The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-10-19

IRE In SOME Depnrtments-Mndamc Won
/ Biumen nnd the Bicycle Race-Executive
Committee-Progrsmme for To-Day.
This year, in preparing their exhibition,
the Agricultural Society have had TO con-
tend with the attractions advertised for
Yorktown, with the hustle and activity Of
a heated political canvass, with the almost
unexampled drought which has disheart-
ened the farmers, and finally with the In
dustrial Exposition, which, in the hands
Of popular and jealous young men, has
| pre0ccupied portion of the field hitherto
covered by the Society. Perhaps never
I before has there been more hard work done
by the officials, including committeeman.
The secretary particularly has laboredwith
vigor and intelligence, and the buildings
are to-day in better order than ever before.
Some new ones have been built; the old
ones have been repaired, and paint has
/ been freely used in number OF places.
/ 1t really seems that with the means at their
command the gentlemen OF the Society have
| done all they could TO make this exhibition
q success. They have done their best, and
so believing, it Is really with sorrow the
DtSpdtch has to say that
! THE FAIR AS A WHOLE
/ is not credItable to Richmond as a COM
mercial and manufacturing centre, nor TO
/ Virginia rs an agricultural State. The
\ stranger who goes through the Fair and
| gets his opinion OF the productions Of our
\ ehnt ta~b 40
/ there will either begin to think that the
Readjusters have not so grossly misrepre-
/ sented our poverty, or il we have much
too lazy TO show it.
THE MAIN BUILDING
was for many years chief attraction, and
| Il was there the ladies delighted to congre-
| gate. In this department more than in
any other the effects OF the Industrial Ex-
/ position upon the Fair is seen. The build
/ ing is not as full as formerly; but still
| there are many pretty things on exhibition,
particularly on the upper floor, where
/ ladies' work is shown. There are some
exquisite designs in wax. many precious
/ pieces OF lace, Il fair assortment OF pickles,
I preserves, bread, cake, &c, and the entries
/ have been so disposed rs to make them ap-
1 pear TO advantage.
The visitor will find that the exhibition
in the main building is as far from being
barren as il is from being superb.
! 1t will, at any rate, interest a lady Tor
/ hall an hour, if no more.
DOUBTFUL MOVE
/ is the renting out OF the old band-stand
/ Dust south OF the main building) as beer
and Understand. That quarter OF the
/ grounds has hitherto been consecrated TO
/ the use of ladies, and it is there they go to
eat their lunch. Perhaps the bar may not
prove Objectionable, but it is question:
able venture.
/ A very good band Of music has been
employed, and it uses portion OF the
upper southern porch, where bands have
often before been stationed.
TIE MINERAL BUILDING
is the old Art building enlarged by short
anneXcs TO the west and TO the east. AT
l the north and south doors are arches OF
rock and dross. They look well. In few
wears, when covered with ivy, they VIII
/ look better. The exhibit Of minerals made
/ by the Virginia Mining and Manufacturing
! Company is q very fine one. In the centre
( building is splendid block OF coal weighing
/ two tons. 1t is said to have been mined in
( West Virginia, but was not labelled yeSter-
dav. Near by this is a small cabinet Of Gu
riosities, from all lands, exhibited by Mr..
John Ii. Beveridgc. Generally the eNhib-
/ itors in this mineral hall have been slow IN
fixing up their samples. As whole 1t
made but z pasSable show yesterday,
whereas it ought to be and could be made
I a leading feature.
IN THIS NEAR NEIGHB0RH0OD
are the exhibits of agricultural machinery,
/ farm and road-wagOns, &c., making a
/ good-enouglr show. The shed for the ex-
/ hibition Of vegetables, &c., contains some
good specimens, but there is (and the fact
! has been the same for years. lanentaDle
I lack of variety.
/ THE CATTLE-sHOw is GOOD
many Of the animals, indeed, are very fine.
/ Owing to the drought and the unusual heat
for this season Of the year, many cattle
owners would not send exhibits. But there
are plenty here. We need not be ashamed
/ to snow our visiting friends to the cattle
/ department..
/ N. B. Rowe and A. p. Rowe, Of Frede-
ricksmrg; G.. w. Palmer, Of Saltville; Is.
1 Il. Graves, OF Orange; Mr.. kennOn, Of
/ Goochland: DR.. Dill:lrd, Of Spotsylvania; /;
I the Blacksburg College; DR.. Reed, OF
I Madison, and George Chrisnan, OF Rock
1 ingham, are the largest exhibitors.
JERSEYS seem to predominant in num-
bers; then Short-horns, then DevOns, then
/ dairy cows.
! There are many
FINE HORSES
on exhibition. Indeed, in the opinion OF
many. the horse exhibition is far above the
average. Mr. Palmer has brought down
I his fine imported horses. Major boswell
has considerable stable, and Messrs. Bow
man. Ficklen, Rowe, CarringtOn, and
/ Chiles, and DR.. Carter, show lot OF fine
/ horses.
I The Society must largely rely on racing
/ this wear to draw people and I'll their trea-
sury. They have offered some handsome
nurses. and il necessary ought to increase
| them. Without races this fair cannot draw
I crowds. II, as it is hoped, the distinguish
ed foreign visitors conclude to visit the
grounds on Friday, good race should be
| made up for their entertainment. Ii Is not
probable that they would much care to see
anything else.
/ SHEEP AND HOGS.
The sheep department is crowded. There
was about fifty entries which could not De
penned yesterday. Many OF the specimens
are first-rate.
The hog department is also good.
THE TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES
Yesterday consisted OF wagons running
from the Theatre corner to the grounds
(price, ten cents per passenger,) ana the
street cars, with wagon connection AZ Nest
I ri.
getting ont or back, but the dust on Broad
streetooh. II was fearful At this writing
the clouds promise rain; they haAe pro-
missed il long time, it is true, but II VIII
come at last, and then "going to the Far ]"
III L. ,,Ionsnnt and then 10 Will be de-