Year: 1874

To the GGzenS of Richmond:


You will pardon me for my zeal in behalf
of an institution with which have been
long connected, aud for the management of
which am now more directly responsible
the State Agricultural Society-aud for a few
words directly addressed to yourselves.


On the 1st OF September, instant. | issued
a short address TO the people Of the State,
which the papers have literally copied, and
is now fully before the public. By reference
to this you will see the present condition Of
the Society and its future objects. The ac-
compishment Of these objects will, hope,
be not long delayed, and are more tmme.
diately yourS, and should first command
your confidence and support. The important
results to be sought after by our Society
should be steadily borne in mind, and the
end should be looked to with confidence.


For the present, ask you, Of all others,
to sustain and support an institution located
in your midst-the direct and immediate
advantages of which you first eDjoy-which
is the representative, at the capital, Of all
the material interests Of the Commonwealth.


In the circular address before referred TO
plan has been suggested for the utilization
Of The funds Of our Society, which will he
greatly beneficial to the people of the State,
and especially to the citizens of its capital
city. An eminent educator will, I trust,
consent to elaborate this plan in the annual
address which will be delivered on the
grounds during the Fair.


Your interests demand that your mer-
chandise and manufactures should be fully
represented at the Fair; and let no .fancled
wrongs, or the failure to see any immediate
beneficial results from former exhibitions,
deter you. You will have the same justice
extended to you which exhibitors from other
portions of our State and country will re.
ceive, and this is all that you can fairly ask.
Much should be done to show the capacity
of yo,r o,rn city in the way of trade and
manufactures, regardless Of premiums and
incidental advantages of that sort. Let all
work together to this end, and the general
result will be greatly beneficial to your city
and State. If you are jealous one with
another, or suspicious OF the proper dlscriml-
nation of the judges ofaward in respect to pre-
miums offered, you would show yourselves
incapable of omprehepding the proper scope
and design Of the exhibition. In the matter
of premiums, what one gains and another
loses is a mere trife as among yourselves,
who are so largely interested in the efforts of
the Society to build up the interests of the
State and its chief city.


/ have been induced to make this brief ap-
peal to you in view Of some complaints
have beard of as existing here and not else
,chere, and TO assure you that the Society,
with the most intelligent and impartial ef-
forts of its officers, is endeayoring to work
out the great purposes for which it vas
established. l have the pleasure to inform
you that official and private correspondence
indicates that the approaching Fair and gen.
era meeting of the Society will be the largest
we have ever had, and trust that you will
be eres with, If not before, any other por-
ton of the people of the State in the effort
to sustain the important interests involved.


W. G. KNIGHT,


President State Agricultural Society.


Office Of Society, 22d September, 1874.