92 STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
to the propi’iety of such suspension, this day issued the following official no¬ 
tice of 
POSTPONEMENT OF THE FAIE : 
State Agricultural Rooms, Madison, Aug. 5, 18dl. 
When it became apparent that the perpetuity of our Government would 
necessitate a war with the traitors who had taken up arms for its destruction, 
and that several regiments of troops were likely to be wanted from this 
State, the Cammauder-in-Chief of the Wisconsin Militia found it desirable 
to establish a Camp at Madison. The State Fair Grounds, being admirably 
adapted to the purposes of an encampment and easily susceptible of such 
modifications as would fit them for the comfortable occupancy of successive 
regiments, w^<^re naturally desired by the Governor, who was anxious to be 
able to make prompt and patriotic responses to the urgent demands of the 
Federal Government. Accordingly, the Executive Cotninittee, glad of their 
ability to favor the State and advance the cau«e of the Union, cheerfully 
tendered to His Excellency “the use of the Fair Grounds for a Campus Mar. 
tins, until such time as the Society shall be able to resume possession without 
serious detrimentto the paramount interests of our common country.” They 
were gratefully accepted by the Governor and immediately occupied by the 
Second Regiment. Experience soon proved that in order to the comfort of 
the soldiers and their economical subsistence, various improvements and en¬ 
largements would be necessary; which were accordingly inaJe at a final ag¬ 
gregate cost of nearly $4,000. 
bubseqnently the 6th and 6th Regiments were encamped upon the Grounds, 
and it began to appear doubtful whether the Society would not be driven to 
the alternative of either postponing its Fair or insisting upon future regi¬ 
ments being quartered, at however great expense and inconvenience, in 
other portions of the State. The improvements referred to were valuless to 
the Society; indeed it would cost a thousand dollars to get rid of them. It 
was determined in Executive Council, therefore, notwithstanding the ar¬ 
rangements, including the issue of the Premium List, to sacrifice the lesser 
interests of the Society to the greater interests of the State and country, 
and postpone the Fair for one year, in case any considerable additional num¬ 
ber of troops should be demanded of Wisconsin, and the Governor shouli 
feel that the Grounds must be had for their occupancy. 
The recent call of the'Zth and 8th Regiments to- this place, and the yet 
later order from the Secretary of War for five adutional Regiments of In¬ 
fantry and five Batteries of Artillery have decided those questions, and I 
have, therefore, been instructed by the Executive Committee to publish the 
postponement. 
This necessity is an occasion of profound regret, as it is even more im¬ 
portant now than ever that the agricultural interests of the country should 
be carefully fostered. It is believed, however, that all friends of the Union 
and of the State Agricultural Society Avill appreciate the reasons and mo¬ 
tives which have actuated the Committee, and that nothing will be omitted 
by either individual farmers or County Agricultural Societies, that may be 
necessary to the best development and progress of our industrial interests as 
a State, during this period of our naiional trial. 
J. W. HOYT, 8eCy W. A. S. 
EXECUTIVE MEETIXa 
State Agricultural Rooms, Dec. 10, 1861. 
The Committee met pursuant to requirement of By-Laws. 
Present—Messrs. Hinkley, D. Williams, Hall, Atwood and Hoyt. 
President Hinkley in the chair. 
On call, the Treasurer presented his Annual Report, for the fiscal year just 
closed. [For Report see page 89.] 
