STATE AGRICULTURAL ROOMS, MADISON, December
1, 1874.
The Executive Board met in their rooms, in the Capitol, in
accordance with the by-laws, at 8 o'clock P. M.
President STILSON in the chair.
Present - President STILSON, Vice-Presidents CLARK and BRYANT,
and Messrs. WARREN, EATON, MANN,
BLAIR and FIELD.
Treasurer BLAIR submitted his report, showing the financial
condition of the society for the year closing December 1,
1874, which is published in full in the proceedings of the
society, under the head of "society meetings," in this
volume. The treasurer presented vouchers for all money paid out
for the year, which were compared by the board with the stub-book
and vouchers of the secretary, and finding them to correspond
and correct, were unanimously approved.
Secretary FIELD made a report of his visit to the Chicago
and St. Louis expositions, under the appointment of the
executive committee, as follows:
REPORT OF SECRETARY FIELD.
STATE AGRICULTURAL ROOMS, MADISON, December
1, 1874.
Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Executive Committee:
Having been appointed by you to visit the Chicago and St.
Louis expositions of 1874, I deem it my duty to present a
report of attendance at those exhibitions, and to place before
you such facts relative thereto as may seem to merit notice.
I visited the Chicago Exposition on Saturday and Monday, the
third and fourth days of October.
The attendance on Saturday was equal to, if not greater than
any day during the entire exhibition. The estimated number
during the day being 60,000. The machinery and manufacturers'
departments were particularly interesting and instructive, nearly
all the leading manufacturers of the northwest, and many from
the eastern states being represented. Many of the articles exhibited
in these departments were of a high order of merit, and can but
tend to materially cheapen the products and lighten the burdens
of labor in the various agricultural, household and other useful
industries of the world.
The exhibits in the floral department were of a high character,
were tastefully arranged, and amateurs and professionals
vied with each other in their contribution to this interesting
department.
The fine-art department was peculiarly interesting, partaking
from its magnitude and extent something of the nature of a
national exhibition. It was said, by those better qualified
to judge than myself, that it contained the largest and finest
collection of paintings ever exhibited in this country. Some
of the choicest pictures were contributed from eastern cities.
The most noticeable and to me striking feature of this great
exhibition was the zeal and energy displayed by exhibitors in
placing the result of their labor, skill and genius before
the people without any incentive in the way of premiums, none
being offered by the association. Time and money was spent to
exhibit their wares, not for competition, not for the few dollars,
diploma or medal which they might receive, but to advertise the
merit of their particular article before an appreciative public.
I deem this a matter worthy of consideration by our board, whether
the list of non-competitive exhibits may not be extended in some
of our departments with equal satisfaction and greater justice
to all concerned.
I visited the St. Louis fair from the 6th to 9th, inclusive,
of October. This is probably the largest annual exhibition in
the
United States, if not in the world. What I have said of the
Chicago exposition is equally true of this fair, except that
this St. Louis fair was much more extended and elaborate in all
departments, fine-art hall excepted. While all the forms of industry
were fully represented here, agriculture in all its varied branches
was a leading feature.
Thorough-bred horses, Short-Horn Ayrshire, Jersey, and Herford
cattle were exhibited in large numbers and of a
superior character and excellence. Numerous specimens of
the most approved breeds of sheep, swine, and poultry were shown
in their respective departments, and attracted much attention,
especially among those desirous to purchase and improve their
stock.
Berkshire and Poland China hogs, 4 to 6 months of age, were
sold for breeders from $50 to $100 each. I observed
each of the above breeds, which were about three years old
and weighed, the Berkshire 800 and the Poland China 900 pounds.
Farm and dairy products were not as numerous as in most other
departments, but were a good display, and of a high
order of excellence.
Fruit was exhibited in great abundance, and of choice quality,
but the late date of the fair caused less varieties of the
earlier kinds to be shown.
The useful minerals of Missouri were shown prominently, and
were an interesting feature of the exhibition. The mineral
resources of the state were thus conspicuously placed before
the people in an open book which every one could read.
The thought struck me that if samples of iron, lead, zinc,
copper, kaolin, and other useful minerals of Wisconsin, were
gathered up from the Agricultural and Academy of Science
Rooms, and from other sources, and placed in a prominent position
at our annual gatherings, that it would be not only interesting,
but tend to stimulate capitalists to an investigation of the
profits to be obtained by investments in these great mineral
industries of the state.
Horses and cattle were shown in the arena, which from the
outer circle is one-fourth of a mile in circumference, and
surrounded by an ampitheatre capable of seating and protecting
from the inclemency of the weather 20,000 people. The display
of saddle-horses, carriage-horses and four-in-hand teams in this
arena was noticeable and interesting. The former were trained
most perfectly to all the various gaits, so much admired by the
lovers of horse-back riding, such as trotting, pacing, galloping,
running, etc. The four-in-hand team, two entries only, were four
beautiful bays from Kentucky, and a team of stylish chestnuts
from St. Louis, each handled by a "fifteenth amendment,"
in livery, with great dexterity and skill. They attracted much
attention, but seemed to me to be more ornamental than useful,
being a great waste of power for services ordered. The office
of entry connected with the St. Louis fair is somewhat differently
conducted from ours, and I think it an improvement in many respects.
