The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-05-31
TFor the DlspatchJ
Relations Of the CITY 0f Richmond to
the state Agricultural Society.


Relations Of the City of Richmond to
the state Agricultural Society.
No. 2.
Our first No. closed with the suspension
Of the Society's work year previous 10 the
suits and direct effects Of this war were
more calsmtous to Virginia than any
other State Of the Union and yet
her people we:e less broken in spirit,
and were among the first 10 take
active steps for the restoration OF their
industries and fortunes. They came to-
gether on the call OF The president OF the
State Agricultural Society, and held con-
ventlon In Richmond on the 10th, 2ist, and
22d OF November, 1866. No BODY OF men
could have been more earnest than this.
The subjects OF free.labor, the restoration
OF agriculture, and OF commercial and me-
chancal pursuits, were all ably discussed,
and the men who attended these meet
| ings returned to their homes with hope
ful spirits. A general sentiment prevailed
that the State Society should then step
TO the front, restore its fairs, and work
more actively than ever before. The men,
bers OF the Executive Committee, who were
| in Office by virtue of their elections before
the war, were convened, and the subject OF
q Reorganization considered; and, as pre-
liminary sep towards holding fairs, com.
mlttee consisting Of Rutfin, knight, and
Garnett was appointed. The report OF this
committee disclosed, smong other things,
the primary requisite OF suitable grounds
for the fairs. They were then-with the
addition OF Mr.. c. b. Williams, secrc-
tlry-aulhorized to negotiate for the
purchase Of the ground known as "Camp
I 1..Nft Ia,
negotiations for the purchase Of these
grounds on the 18th Of March, 1863, for the
sum Of Sl7,93l 90, including tax on deed
and expense Of recording. At a subse-
quent general meeting OF the Society on the
l3h OF January, 1859, an election Of officers
took place, and Major W. T. Sutherlin was
elected president; James Lyons, w. r.
Scott, f. G. Rufin, X. b. IIaxal, s. w.
Fickln, Edmund Ruflin, Jr., Lewis +.
Harvie. and J. Marshall McCue, vice eprcsi-
dents; and Richard Irby, W. c. knight,
X. II. Duany. r. w. n. Noand, f.
n. Watkins, William Martin, r. L.
Haskins, +. StearDs, and W. T..
Walker, Executive Committee. The So
ciety being thus fully re0rganized,
and the Fair Grounds purchased, arrange
mens were made for fair TO be held in DC.
tober, 1S69-beiDg just ten years since the
last fair before the war. Much had to be
done towards fitting up the grounds. and as
the funds OF the Society were limited the
Council OF the city promptly appropriated
$4,000 in aid OF the work. This is the last
appropriation which has beet made by the
city, and none other has been asked for un-
til the present time.
The Society being now established on a
new aud apparently solid basis, its fairs
have been continuously held, and each, in
some respects, seemed better than ITS pre-
decessOr, and all more than paid current
expenses and left surplus to be applied tC
the debt for permanent improvements on
the grounds, except the last QSS0), which
Tell several thousand dollars short. 1t is not
in the line Of our present writing TO inquire
or explain why this last fair resulted SC
disastrously, but to the minds Of all who art
familiar with the affairs of the Society the
reasons will appear.
We are brought next TO consider the rela
ton OF the city of Richmond in respect tc
the membership OF It's citizens in the So
ciety. This Is one Of its most important
relations. Whilst the liberal public dona
tions which have been made, as before spe'
cied, by the City Council are worthy OF
the highest commendation, yet the individ
ual contributions for membership carry
with them an influence and solid support
which can only come from the confidence OF
the people.
The first Constitution Of the Society pro.
yided for two forms OF membersbip-life life
and annual. The Iife-member paid $40 at
one time and no more afterwards. The an
nual member paid S2 when taking bis cer'
tificate. and 81 annually afterwards. The
Constitution was amended in 1876 and an
nual.membershps were abolished. In 1857,
the fourth year OF the Society's existence,
Richmond had 93 life-mcmbers and Las
annual. Her membership was then
exceeded by only three counties in the
State, but her number OF annual mem
bers was largely in excess. Augusta,
Albemarle, and Amelia bad then member
ship respectfully as follows; 1913 life, A.,
annual; ll3 life, 81 annual; 90 life, ll2 an
nual. The memberships were dlifused gen.
orally throughout the State, but with smaller
numbers in the different counties and towns.
The situation has very much changed III The
twenty-five years which have passed by, and
deaths and additions 10 the roll Of member
shin indicate this change. Richmond has
now about $50 living life members, showing
an increase OF more than 700 per cent. The
county Of flenrico has also an increase OF
about 300 per cent; but every other city,
town, and county in the State has decreased
its membership at rate ranging FROM
% 10 IS per cent. The practical result Is
that Richmond ana Henric0 have now more
than one half Of the entire membership OF
the Society. Notwithstanding this large
membership, she fact is apparent that the
people OF the city have been losing their in
terest in the fairs, and complaints are often
4 A. q 40 hag sAtt 10
sentation in the Executive Committee,
that the premiim-lsts are 80 arranged
,s TO offer no encouragement TO hrI
manufacturers, and that the livestock in
tere,t. including speed trials, is swallowing
up more than - per cent. Of the S0ciety's
premiums. Whilst these complaints are
inst. vet may not the life.members OF the
city be ot faultf Very few OF them have
been in the habit OF attending Il o general
meetings OF the Society, which eloc, the
officers and legislate in respect 10 III
arlirs. This, 10 lay the least, Is an
evidence OF great lberalty on th'
mart Of city members, who entrus
the work TO members from othei
portions OF the State. A circumstance oc
Cured at the last general meeting which
NAV. and doubtless Will, change the policy
, OF the city members. More than two hun
dred OF them sent up proxies, in conformity
with the provision OF the Constitution,
which were used 10 form quorum
and afterwards, on motion to amenC
the Constitution so as To prevent yo'
ting by proxy, the President ruled
that only the members personally pre-
sent could vote, and, though less 1dt
n quorum. the proposed amendment
was declared to be adopted. Now, this wa
wholly illegal, but still II had the effect Of
sitting the city vote in all the proceeding:
Of that mteting, including the election o