Award of Medals, Sfc, at Kilburn. 
G89 
Arrangements downwards, not forgetting the energetic Secretary, 
faced the situation, and did all in the power of mortals to avoid 
disaster. One of the lessons that has been learnt is the advis- 
ability of having a well-made road along the main avenue, — a 
precaution which was sometimes formerly adopted, at least I am 
certain that such a road was made for the Leeds Show in 1861, 
because remains of it proved of great value to the Yorkshire 
Agricultural Society, whose Show subsequently occupied the 
same site. At Kilburn this deficiency was partly met by the 
train service provided by Messrs. J. Fowler and Co., of Leeds, 
who used Decauville's portable railway, and realised a hand- 
some profit by running frequent trains to and from the main 
entrance to the Kensal Green end at twopenny fares. This 
afforded a great convenience to the public, and a convincing 
proof of the practical nature of the apparatus, notwithstand- 
ing the extremely soft nature of the ground, which caused 
the rails to sink up and down, and the train to behave at 
times like a boat on the water. Throughout, the gauge was 
maintained, and the engine never once ran off the rails. Some 
further notice of this useful appliance will be found at the 
end of my Report. Another point, that must have been evident 
to the authorities, is the necessity for having a properly con- 
structed plank road, made along or against the outside of the 
ground, on which all heavy machinery could be conveyed to its 
destination. No amount of precautions could have met the 
extraordinary difficulties resulting from the constant wet on such 
a soft soil as Kilburn, but much of the frightful strain upon 
horses and vehicles might possibly have been avoided. 
A word to exhibitors will, I trust, be received in the same 
spirit in which it is given. They were in too many instances 
heavy sufferers, because the state of the ground prevented visitors 
even reaching their stands at all, and certainly from making a 
careful inspection of their exhibits. It would add greatly to the 
comfort of the public, facilitate their movements and oppor- 
tunities of seeing the implements, and would ensure a much 
greater share of attention to the exhibits, if the latter were 
generally so arranged as to allow of a promenade space down 
the centre of the shedding. The visitor could then pursue his 
or her way in comfort, and protected from the rain, instead of 
having to paddle along under the drip of the eaves and exposed 
to all the fury of the elements. The plan is already pursued 
by some of the leading firms, but I think there are few cases 
in which it might not be adopted, although it would probably 
necessitate the taking of more space or the limiting of entries. 
As regards the general character of the Implement exhibition, 
I think those (unfortunately too few) who persevered through 
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