EXHIBITION OF 1871. 
71 
be applied to any moment by parties having business with the 
railway company or desiring to purchase tickets, was very im¬ 
portant, and was a concession highly appreciated by the soci¬ 
ety. They also incurred the expense of establishing a tele¬ 
graph office for their own exclusive use in the interest of ex¬ 
hibitors and visitors during the fair. 
The Western Union Telegraph Company had also gener¬ 
ously contributed to the convenience of the society and of 
the public by establishing an office lor general business in 
the office of the president at the center of the grounds. 
When, therefore, the day came for the reception of goods 
and animals, the society was in excellent condition to accom¬ 
modate both exhibitors and people ; the number of which 
promised to be without precedent. 
Unhappily for the full realization of these hopes, the week of 
the fair opened with dull and heavy weather, which not more 
by the cold, dust and wind, which prevailed throughout the 
fair, than by the threatening aspect of the sky, had a very dis¬ 
couraging effect upon thousands of persons all over the state, 
who had intended to be present, but who were led to postpone 
their coming from day to day, until, finally, it was too late. 
This view of the case will be found to have been general, by 
the following editorial in the Milwaukee Sentinel of Monday, 
September 25 : 
The lowering sky to-day, with whisperings of rain in the breeze, have 
caused much anxiety in the minds of the public, who are all desirous of 
having the most propitious weather for this week of the state fair. Noun- 
kindly attitude, however, has yet been assumed by the elements, and if it 
should rain to-night it would be a great benefit in respect to laying the dust, 
which at present is the most unpleasant thing on the fair grounds, and on 
the road between there and the city. 
For to-day’s purposes, no finer weather could have been desired. There 
has been a great deal going on to-day in the preparatory operations on the 
grounds, and in entering animals and articles of every description, and to 
such a gratifying extent has the work been accomplished, that if the weather 
continues favorable to-morrow, as all hope it will, the exhibition cannot fail 
of being the most extensive and excellent, and the most largely attended 
of all the fairs that have been held by the State Agricultural Society since 
its organization, in 1853. This is evident from the immense number of en- 
