Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-09-02
MINNESOTA STATE AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETY.

tlOu IL luu VI interest,", running as 1t does
from the earliest days of the territory.
The society was founded in 1855 as ter
ritorial society, and in 1850 it was incor-
porated under its present name. This
year it holds its twenty-seventh annual
fair; festivals having been omitted three
years during the civil war. The society
has experienced many ups and downs
some years having grand success and at
other seasons barely paying the expen-
ses. During the life of the organization
it has floated about from the center to
the southern part of the state, now meet
ing with rcverses and again achieving
grand triumphs. The first fairs were
held at Fort Smelling and they were
smaller than many of the county fairs of
the present time. Other state fairs have
been held at Saint Paul, Minneapolis
Rochester, Winona and Owatonna.
1t has long been the desire of those
most interested in an organization of
this character to obtain some permanent
location, but it was not until the fall of
1884 that anything entirely satisfactory
was offered. Then the tender of the
Ramsey county poor farm, situated just
outside of the limits of St. Paul and ex-
actly midway between St. Paul and Min
neapolis, seemed to solve the problem,
and the beautiful tract of two hundred
acres was accepted. The legislature of
1885 appropriated 500, 600 for improving
the grounds and erecting buildings. and
the Agricultural Society is now fixed for
ever on one of the most attractive spots
1t is possible to conceive Of. The grounds,
which are 2,425 feet east and west, and
1895 feet north and south, are rolling
and perfectly drained, and afford the best
opportunity for identifying.
The officers of the society seem to have
most judiciously invested the fund devot-
ed to the purpose, and the grounds of
the society are now such as must crafty
| the pride of every citizen. The poor farm
| building, which is solid brick structure,
two stories in height. is used as the head
quarters of the society. The main build
ing is 306x242 feet and is in the form of
a cross. 1t is very ornamental, being of
brick and glass, and is surmounted by a
massive dome. Machinery Hall is 128x64
feet, corresponding IN style to the main
building. Dairy Hall is 48x80 feet, and
an Art Gallery of the same dimensions
will be built next year There are four
cattle barns 145x69 feet, and four horse
barns of the same size, all located along
a broad avenue. Six stables for fast
horses, placed near the new track, are
each 72x24 feet, and each have fourteen
box stalls. Buildings for hogs, sheep
and poultry are conveniently situated
and are very large. For agricultural
implements three buildings, each 54x200
feet, have been erected.
The grand amphitheatre is 592x65 feet
and will seat $4,000 people. 1t has six
hundred reserved seats and ninety six
private boxes. The new track is without
a peer in the United States It is expect
ed that very fast time will be made on it
this season.
The management are preparing All ex-
hibition that will in many particulars
excel all previous ones. They offer
$25, 600 in premiums and $15, 900 in prizes
for speed trials. The stock display will
be immense, and one grand and novel
feature will be a public auction Of fine
horses and cattle, which will be held on
the three last days of the fair under the
management of Capt. P. z. Kidd, the
famous stock auctioneer of Lexington, KY.
A host of attractive novelties have been
arranged for, and vast crowds will un-
doubtedly visit the festival to inspect
the splendid new property in which they
are owners. The grounds are on the line
of the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Mani
toba Railway, twelve minutes ride from
each city. The railroads throughout the
northwest make very low rates during
the Fair, and the whole population,
men, women and children, should come
to be instructed and entertained. The
fair will open Monday, Sept. 7. and con-
tinue during the week.