St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-20
STATE FAIR.
Nee ting of the Executive Com
mittee of the Minnesota Agri-
cultural Society.
Owatonna Designated as the Place
for the Fair of 1881.

Last evening the board of managers of the
State Agricultural society held a meeting at
the Metropolitan for the purpose of receiving
bids or propositions for the location of the
state fair for the present year.
THOSE PRESENT.
On the roll being called the following
members answered to their names: James
McHench, James Harris, Adam Bohland,
c. A. DeGraff, Clark Chambers.
AN EXPLANATION.
Col. Clark Thompson explained that sew
eral weeks ago meeting of the committee
was to have been held to consider the matter
of locating the state fair, but no action was
taken and he supposed that it would be a.
proper time then to consider the subject He
called upon the committee to state what. if
anything, had been done
n. P. Clark in response stated that the
committee had had several meetings, and
had consulted with the people of st. Paul and
Minneapolis as to selecting place between
the two cities. He had no doubt this could
be accomplished, but it would require time
and money.
PROPOSALS MADE.
The president stated that he had under
stood that there were several propositions to
be made, and called for their submission.
Owatonna presented one in writing
H. a. Castle said that st. Paul had consid-
ered the III after OF making proposition but
that she did not want to antagonize Ovation
ma. st. Paul sympathized deeply with that
city on account of the misfortune caused last
year by the cyclone and had contributed
something to aid the people of that city
There was still another matter, the city Of
St. Paul as a matter of fact had no ground
to offer, but it was understood that Commo-
dore Kittson had authorized proposition to
be made in regard to his grounds at Midway.
If this was so, and such an offer is made,
st. Paul would be prepared to make a bid.
AT that moment c.. A. DeGraff came into
the room, and the president asked him if he
had anything to say in regard to Mr. Kittson's
offer. Mr.. DeGratf stated that he had
verbal proposition, and at the request Of the
president he reduced it to writing. That
being done, Mr. Castle, on behalf of st. Paul,
then made proposition in writing.
WORD FOR owAToNNA.
The president called for other bids. and
especially from Minneapolis, but no others
were received, though one gentleman began
to state that he thought Minneapolis intend-
ed to make an offer, but he was informed
that if there was to be proposition it must
be in writing. He did not offer one in
writing.
ABOUT OWATONNA.
Mr.. Charles Crandall, of Owatonna, ar
gued the Owatonna side of the question. He
recapitulated the the troubles and trials that
the people of that town passed through last
year. in order to get the fair, and returned
thanks for the financial aid furnished by st.
Paul at that time. He urged several reasons
why the fair this year should be held at Owa-
tonna. OF course, if n new policy is to be
| adopted, and fair grounds are to be secured
between the two cities, Owatonna could not
| object to such an arrangement, but if it is to
go to any city or town he considered that
Owatonna was entitled to it this year.
n. P. Clark, did not appear to represent
Hennepin county he said, but would relate
what he knew about the action of the people
of Minneapolis. They had held a
meeting he understood and were intend
| ing to make a proposition, but none Of
| them seems to be here now to say what they
| will do. He thought Midway was too close to
st. Paul to suit the people of Minneapolis
The latter city would demand that the
grounds that were to be used as union
grounds, should be further away from st.
| Panl and nearer Minneapolis, at least mid
way between the two cities. From What ha
heard Mr.. Lowery say he had no doubt
Minneapolis intended to put in bid
As there were no more bids a motion was
made that when the board adjourn it adjourn
till 2 p. IN. to-day Thursday, so as to give
Minneapolis another opportunity to present
and put in bid.
| Mr.. c. A. DeGraff stated that Mr. Thomp
son and he were up to Minneapolis few
days ago and talked the whole matter of sub
hitting proposals, and that the Minneapolis
people promised to send in one, but they
have not done so. He could not see any
propriety in waiting for them any longer
| On vote being taken ON the proposition
| to adjourn till 2 p. III. to-day it was lost
There were therefore only two propositions
before the board, the one from St. Paul and
the other from Owatonna. These the board
did not make public but reserved them to be
considered. The proposition from Owatonna
is understood to be an offer of the grounds
and buildings now in that city, while the
one from st. Paul is an offer of the Midway
grounds, and the construction of such build
ings upon these grounds as may be deemed
necessary.
This concluding the business of the board
outsiders were requested to leave and give
the board an opportunity to consider the bids
in private, and all outsiders accordingly
left.
owATONNA SELECTED.
The deliberations of the board of managers
were continued till late hour and the whole
subject in all its bearings was talked over,
and at last the conclusion was reached, that
the fair ought to 90 to Owatonna, and it was
so decided. 1t was thought that inasmuch
as there were not enough buildings on the
Midway grounds that it would not pay to put
| up temporary buildings just for one year and
besides, all things considered the agricultu-
raj interests of the state would probably DO
best served by holding the fair in Owatonna.
This being the opinion of the members, there
was of course, no difficulty whatever In
reaching conclusion.
THANKS TO COMMODORE KITTsON.
In this connection Mr.. Clark Chambers
| offered the following, which was unanimous
| ly adopted:
| ResOl,ed, That the Minnesota State Agri-
cultural society hereby tender their thanks to
Commodore Norman W. Kittson, Of st.
Paul, for the generous tender of his beauti-
full grounds free to this society, and that we
wish to give expression to our high apprecia-
ton of his public spirit exhibited in this
characteristic act.
THE PREMIUM LIST.
The matter of revising the premium list
was considered at considerable length and
finally it was referred to Clark Chambers and
the secretary Mr.. Judson to revise the same.
ADJOURNMENT.
The board then adjourned to meet this
morning at 8 o'clock.
Thirteenth Street