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Prairie; a region of country which the traveller who sees once will not look 

 upon the like of again, wander whither he may. Nearly five thousand inhabi- 

 tants are now fjathered together in and about the town site, and I see nothinar 

 in the future to prevent Jaxesville from maintaining its proud rank as the 

 largest, the most prosperous, and the most beautiful of the inland towns of our 

 State. 



I might dwell some time longer upon the beauties of Janesville and its 

 vicinity — the hospitality of its inhabitants, and the abundant success of our State 

 Fair — but I have already made a sufinciently long story of it. Let me say, in 

 conclusion, that the Fair, in. its results, far exceeded the most sanguine expecta- 

 tions of its projectors, and reflected infinite credit upon the enterprize, the good 

 taste, the skill and the intelligence of the Farmers, Mechanics, and Working men 

 of Wisconsin. To the President of the State Society, Mr. E. W. Drury, of 

 Fond du Lac; the Secretary, Mr. Albert C. Ingham, of Madison; the mem- 

 bers of the Executive Committee; and especially Judge Tompkins, of Janesville, 

 the w orkinff -man of that Committee — the thanks of the People and the Press 

 of Wisconsin are due for their untiring, intelligent, and successful efforts to Qot 

 up and carry through the Fair. For one, I render my share of these thanks 

 most heartily, and if the next State Fair shall be held, as I trust it will, at 

 Milwaukee, I hope to repay some of the many obligations I am under, as well 

 to these gentlemen, as to some special good friends at Janesville and Madison, 



for abundant courtesies and civilities received at their hands. 



R. K. 



It was indeed a triumph ! Without patronage and without money the Society 

 was organized. Without members and without aid — feeble, and in its infancy, 

 the Society held its first Fair. No prestige of success enshrouded it. But the 

 result has dissipated all fears; and for this result, so auspicious, the Committee 

 congratulate their fellow meinbers of the Society, and their fellow citizens of the 

 State. 



The delicate duty of deciding upon the merits of the various articles presented 

 was delegated to several Committees, selected, as far as possible, with reference 

 to their familiarity with kindred subjects. The awards of Premiums the Com- 

 mittee ha\'e not thought best to introduce into this Report, as they appear among 

 the accompanying papers. 



The Repoi't of the Treasurer herewith ju'esented shows that the amount paid 

 out for premiums, and also the expense incurred for diplomas awarded, was $140 ; 

 a small amount when compared with the wishes of the Committee, but yet a 

 large one when the condition and circumstances of the Society are considered.. 

 The Society has now, however, reached the position it is believed that will enable 

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