St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-09-09
THE STATE FAIR.
A Busy Day at the OwatOnna
Driving Park.
Preparations and Placing of Arriving
Exhibits Interrupted by Rain.
The Stock Display-Our Jobbers' Tent
Other Fair Notes.
Especial Telegram to the Globe. ]

OwAToNNA, Sept. S.-The twenty sixth |
ricultural society was opened in this city to-
day in due and ancient form. All of the
officers of the society, consisting of Hon.
Clark w. Thompson, president; Hon. D. A.
Morrison, of Rochester, and Geo. w. Taylor,
of Detroit, vice presidents; R. c. JudsOn. of
Pennington, secretary; F. ]. Wilcox, of
Northfeld, treasurer; and all the members
of the executive committee are on the
grounds ready for business. The
president, secretary, treasurer and sew
eral of the other officers, among
whom was that indefatigable worker and
friend of the society, NJ. J. Meyers, Esq,
for several years the first vice-president of
the society, and at present voluntary assist
ant to help along the good cause in any po-
sition where he can do the most good, ar
rived here on Saturday and have been as
busy as bees ever since their arrival in ar
ranging the preliminaries for the great fair
which commenced to-day Those who are
not familiar with the management of fairs,
whether national, state or county, can have
but very inadequate idea of the immense
amount of work, both generally and
in detail, that is imposed upon
those who are held responsible for its man
agement and success! 1t is needless to say
that the largest portion of the preparatory
work falls upon the shoulders of the secretary,
and If there is man with shoulders three
times the breadth of those of R. G. Judson,
the never-tiring secretary of the Min nesota
Aori icrltn uChn
plish as much, and carry out his plans sue
cessfully, waiting world would delight to
do him honor. Aided bv the mature judg-
ment and advice of such man
as Clark W. Thompson, the president
of the society it is matter of little, and in
fact of no wonder that the society had been
redeemed from a state of almost absolute
bankruptcy to its present prosperous condi-
tion. All the officers of the society have
been instant in season and out of season, in
working for its success, and this they have
done largely to their own pecuniary detri-
ment. Suffice it to say that they have suc-
ceeded in their praiseworthy and unselfish
efforts, and to-day the society is on a firm,
and it is to be hoped lasting, financial
foundation, as well as a credit and honor to
the largest and best agricultural states in the
Union.
Everything points to a most successful
attractive and creditable exhibition during
the present fair. As usual upon all first
days of fair there is more to he anticipated
than what is to be seen. The first day is al
ways from the very necessity of the case a
day of preparation. The officers of the So
ciety are busy in getting things in routine
shape, and exhibitors are hurridly engaged
in securing their places and arranging their
articles and wares so that they will
show to the best advantage. The first
day gives the visitor but a very
imperfect idea of what great state fair will
be. All is hurry and confusion, each person
being intent upon his own personal matters,
and the individual who meets with rebuff
or surly answer in reply to an innocent
question on the first day of fair, will be as
tonlshed day or two afterwards upon meet
ing the same gentleman or lady, all smiles
and only too anxious to answer any and all
questions with suavity and courteousness
born Of true politeness. This is but natural,
and human nature is much the same in
The GLOBE has had occasion in former
years to give detailed description of Cham
bers' Driving park, upon which the state fair
was held last year and is being held this year.
The grounds are admirably situated for such
an exhibit. They are equipped with all the
necessary buildings; have ali the facilities of
water, etc., aud are convenient OF access
from the city, being less than a mile from
the railroad depot. Nothing more need be
said upon this point. A number of improve
mepts have been made on the grounds since
| last year, and the race track is in splendid
condition.
! As stated above the fair was formally
opened by the president, Hon. Clark W.
| Thompson, and as soon as the gates were
thrown open a constant stream of wagons,
drays and all kinds of vehicles began to pour
| in, laden with all kinds of agricultural and
mechanical implements and productions.
The main streets leading to the grounds were
filed with vehicles, heavy machinery, ,droves
of cattle, sheep and swine, blOoded horses,
coops of poultry, etc. By 2 O'Clock p. IN. the
hitherto desolate grounds were instinct with
life and animation. Machinery was being
put in place; tents were being erected all
over the grounds; booths were being placed
in order; the cattle and horses were being
led to their stalls, and on every hand there
was the promise visible to the.eye of great
forthcoming event, worthy the state of Min
| uesota, as her regular annual fair. The
weather during the forenoon and up to 2 p.
m. was excessively hot and sultry, and the
heat and flies gave the animals, as well as
the humans, more or less worry ard annoy
anee. little before p. IN. a
heavy shower of rain began to fall
accompanied BY high wind. This lasted
for over an hour, and had the effect to retard
much Of the work in progress. BY 5 O'Clock,
however, the storm had spent its force, and
the skies gave every promise of fair and
beautiful weather during the balance of the
week.
1t would be hardly proper to attempt Civ
ing anything like description of what the
fair will be from the exhibits on the grounds
to-day. The most notable display thus far
is in the line of cattle, among which may be
mentioned the splendid herd of nine
head of Hereford cattle belonging to
A. H. Bulls, of Faribault county Mr.. Bull
lis farm is situated on the Southern Mime
sofa road, near Winnebago City. He is the
heaviest breeder of Hereford cattle in the
northwest, and has at present over $50 head
of thoroughbreds and high grades on his
farm.
\. P Clarke, of st. Cloud, has on exhibit
ton fifteen head of Short Horns and six Jer-
seys, from his noted Meadow Lawn herd:
Among the number is the nine-year-old bull
''0xford Geneva" which eight years ago
took the first prize as yearling at the Cen
tennial fair. Mr.. Clarke also shows four
Short Horn cows, with their calves. ranging
in age from four TO seven months. Mr..