Year: 1860

fledmOnt ana faliey Agricultural society, by
n subscription on the part Of the city to the
fall, was not as numerously attended as was
expected, though towards the close the num-
ber present had very perceptibly increased. :,
At 81 O'Clock, Isaac Kell called to the chair
w. Ii. Fowle, and, on motion of the same gen.
tleman, Edgar Snowden, jr., was appointed
secretary.


Mr.. Fowle, on taking the chair, stated the
object for which the meeting had been called,
and called up r. w. N. holland, of Alberrnarle
who explained in a clear and forcible speech
the great benefits that must accrue to Alexan-
dria from the holding Of fair such as was
proposed by the Agricultural Society. 1t
would attract 10 the city, he thought, not less
than 10 600 persons, and unless the farmers Of
Virginia had learned very recently the art of
strict economy, which he did not think they
had, from SIS, 900 to 100000 would be spent
here by the yisiters. All classes would feel
the beneft-the merchant, the mechanic, ar
than, laborer; and all would realize the good
effects produced by cOngregsting here annually
such crowd rs would attend the fair. An
other great object attained would be the intro
duction to our merchants Of an entirely new
class of eustOmers-persons now brought within
the reach Of Alexandria influence by the OPEN
ing Of her railroads, and who once brought
here and permitted to see our city, become ac-
Quainted with our people, and examine our SUI





their market, as il naturally was, and thus
make Alexandria, instead Of what it is now,
one Of the most hourishing cities in the coun-
try. The speaker cited Richmond, Lynchburp,
Wheeling, Petersburg, and other places that
had subscribed literally for the purpose of get
ting up and holding similar fairs, to show the
great advantages to be derived. Lynchburg
ne said, was by her liberal policy already
going ahead rapidly, and unless the people of
Alexandria awake to their true interests, and
hold out inducements to attract the people
from that section of country Just opened to
us, by our railroads, We would rapidly fall be-
hindhand, and our business men of Lynchburg
worn out with the active duties of that place,
would seek relaxation from business in the
quiet town of Alexandria. He said that those
cities that had offered to subscribe large sums
for the purpose Of inducing the State Society
to hold its annual Fairs in their midst, did not
make these offers or subscribe these amounts
for the honor, but for the sake Of profit, and
he believed that the Corporation would make
a good thing of it by taking the control of the
grounds, and fitting them up, so as to draw
hither the crowd. Hither the Northern man
would come to sell-for he well knows that
Virginians would buy anything, from ''fast
trotter" TO a he goat, or from a steam engine
TO -pick-and hither the Southerner
would come to buy. The location of Alexan-
dria as a place for holding an Agricultural
Fair could not be excelled-easy Of access, a
larger and more varied collection Of animals
machinery, &C., would be brought here than
could be found at any other fair. There was
not the speaker continued, Efficient attrac-
tioRs held out to the country people-they
wished to 90 where a crowd was assembled
and once get them in the way of going to any
particular point, and there was no danger that
there would be a falling off. The speaker con-
cluded by hoping that Alexandria either in
her corporate capacity, or by liberal sub
scription on the part Of her citizens individ-
ually, would come to the assistance of the So
ciety, and enable them to have an exhibition
this fall.


The chairman next called upon John A
Washington, the president of the Agricultural
Society, who rose and made a strong appeal
in behalf Of the Society. He considered il all
important that the Society should hold Fair
this fall The city must set the example BY a
subscription before we could expect anything
from the country or other places. lie gave a
very interesting account of a visit to the Agri-
cultural Fair at St. Louis, and Of the immense
advantage that city derived from the Fair
While he did not desire to create the impress
sion that Fair here would attract anything
like the number Of people that were annually
gathered together at ST. Louis, yet in propor-
tiOn to the size of the two places and other
things considered, we would derive, in proper
tiOn, an equal advantage. He thought that
Is, 900 was a low estimate for the number that
would attend, and all could see at glance the
great benefit that would accrue to the city. He
was more deeply interested in Alexandria than
in any city in the country. Here was his mar
ket. What he bought, he bought here; what
he sold was sold here. He had always liked it,
and its people, and he was now advocating it's
cause. 1t would, he thought, be a great blum
der if the people did not seize this advantage
to render profitable and give permanence to
all the works Of improvement in which we
j.. s.Rn Il sL.
nifty was allowed to slip, the delay would be
deeply regretted when our citizens saw other
places reaping the harvest which we had sown
He hoped that some plan would at once be de-
visei for securing subscription on the part of
the city to the Society, 50 as to enable them to
20 on with the work, and open the fair this fall.


The following resolutions were then offered
by E. f. Wilmer:


RssoIred, That in the opinion of this meeting
the City Council Of Alexandria would consult
the interests Of this community by advancing
the bonds Of the Corporation to the extent OF
$4,000, TO the Potomac, Piedmont and Valley
Agricultural Society, payable at such time as
may be deemed expedient; said Society agree
ing TO pay annually the interest thereon, and
sufficient sum in addition TO retire the bonds
at their maturity.


Res0fve6, That committee be appointed TO
obtain from our citizens the sums necessary to
pay the interest and create the sirkiug fund





The Chairman explained the object of the
resolutions. 1t had been considered the best
plan BY which subscription on the part of the
city could be effected; and while il would en-.
able the Society to prosecute the work, the tar
on the people would be comparatively light
only the interest on about 81 ,200-the com pan '
payingthe interest on the bonds of the Corpo-
ration, and retiring them down when they fan
due He foreibly argued the propriety of a
subscription on the part Of the city


Q. L. Stuart seconded the resolutions In a
telling speech, interspersed with many hu.
morous remarks. He said that the people
Of the lower country were looking forward
10 the Agricultural Fair with interest. He
thought that the City Council could subscribe
SO, 900 to this object with as much propriety
rs they made subscriptions to the Chesapeak 3
and Ohio CanaI-the bottom of which he said
was continually falling out. He thought that
we could not all live by coal-we could not all
become coal l-heavsrs, and we must look to
other sources besides the canal for trade and
prosperity. We must extend our trade and
o hold out Inducements for country people to
come among u.s. Country people like amusei
msnts-mach Of the river trade had been lost
20 Alexapdria because everything was 20 fat.
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