Instead of taking the entries upon slips and copying into division
and then into class-books, as has been our custom, they take
the entry down at once into the department-book, one book only
being required for each department, which has been previously
numbered, each book numbering from one as to high as desired.
The clerk taking the entry then calls the number, with the name
of the animal or article entered, and another clerk makes out
the entry-card accordingly. Another clerk, or at most two others,
may copy these entries upon large sheets, for the use of the
different committees, giving the number and article only.
The advantages are:
1st. Less clerks, and hence, less expense.
2d. Less danger of errors, as the entries are certain to
all be in the department-books.
3d. The committees are not influenced for or against awarding
a premium, as the owner is unknown expect to the
superintendent of the department who has the books in his
possession.
At this St. Louis fair were brought together on the great
day - Thursday - a hundred thousand people, to witness the
improved stock, products of the farm and dairy, fruits and
flowers, manufactured products, mechanical arts, the beautiful
and useful in art and nature, and I was impressed as never before,
as I viewed that vast concourse of people, of the educational
and social advantages to be derived from these annual gatherings
of the people. The various departments of this great exhibition
showed in miniature to this assemblage, the leading industries
and work of the world, and I could but think that the person
who fails to put on exhibition a meritorious animal or article
at these annual gatherings, fails to secure the best advertising
agency of the times.
Expositions in many of our large cities are becoming popular,
and deservedly so, and it has occurred to me that possibly
our leading commercial city, Milwaukee, would find it to
her advantage to move in an enterprise of this kind, or possibly
connect something of the kind with the state fair, should such
exhibition be continued in that city. They are wonderful advertising
agencies for the city where held, and if the leading industry
of the country - agriculture - can be fully connected therewith,
in all its numerous branches, they may be made great educational
agencies for the advancement of all our varied industries, and
bettering the condition of all our people.
In conclusion, I desire to express my cordial and grateful
thanks to the officers of both the associations mentioned, for
the courtesy and kindness extended to me during my stay with
them, and especially I do hereby extend my personal regards to
Hon. John P. REYNOLDS, secretary of the Chicago Exposition Association,
and to G. O. KALB, esq., secretary of the St. Louis fair, for
the facilities furnished me to obtain information, and to make
my visit agreeable and profitable.
Adjourned to 9 o'clock A.M., Wednesday.
WEDNESDAY, 9 O'CLOCK A.M., December 2,
1874.
Board met.
President STILSON in the chair.
Quorum present.
Secretary FIELD moved that Daniel S. DURRIE, esq., librarian
of the State Historical Society, who was present, be
heard relative to the mineral specimens and other museum
collections of the society, which was agreed to. Mr. DURRIE stated
that there had been a desire expressed by some members of the
society and other prominent citizens of Madison, that certain
books now in the State Library be transferred to the historical
rooms if the Legislature though best. He said that their room
was now very limited, and that it would be impossible to take
the library mentioned unless room could be made by the transfer
of numerous mineral and other interesting collections to other
rooms, and he had thought possibly the State Agricultural Society
would afford space in their rooms for them.
Brief informal discussions were had upon this subject, but
as there would be a larger attendance of the board in
February, on motion, it was thought best that further action
be deferred until that time, which was unanimously agreed to.
Secretary FIELD stated that at the agricultural convention
to be held in January, he should be glad to have a short-
hand reporter, that full and complete minutes might be kept
of the interesting and valuable discussions.
On motion of Mr. EATON, the employment of a reporter for
said convention was referred to President STILSON
and Secretary FIELD.
A communication was received from Major Rufus CHENEY, regretting
that he could not be present as he had hoped,
as it was the last meeting of the board of which he had been
so long a member. The closing paragraph of this interesting letter
is as follows:
"Please extend to all the members of your board my kind
regards, assuring them of my continued interest in the success
of our society, and although no longer a member, I shall
feel it my duty and esteem it a great pleasure to contribute
all I can to its future growth and prosperity, believing as I
do, that the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society is the possessor
of great possibilities for growth to the state, of which we are
proud to be called citizens."
The members present, one and all, expressed themselves in
the warmest terms of their cordial good will towards the
Major, and of his energy and efficiency for the many years
he was a member of this board. They believed that he had shown
a peculiar business talent in the position he had so long and
so well filled, as superintendent of machinery-department. Power
Hall, by his perseverance and excellent judgment, had been one
of the most attractive and profitable branches of our annual
exhibition, and, as was expressed by one member, "it was
doubtful whether that position could be as well filled by any
member of the new board.
No further business coming before the board, on motion, adjourned
sine die.