The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-24
EXPOSITION.

counties) sent out each day aud collect
fresh specimens OF fruit, vegetables, or
foweIe, thus keeping their exhibit com
plete, or adding TO them up 10 the very
hour OF final examination and award
Contributions could be brought In upon
wagons-in baskets, unicjured by hanu'
ling. or boxing. Whereas every arlicie
from The counties less favored in respect
10 locality had to be securely packed shu
iranspoi ted by rail az the risS OF iouS"
handling ard more or less delay in ieavn'
ing their destination.
These considerations and many more
OF like nature were carefully Weighed
but the Judges were clearly OF the opinion
that il " as not competent Tor them 10
handicap any Of the contestants IN me
race. but that their function was simply
10 pass Judgment upon the collections as
they found them, without regard TO cir
cumsiances initiating in favor OF one or
against another
The accompanying catalogue OF articles
on exhibition will show the extent and
variety OF the display Of some OF the
counties in the Old Dominion.
THE FEcUEDITy AND REcUPERATiYE
POWER or VIRGINIA
are strikingly shown in the excellence
and great variety Of the agricultural pro
ducts brought forward from some among
the oldest counties In the state ne TWO
winners in this race, for example, Ches.
terfeld and lienfico, have been setlen
for two centuries and bali, the lands
cultivated, until recently, under the most
scourring system known 10 man, and re-
duced in general, to seeming almost aos0
lutte barenness, now come 10 the lfOn'
with abundant specimens OF hay, dairy
products. grain OF all kinds, fruits and
flowers, such as would do credit 10 the
richest agricultural district in the NOT
fertile State in the Union. Thus
we have the proof incon'estaple
that the soil exhaustion is only
apparent. and that there IS
only one thing lacking. viz skillful cul-
tiyation. TO make our lands again what
obseryant Euglisbmen said In regard 10
them in 1865. "equsl to the best OF Eng
land" Two ami half centuries OF hard
usage. constant drain, have put The
lands 10 sleep. but they are full OF lite
and ready 10 spring up responsive 10 the
touch Of the farmer who Will give lhem
chance 10 show them what they can DO.
If not exactly gelmane 10 the dgrlcu'tu-
raj feature which Is now on hand, II msy
not be uninteresiing TO recall bit OF
history concerning Chesterfield In this
county was the first iron furnace ope
rated in the colonies, and here also was
mined the first coal used in America.
Chesterfield was the pioneer in exploring
iron and coal, and9IeYions 70 w. mere
was furnace at Falling Creek, In ms
county, at which good iron was made,
and some OF il was cent to England. In
the interesting exhibit from this county
may be seen a specimen OF the scofeae,
ore and the charcoal which was USED as
fuel in reducing It. The furnace on
which we speak was destroyed, and Tue
operatives. about one hundred in mum
Der. were massacred by the Indians un-
der Opechancanough in March, 1922.
Thus the county which. first 10 the col
onies undertook TO develop her resources
now comes to he front as the banner
county in the field Of agriculture.
NnNERAI.s AND WOODS.
On the 10Th of October, the judges
again met and made a thorough examina-
ton Of the exhibits Of minerals and
woods made 10y the several Counties
This exhibit disclosed TO the pubic The
fact that number Of counties not mere
tofore prominent as possessing valuable
timber are shown 70 be rich not Only IN
the forest that furnish the common and
more useful lumber OF the markets, but
rich i'm large variety and wonderful
evrellence of these rare woods that be
long to the department OF furniture and
ornamental work and the same may be
said Of minerals, for while some show
the great wealth OF Virginia in iron ana
coal in all varieties and in limited quan-
titles other show magnificent displays OF
nucar ochrCs, copper pYriles, gold' ENC,
lead, sulphur, plaster, kaolin, a'lahNe,
daryta. etc. la fact the superior eNcei-
lence of special counties in one or The
other of certain minerals or woods maze
il atask of some little difficulty toward
superiority in everything 10 one county.
They have, as required by your com
miiiee. awarded the first premium Tor Inc
hest county exhibit of minerals and
woods TO the county of Wy,he. For ihe
second best TO Smyih, and for the third
host. 10 Chesterfield The counties OF
Prince Edward. POwhatan, Caroline and
Louisa are entitled to notice from The
iudgesfor tie fine exhibits of valuable
timber and ornamental woods, and The
counties of Amherst and Louisa Tor rich
and valuable magnetic iron and copper
ores.
THE BEST COLLECTIVE EXHIBIT
The Judges were also required to decide
which county made the best collective
exhibit to include all cereal products,
corn. grasses, sugar-cane syrups' honey,
maple products, vegetables, tobacco, WOOL
fruit. house manufactures, including art
works. sc. Several counties made gene,
raj exhibits credi,able 10 their people ana
f. the State, making them competitors
for the medal
The Judges were satisfied that the coun-
~ of klbemarle was entitled 10 the first
nlaee in the contest, and so awarded the
medal
DIPLOMAS RECOMMENDED
Although not required or directed, the
Judges take the liberty Of recommending
10 your committee the propriety OF
awarding diplomas to such counties AS
in their Judgment have exhibited produc-
ttons and articles of prominence, and IN