee would respectfully recon-
mend the passage of the accompanying order:
'.Tbe president of the Maine State Agricul-
tural Society is hereby instructed to purchase
for the society, the Lewiston Trotting Park
grounds and all the appurtenances belonging
provided perfect title to the same
can be obtained for the sum of five thousand
dollars, and he is authorized to draw his war
rant upon the treasury of this society for the
payment Of said SUM-"
J. 81. MANLEY, Augusta,
GEORGE r. LANCASTER, Bangor,
GEORGE W. KICKER, kockland,
GEORGE Q. WING. Auburn,
j. b. HAM, Lewiston.
The society voted unanimously to accept the
above report. The above order was also
passed, changing the clause, provided per-
feet title to the same can be obtained for the
sum of five thousand dollars TO read 'pro-
vided perfect and unconditional title TO the
same can be obtained for the sum of five thou
sand dollars
By this action, the society does not bind it
self to locate the fair permanentlyin Lewiston
1t simply deems the purchase of the Lewiston
park for five thousand dollars good invest
ment, and reserves the right to use this park
for the fair or not, as it peases.
Libel Suits.
George A. Perrigo of Rockland has sued the
Free Press of that city for libel on account Of
articles expressing the opinion that Perrigo
was unfit to be Police Judge at the time
Of his nomination by the Governor for
that position. alleging damages to the amount
of $4,000 Warren G. Perrigo, his brother,
and also member OF the Knox County Bar,
has brought suit against 0. G. Hall of Rock
land. for false imprisonment, with damages
placed at S., 900, and also an action for SANDER
against d. N. Mortland Esq. alleging dam
ages to the same amount The ground OF the
former case was in the fact of Perrigos arrest.
sued upon the affidavit of Mr.. Hall (the attor-
ney in the case) that Perrigo was about to de-
part and reside beyond the limits of the State,
ETC., and upon his arrest was committed to
Jail The other case arises from the fact that
a movement was made, about the same time,
to disbar w @. Perrigo, and that in pursuance
of this arrangement, grave charges affecting
hiss character and integrity were presented
against him by Mr.. Mortland at meeting of