Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-05
BIG CROWD AT ROCKVILLE.
Second Day OF the Montgomery Count,
Agricultural Fair.

ELOQUENT ADDRESSES - LIBRARIAN sroFFoRD'f
PRACTICAL RKxAsKs--RKsULr OF TIE RACES
THE LIST OF PREMIUM wINNKRs-vARroUs IN
THREsTINo EVENTS.
ROCKVILLE, Sept l.
There was . great rush to the agricultural
fair today. II is estimated that there we're
fully 1000 persons on the grounds, being the
largest attendance for many years. Among
the distinguished visitors Of the afternoon were
Librarian Spofford from Washington, Hon.
Louis E. McComas. Representative from this
district and republican candidate for re-elec-
ton; Hon. W. NJ. Marine of the custom house,
Baltimore, and Hon. Milton G. Urner Of the
same service. There were also several repre-
sentatives from the various agricultural societies
Of western Maryland and Virginia. Mr.. Michael
Emmett, formerly of this county, but for some
years q resident Of California, spent the day on
the grounds and expressed much pleasure at
the great advance his native county was max
ing in agricultural pursuits.
SPEAKING AT THE STAND.
In the morning, after Q cavalcade Of the
horses and cattle at the fair had passed around
the race track, President Robt H. Miller of the
Fair Association arose In the stand near the
entrance to the grounds and briefly addressed
the multitude Of people gathered about him,
congratulating the Agricultural Society OF
Montgomery county on the grand success
achieved by the fair this year. He said: 1.-THE
receipts have been very large, the attendance
wednesday being larger by SIS than Mt any
previous fair. The exhibits are also the best
that have been seen for years, and the exhibit
of horses is especially fine. If the
fair does as well today and tomorrow We will
be able to pay off the associations debts at the
close Of the fair" He then introduced Henry
C. Hallowell Of Sandy Springs, who delivered
an address on Montgomery county and its pros
perity, giving advice to farmers boys and
girls.
LIBRARIAN sPoFFoRD's ADDRESS.
President Miller then introduced Ainsworth
R. spofford, librarian Of Congress. who after o
few happy Introductory rnmarks said:
During the last few weeks have had an op-
portunity to become acquainted with various
localities in your countv and to see the thriving
farms which everywhere greet the eye. l have
driven to and fro and ridden up and down,
tiful outrageous forests, smiling meadows,
rich pasture lands and the varied scenery Of hill
and dale and stream Gin which this diversified
county so abounds. And if you will par don
one practical suggestion from a stranger within
your gates, 1 will say that have failed to find
in all my pilgrimages a single guide board to
point the way to the uncertain traveller. 1t
may seem q triding thing even an unneces-
sary help to you, for presume Maryland
farmer knows his way everywhere by instinct;
but have encountered numerous turno uts
and cross roads where no other power than in
stinct could possibly divine the way. If you
add to what / don't know about these blind
roads that which the miscellaneous stragglers,
principally Of African descent, do know, you
will get a mass Of misnformation which would
bewilder the most expert.
The man who starts out from Rockville to 60
to Trevilla and finds himself at the Glen. or he
whose objective point is Sandy Spring and who
brings up at Brookviile, has feeling cause to
lament the absence Of 30 simple thing az q
guide post on his road. There are many towns
where there appears to be little need of them,
30 populous are they; but in this sparseiy Sc +
tied region they are almost o necessity to the
bewildered traveller who doesn't know the
road. They cost but tribe, and could readily
be posted in the intervals Of the winter
chores. Even those who are natives here. and
to the manner born, sometimes find them
selves at loss on dark night, when, by strik-
ing q match. they might save miles Of distance
by guide posts useful aid. II there is any
man who never, in all his life, was In doubt
which way to steer, he is not, will venture to
say. on this fair ground
There are four things il appears to me,
which are essential to constitute q prosperous
agricultural community. These four things
are o good climate, good SOIL good neighbors
good roads. In this favored latitude you en-
Joy mild and tempered climate favorable in
a great degree to health and longevity, one Of
the best climates, in short, to be found upon
the planet on which we live You have an ex-
cellent soil; not the richest, but possessing the
elements which, under skillful culture and
proper fertilization, produces abundant and
excellent crops, as evidenced in the varied
exhibits before us here. You have good
neighbors, cultivated intelligent, social, self
helpful and industrious.
IL oh I xl,ox L.
good roads. but while there are found long
stretches on the highways Of smooth, easy and
delightful track. over which your vehicle bowls
as swiftly as on the smooth asphalt streets Of
Washington, these GASES are interpreted with
pieces Of stony, even rocky, roads of incredi.
BILE roughness, like that delectable soft feather
bed which rests the bones of the weary trav-
eler between Rockville and Jamestown. In
fact, one encounters here ell sorts of roads
turnpike roads, dirt roads, wood roads, cobble
roads, corduroy roads. and NO roads at oil.
And while much has been done in the direction
OF improvement much yet remains to be done.
The value Of good roads to the prosperity of a
county cannot be overrated. The wear and
| tear Of vehicles Of all kinds, growing out OF
rough and neglected roads. would. in the judg.
more than pay the cost OF making every road
perfect over which much travel passes.
My friends, the day we celebrate suggests
the value Of the united effort in helping on the
great work Oh puDllc Improvement Your In
terest in this is evidenced in the fact that more
than one-sixth Of the population. as am in.
| formed, Of Montgomery county take part in
| these annual celebrations. To have borne d
part however humble, in the advancing civil
| iization of this century of ours, to have aided
in producing these splendid harvests thai
crown the year, is sssuredly Just cause for pride
and qualification to each one of YOU"
| THE RACEs.
The first trials Of speed took place this after.
noon and we're closely contested.
Following are official scores:
| 40 class, one heats. best three in Eve
purse s120.
Helen Davis q. II. Morrow. ....... / /
Bunch Of Roses q. H. Kengla). ...... 8 2
| Bright On. Goodsell) ........... 2
| Time, ASK, 247. al.
| Free-for-alI running races, two laps, purs'
| SIS.
Trowsers CMr. slack) ACCOMMODATIONS.
| Willow " Wisp q. +. Thompson)