Exhibition of 1873. 
s 7 
waited until the case looked hopeless indeed, and then, wet and muddy, made 
a rush for the buildings. Faster aud faster fell the rain, until it seemed as 
though the flood gates of heaven were open, and that it would never stop. 
The wind freshened considerably, and the air, which in the morning was 
comfortable, soon became raw and cold. The clouds seemed to become more 
compact and dense, and all, exhibitors and visitors alike, resigned themselves 
to the fact that a rainy day was before them. It did not take long to make 
the grounds, which but a short time before were teeming with a busy throng, 
deserted, nor to make the track one continuous mass of mud and water. 
The prospect was dreary enough at that time, but the people seemed deter¬ 
mined to make the best of it. They flocked to the buildings and filled them 
to overflowing, crowded, jammed, stepped on each others’ toes, and in several 
other ways made things decidedly interesting for ail concerned.” 
Thursday morning the sky was clear, with cool breezes from 
the northwest, and flattering prospects of good weather for the 
balance of the week. This was to be the great day of the fair. 
His Honor, Mayor Ludington, had early in the week, with com¬ 
mendable forethought and good common sense, issued the follow¬ 
ing proclamation to the good people of Milwaukee: 
“Proclamation by the Mayor. —Whereas, the Wisconsin State Fair is 
to be held in Milwaukee the coming week, and it is rightly expected of our 
citizens that they will take an active part in making this exhibition of the 
industries of Wisconsin a success; therefore, I request all merchants, bank¬ 
ers and others who feel an interest in promoting the agricultural and me¬ 
chanical interests of our city and state, to close their places of business on 
Thursday next, after 12 o’clock, noon; that all public offices and schools be 
closed after 10 o’clock A. M. on said day, in order that all our business men 
and their employes, public officers, teachers and their pupils, may be enabled 
to attend the fair on that day, and show to the people of our state that Mil¬ 
waukee feels a deep interest in the progress of our industrial interests, and 
in the prosperity of the State Agricultural Society. 
“ H. LUDINGTON, Mayor. 
“ Milwaukee, Sept. 20, 1873.” 
This wise suggestion of the mayor was warmly seconded by 
most of the business citizens of that enterprising commercial 
metropolis, giving their thousands of employes an opportunity to 
rest from their daily routine of toil and to view the products of 
the soil and workshop here annually brought together. 
By 12 o'clock M., the spacious grounds were one living, mov¬ 
ing mass of people. The mud had nearly dried up, the sun shone 
brightly, and officers, exhibitors and people generally were happy 
