Year: 1859




This Fair has, as usual proved unsuccessful IN
pecuDary point of view; Improbable in az improving
point of view as a school of instruction; and unsats
factory to exhibitors and visitors. 1t would prove
valuable however to the managers of the Institute
if they were capable Of receiving Instruction. learn
ing anything from the experience of their own mis-
management.


In the first place, the friends Of this Fair, who
really wished it to succeed, fixed upon the 18th of
September as the latest day in that month that il
should begin. Then they wanted it postponed ID the
18th of October but no, tha will interfere with our
" Fair at Palace Garden" SO, to accommodate that,
and not to open at the same time with New.Jersey
and Long leland, time was fixed upon when, by
lifelong experience, it might have been known that
the great equnoctal storm was due, aud rainy week
might be expected. And have had just such
week and all the life Of the Fair has been drowned
out in consequence.


Is that the sole cause of failure Is it fact tina.
there is not interest enough in this city and its rich
surroundings in all that pertains to agricultural aud
horticultural improvement to sustain an annual exhi-
btion of farm and garden products We will not be-
ieve it. We have Just at the comparatively
small CITY of Chicago one Of the most successful lin
every point of view Fairs Of this Kind held and
we know that st. Louis holds such one every year.
and we have repeatedly attend upon Bos-
ten, Providence, Springfield, Hartford, New-iaven,
Philadelphia, Albany and all central New-York Fairs
Therefore We will not believe that such an exhibition
cannot be sustained here, whenever it is got up under
Just such management has proved successful every
where else. That management is capable, responsi-
ble efficient one man power, such as Col Wilder,
former Presto ent the United States Agricultural So
cety; or COL Capron the sful Superintendent: at
Chicago; or Col Johnson the Secretary, and the very
life and soul of the New State Agricultural Socie
ty; or VIM A. Darling, President of the Third Avenue
Railroad Company, under whose efficiency The place
Of this Fair has been admirably located upon
grounds as well fitted could possibly be desired for


grand exhibition of horses and cattle and farm pro-
ducts and everything usually connected with the out
door part Of an agricultural fair. AT the same time,
by the happy thought of Mr.. Darling, connecting the
outside and inside shows, by a bridge across Sixty
sixth street, the whole arrangement has been made
perfect as 10 the comfort and convenencas OF exhibit
or. and visitors.


As 10 the Halls in the Third Avenue Rsilroad Sta.
tor House, we must cay that we think there is no
place in the city at all to be compared wi them for
a horticultural or similar exhibition. The Depot is
quite as accessible as was the Crystal Palace, and
not as far out of town ss that was at the time 1t
was built. In few months the Third Avenue Rail
road Company intSnI 10 nave huDhteu cars III Up
GRAFTON and in of universal demand for convey
ar ce to Fairs sc. will be able to ,mmodate the
crowd by running car up and down every minute.
Now if l. s possible to galvanize life into that a.
most dead body called the Board Of Managers OF
the American Institute DO earnestly hope it will
be done and then let the Board enter into "a ar
raI cement with the Third avenue Company, so that
ii may in the new building arrangements which II is
abe to undertake provide the airy stable and
storage room 10 accommodate the annual exhibitions
of the Institute. Let such arrangement. be con-
summated, and lease Of buildings and the present
outdoor room be taken for ten years, and our word
for it, with ar ythng Ike as efficient q management
as the railroad company has the Annusl Fairs of the
Institute will be annual ,riumphs.


But the whole detail Of getting up the Fairs must
no; be delayed this has been 10 the eleventh hour
and then left TO the voluntary lsbors OF irresponsible
Committees. In fact the whole business of the Amer
icsn Institute is conducted upon plan that undoubt
sdly was the type OF Dekenss {" Circamlocutiou
office" and al the acts Of all the management
based upon the art of - how not 10 do it,"


In regard 10 this Agricultural Show, in the first
place the Board Of Managers sppoin: Board o.
Agriculture, which is wholly subserylent TO the
Bosrd Of Managers, and no. allowed TO incur dollar
Of expense without their approval. The Board Of
Agriculture composed Of fifteen very >od men, all OF
whom have their own business to attend TO have never
beess devoted much time to the business connec'ed
with this Fair; but instead of appointing an active
Superintendept q. $40 day, who would be worth the
money they have put so ne Of their VI number upon
committee this, and committee that, and committee
everything and fDsy left everything at loose snas