Wisconsin State Agricultural Society. 35 
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 at¬ 
tendance 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 dur¬ 
ing the day being 60,000. The machinery and manufacturers 1 de¬ 
partments 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 aiid lighten the burdens of la¬ 
bor in the various agricultural, household and other useful indus¬ 
tries 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 na¬ 
tional 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 ex¬ 
hibition 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 ar¬ 
ticle 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 Octo¬ 
ber. This is probably the largest annual exhibition in the United 
States, if not in the world. AVhat I have said of the Chicago 
