River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-10-03
The Pierce County Fair.

was gratifying success so far as the
quality of the exhibits was concerned,
and had the weather been as propi-
tious on Wednesday and Thursday as
it proved to be on Friday the Fair
would have been the most successful
ever held by the society.
The display of horses was large and
especially fine, in both grade and ped.
igree, indicating a purpose on the
part of our farmers to make the most
of their opportunities for possessing
improved stock in this line. The ex-
hibit of cattle was not as large as that
of last year, but the quality was ex-
cellent and noticeable among the
thoroughbreds were some fine Jerseys
from a st. Croix county herd. In
sheep and swine, while the number of
entries was not large the quality of
of stock was most excellent and re-
Elected credit upon the intelligence of
farmers who appreciate the import
ance and advantage of raising only the
best of stock. The poultry depart
ment, in which there were about fifty
entries made attracted much interest,
the display in this line being the larg-
est and finest yet seen there. The
display of grain and vegetables was
undoubtedly the largest and best ever
witnessed in the st. Croix Valley; in
this department there we're three
hundred entries, over one hundred
varieties of potatoes being shown;
while the farmers of Pierce may not
| yet hope to compete successfully with
Olders counties in the production of
bloOded stock they occupy position
| on the front row of seats when it
comes to raising grain and vegetables
and those shown at Ellsworth last
, week would have in quantity, quality
and variety done credit to any exhibit
ton given by the State Agricultural
Society. The display of fruit, espec-
tally in apples, was very fine and a
conclusive proof that the more hardy
varieties of fruit adapted to north
ern cline may be successfully grown
here. In flowers, domestic manufac-
| lures, domestic needle-worB, and mer-
chants and manufacturers stock.
while the displays were not large the
quality and arrangement were worthy
the higest commentator. The spe-
cial exhibit by the Martell Wooden
Mills consisting of cloth, blankets,
yarns, &C., manufactured from native
wool, was noticeable feature illus
trating the practicability of large
reduction in the importation of wool
en- goods.
Interesting addresses were deliver
ed by Senator j. c. SpoOner and ex-
Congressman Ii. L. Humphrey, on
Thursday and Friday respectively, in
| which solid chunks of wisdom were
dealt out by prominent legislators in
whom the people repOse great conf
dence. The grand band tournament
| in which the River Falls, Ellsworth,
and Martell Cornet Bands participant
ed developed some proficient players
the two tirst named taking first money
| on the decision of a tie, the Martell
boys taking second prise. The contest
for prizes in the baby show was live
ly and interesting one in which nine
premiums were awarded; the darling
little cherubs constituted a somewhat
novel feature and gave evidence that
Pierce county is as we'll up in the
| baby business as in that of grain and
vegetables. The weather of the last
day of the Fair was all that could pos
aihly have besn desired and this prov
an as whole the most in
- - &c tho Exhibition. The
music. baby show, sack and foot races
scrub races. base ball game pulling
| match. etc. afforded variety OF en-
tertainment which made the last DAY
the most enjoyable of all. The police
regulations about the grounds were
admirable and the best of order pre-
vailed throughout the Fair, the oili-
GERS of the society giving every posi-
| BILE attention to the wants and con-
venience of exhibitors and visitors.
While the exhibition was a success
so far as the quality of exhibits was
concerned, and one which in this re-
spect was highly encouraging, the re-
ceipts therefrom were not so great as
the managers had hoped nor so great
as they would have been had the
weather of the two first days been
more favorable. The total number of
entries was about seven Hundred. in
which st. Croix and Goodhue conn
ties were well represented, and would
have been over one thousand with
good weather; the attendance though
good would have been doubled had
the weather clerk been a little more
gracious at the opening. Notwith-
standing the disadvantages under
| which the society has la5ored it will
pay one hundred cents on the dollar,
and go in for an exhibition in 1890
that will surpass any it has heretofore
given, and while upon this subject we
feel constrained to throw out a few
suggestions for the consideration of
the people of Pierce county affecting
their interests as an agricultural class
in connection with the Pierce County
Central Fair Association.
The discontinuanee of annual ex-
hibitions of agricultural and indus
trial products at Hudson, Prescott and
Red Wing and the splendid exhibition
given last week at Ellsworth, point to
the latter as a central point at which
the counties of st. Croix, Pierce, and
GoOdhue may proltably unite in an
annual inter.county exhibition that
shall be second in size only to State
| Fair in either Wisconsin or Minnesota.
The association has purchased addi-
tional land and now owns ample