Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-30
What VIII the state Agricultural so
Ciety DO About IL?

To the EdtOf o. NE DiSpdtch:
Some time since read an article in your
papsr In which were thrown out sugges-
tious i'm regard to our Agricultural Society,
il operations, &C.. and later, in 4 letter
from your travelling correspondent in
North Carolina, other hints, which have get
me to thinking, and | would ike TO know
wha, the Society proposes to do about il.
Richmond must have methlng more than
an annual county ialr-indecd, her exhibit
tions and grounds Will not compare with
some OF the western county fairs. IL l. -
be feared that our people don't go away from
: home enough TO learn what other cOmmu-
mites are doing.
/ have been opposed OF late 10 the Idea
Of establishing Mechanics Institute un-
der separate auspices, because | have
thought the wIscst hing TO do, considering
the financial col diton Of our people, was 70
devote all our energies to the development
OF the Agricultural Society, and perhaps
effect something Of the sort under its man.
agcmcnt
am led 10 conclude, however, from
what | have gathered, that the Agrieultu-
raj Society hardly has under contemplation
ANYTHING beyond what il is at present at
temIt.ng.
This will not do. our people cannot.
ought not. to be satisfied with any such
thing. II the Society has not the foresight,
tact. go-aheadalYencss, 70 set about some
thing worthy o. our people and the pro-
gre-s of the times, or II, for any reason.
the patronage Of the people is withheld
fIom this ORGANIZATION, then LET il stand
ore side. 70 that, ii unable itself. II will
not serve ~ a barrier 70 any other possible
effort.
l. tito be supposed thst an organization
II busin, semen, selected for their peculiar
adapttdnes> 10 such al undertaking, en-
doWcd with the snap and s1ud,' aS they
.av nON-a-Gays, could not present such an
Institution To the people in hight when
would appeal 10 their support As something
practical. real. beneficial 10 every interest
or our state, and is il a question whether
they could procure the means 70 the end?
Let me suppose little farther than the
writer Of one III the communications
alluded to. Having made the grounds a
p1rk. and erected suitable buildings as
stated. why might not these buildings
serve forn Mechanics Institute display, 50
that n nieht - well as in the daytime the
exhibition could 20 on and thus greatly IN
crease the revenue: The Exposition
Grounds at Phi!ajclphis. Atlanta, Louis
Vile, and New Orleans, are no more acces-
,ihlr % those cities than are ours 10 Rlch-
mond. and II II be necessary, why, now Is
the time to sell out and come closer in.
Furthermore, see no reason why
school u mechanic. and technology might
not be provided for within the same
grounds. Perhap. Richmond College might
take This under its care. 1t does seem that
with an undivided effort il would be bard
10 estimate what may be accomplished IN
this direction.
Come. gentlemen, things don't turn up
nov-a-davs unless somebody. ..hrain and
pluck does the turning. The Old regime is
out oi sight. The railroad train has taken
the place Of the stage coach, and while
there NAV have been good deal OF style
in the sIx-in-hsnd what the day demands
10 lime.
| learn that the annual meeting OF the
Societ, will occur next month, and at that
meeting new set oi Officers must be
elected. The Office OF president Of this
Society should not be one OF mere honor
and dignity. but there il to be coupled
with IL heavy hand and brain-rork-h
real structure is 10 he built. The vhoIo
time and energy Of the best man among 10
for the work will not be too much for the
demand, Of the undertaking. IL carried to
the extent it should be. A LIPE-hEND.R.