St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-25
Twenty-Sixth Annual Exhi-
bitiOn of the Minnesota
State Agricultural
Society,
At the Driving Park and Fair
Grounds, 0Watonna, Sep
tember s to Ii.
A General and Historical Review ant
the Preparations and Programme
for the Fair of 1884.
Outline of Exhibition by Departments-St.
Paul Jobbers' Day-The Races,
Free Freights, &c.

Minnesota Jne present year. 1Tue, We udFe
neaer seen any crop total failure here, but
seldom if ever have we gathered such
a magnificent crop as the one that is
just now being garnered by our farmers.
From the Red River valley to the Iowa line
and from the Mississippi to our western
boundary Minnesota is overlowing with the
bounty of her grand cereal crop, while corn,
fax and other crops are not one whit behind.
1t is very proper and right that, at such
season, at such a time as this, and when the
superb abundance of the promised reward
for the husbandman's toll is yet flush in his
memory while the return is just being re-
ceived and the farmer has filled his granaries
to overaowing, when the fruit Of the field is
80 plainly at hand, that the heart of the
farmer should be filed with joy, and that he
should feel like having a little picnic of his
own, and like showing his neighbors and
friends and the world at large how well the
earth has yielded him its increase, what a
splendid farmer he is and what mammoth
vegetables, splendid stock and grain he can
produce, and how he can turn his back upon
the labors of the farm for q few days and,
uniting with the other fellows, have right
royal jam-up good time at the annual state
fair.
THE SEASON OF FAIRS.
Whoever invented agricultural societies
and fairs was q ''dandy," in the common
parlance Of the world. No grand public
amusements were ever half so cosmopolitan
in their arrangements as they are. They
ere picnics for everybody. They are a par
adi5e for the small boys, heaven for the
lar@er ones and their best girls, a serene
satisl. action to the ladies in general, u grim
delight to the marshals and special police
men, an elysian to the racing fraternity,
godsend to the country politician and lots Of
fun for everybody.
The season Of fairs is now upon us and
they are almost ripe. You can begin to
pick some of the smaller varieties this week
and they will be on for about two months.
The big boss fair of the lot, the regular
king bee in the business, the one that has
more meat in it than all the rest and the
memory Of which will still live and flourish
when the withered leaves and faded flowers
are scattered upon the tomb of all the rest is
the State Fair and it transpires at Owatonna
during the week from Sept. to 13 inclusive.
it will be the twenty-sixth annual exhibition
OF the society which twcnly-six years ago
held its
FIRST FAIR AT FORT SMELLING.
At that memorable exhibition so many
years a 20 the birthday of the society of Min
ncsota was almost wilderness and the only
bloodcd stock on exhibition was Wyman Ell
liott's blooded pig. Not a blooded horse, or
hoof Of bloodcd stock could be found in all
its wide domain. To-day what q change.
What marked contrast in the situation.
Almost every one of the numerous counties
In the state holds its fair aud has its agricul-
tural society," any one of which exceeds in
extent and importance the state society and
fair Of that period. To-day we have not only
generous spriukling of thoroughbred stock
among the farmers of the state, and vastly
Important grade of common stock in conse-
queuce; but at Il number of different points
In the state we have to-day some of the finest
thoroughbred stock farms in America. With
the breeding stables of Commodore N. w.
Kittsou Hon. c. A. De Graf, George Shcr-
wood, Col Clark Chambers, j. c. Oswald
NJ f Grattan, Leonard Johnson, r. L. De
Lancy, l.. S, Follctt, Case Bros, John Ed
munds and others scattering their different
strains of thoroughbred or racing stock
broadcast over the state, while the splendid
herds of thoroughbred cattle, sheep and
swine upon the farms of j. j. Hill, C. A.
DeGratf, n. P. Clarke, John Cooper,
Ii. f. Brown, Stephen Gardi-
ner, A. G. Bulls, o. o. Hubbard
c. l. Haines, Col. Clark Thompson, NJ. j.
Myers, George Robinson, George Gilmore,
L. G. Headlcy, John Frank, 2. D. Brockway,
J. c. Eastou, John Byers and host OF others
who have devoted themselves to this branch
Bnd have almost entirely reyolutionized Min
nesota stock raising, until upon almost every
farm anu in almost every field traces can be
seen Of the finest blood which the animal
kingdom possesses. Iu this connection the
service rendered the stock growers and farm
ers of Minnesota by the efforts OF Col VIM.
s. King ought not to be forgotten. The pio-
neer stock breeder of Minnesota, who went
into the thoroughbred stock business purely
and simply because he loved fine cattle, and
MOTIF the money he made or expected to
make out of the business, he stands fore
most among those who have benefited his
commonwealth, and to the impetus which
his action gave to breeding is the present
fine grade Of Minnesota cattle indebted in a
very large degree.
THE FAIR OF 1884.
But to return to the subject of this article,
which is the tweDty-sevcnth annual fair of
the Minnesota State Agricultural society to
transpire, as before stated at Owatonna dur
ing the second week in September.
In 1850 the state fair was located at Roches-
ter, in southern Minnesota, where it con tin
ued three years. In 1883 it was removed to
Owatonua, city Of four thousand people,
located at the junction Of the Chicago. Mil
waukee X St. Paul railroad (Iowa and Min
nesots division) and the Chicago Il North
western railroad, Wiuona and St Peter di-
vision.
In point Of location, and especially as re-
CARDS railroad facilities, it is one of the best
that could have been made under the cir
cumstances. The people OF owatouna with
ibcralitv truly commendable fitted up
buildings for the use of the society, snd
despite the fact that they were twice wrecked
by a tornado (once completely dcmolished),
they presented the Chambers Driving park
to the board OF managers of the State Agricul-
tural society free Of cost 1t is upon these
grounds that the soci ETY. viii hold its fair
Egaiu this year as before stated.
CHAMBERS DRIVING PARK.
The location OF Chambers driving park Is
upon the farm Col. Clark Chambers adioin-
the city Of Owatonna on the east, aud only 4
little more than one-half mile from the pub
lie square. Passing up Broadway you are