15 



took form and shape, the Committees assembled and made their exami- 

 nations, and by the morning of Thursday, the Fair was formally opened 

 to the public. 



Notwithstanding the appearance of the weather, which was rather un- 

 favorable, the rush of visitors was very great, upwards of twelve thou- 

 sand persons, as was estimated, having passed into the enclosure during 

 the day. This number was largely increased on the day following, Fri- 

 day, although the clouds looked threatening, and rain fell at intervals 

 during most of the afternoon. On the morning of Friday, the Annual 

 Plowing Match came off, and was closely contested. In the afternoon 

 of that day, the Annual Address was delivered by Judge Hubbell before 

 the Society and an immense concourse of people. The Military and Fire 

 Departments of Milwaukee, in full uniform, and with their entire appara- 

 tus, came upon the ground just before the delivery of the Address, and 

 won high encomiums from the multitude present by their thorough disci- 

 pline and handsome display. After the delivery of the Address, the 

 awards of the several Committees were announced by the Secretary, and 

 the main business of the Fair was over. It had been designed to hold a 

 public auction sale of stock, machinery, farm and dairy produce, &c., 

 on the Fair Grounds on Saturday morning. But the heavy rains which 

 set in on Friday night, and continued throughout the whole of Saturday, 

 mainly defeated this project. 



Taken as a whole the Fair was eminently successful. The entries were 

 very numerous, and the exhibition in several departments Avas unex- 

 pectedly fine. The show of Cattle and Sheep was good, and of Horses 

 superior. The number of visitors in attendance outran the expectations 

 of the most sanguine. The proximity of a large city, and the facilities 

 by steamboat, railroad, and plank-road, of getting to the Fair, accounts 

 in part for the large gathering. Another reason for it may be found, it 

 is hoped, in the growing pride which the people of Wisconsin take in 

 these Annual Exhibitions, and the interest that all classes feel in contri- 

 buting to the developement of the agricultural resources of our State. 

 Many of the arrangements for the Fair were found insufficient, as was to 

 be expected, in an undertaking so new to our people. The selection of 

 the Committees, to judge of the merits of the different articles exhibited, 

 is a matter of great consequence, not only to a fair adjudication, but for 

 the satisfaction of the various competitors. Great care was taken in the 



