The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-09-16
twentieth Annual Agricultural Exhib-
ition OF Blue Earth Cunty.
1t must DO acknowledged by all who

1t must DO acknowledged by all who
were present, that the county Fair this
season, was merely n failure, not through
any ~inefficiency on the part of the
management, for they did all within
their power to make it superior to any
previous exhibit, but the elements OF
nature, over which no ordinary IN an
has control, frowned inauspiciously
from the second day on, casting a feeling
Of gloom and dependency upon all,
even to the patchwork and premium
babies. Many attractions that were
anticipated were consequently withheld.
However, despite the lowering clouds,
and the damp and chilly weather
which ushered in yesterday morning,
II car load of Mankatoites c~nlivened the
scene to the best Of their ability by
their presence.
Before observing the stock, the fruit,
the products of the soil, the handi-wOrk
of the ladies and the good. looking
babies, we will drop q word about the
grounds. There is N great and ap-
preciablc inconvenience in holding
these exhibitions at Garden City, and
that is the inadequate transportation
facilities. With this exception, there
can be no serious objections urged,
because the grounds are most admir-
ably adapted for the purpose used. 1t
is thanked on three sides by the Walton
Val river, whose towering and wooded
bluffs offer much the appearance of a
huge amphitheatre, the town upon tho
east whose ancient buildings remind
us of departed days. The grounds, by
the expenditure of u lite money and
labor, could be made very attractive.
The race course can DO distinctly
seen its entire distance, but sadly needs
to be improved. Sheds for stock, a
larger hal for the display Of agricult-
ural products and another for farming
implements and machinery, arc imper-
atively needed, but all these things re.
quire money, an article the society
does not possess to any alarming extent.
But the exhibits which were made mani
tested on the part of the exhibitors n
sincerity Of purpose to maintain the
Fair to their utmost, despite the wealth
or. The display of stock although small,
was remarkably good, and bore evil
dence that Blue Earth County did and
does raise just as fine a quality as any in
the State, and without going into too
lengthy details and enumeration we
will specify briefly what we Jaw.
The first animal of the horned species |
which attracted attention, was the hand
some Holstein bull calf eleven months |
old, owned by Hon. ID. Buck and Can. |
This breed of cattle are rapidly |
gaining prominence in this western
from the fact that they possess
all the essentials which make them prof
liable to raise.
Il. N. Boynton of Garden City, had a
herd of two full blood Durham cows
headed by Il magnificent full blood bull
Of the same breed, the latter tipping the
at 1900 pounds. He also had one
ine grade COW and three full blood
Elder lockwood of Garden City, ex-
libited u half blood Hereford bull.
There were also other grade cattle
whose superiority over the common
scrub was easily distinguishable.
Under the head of hOrses W. observed
, very fine three Years old stallion, a de-
scendent from the celebrated Flying
a full blood Percheron-N Norman
stallion owned by the Garden City stock
company; a half blood Norman, two
years old. In Jacks, there were two
,ne, a mouse colored, sleek looking, high
voiced fellow owned by II. c. Howard
If Loon Lake, and the other was claimed
BY Frank Thurston of Garden City.
A pen of two extra fine full blood
Essex pigs, belonging to E. A. Cooper
If Vernon, were objects of interest on
Of their immense size.
In the Floral department the display
vas rather meag.., but those articles
which were on exhibition presented a
inc appearance.
The ladies prepared a most excellent
which was partaken of with great
'elish. After the dinner came the ad-
lress by Prof. Soaring.
Taking into consideration the state
If the weather and the slim attendance,
he fair was as good as could be expect
ID, and it is the hope of all that Provi-
lencc will smile more graciously upon
he efforts of another year.