EXHIBITION OF 1866 . 
[From the Secretary’s Record.] 
In view of the long protracted rains of this most remarkable automn, the 
consequent damage to the grain crops of the country, and the uncertainty 
that still attached to the weather up to the very date of opening, there was 
but little warrant for expecting either a fine show of animals and products, 
or a large attendance of the people. But, after all, the result far exceeded 
the expectations of even the most sanguine. 
The attendance of people was entirely unprecedented. On Thursday, the 
27th, there were present, as shown by the receipts, over twenty thousand 
persons on the grounds at one time, and the spectacle was truly magnificent. 
The grounds, embracing some 70 acres, with the exception of a portion of 
the space within the track—and this was filled with vehicles of every de¬ 
scription—was literally swarming with people ; all of whom seemed remarka¬ 
bly well pleased with themselves and the rest of mankind. Some were dis¬ 
appointed, no doubt, by the non-appearance of the distinguished guests 
(General Logan and others) whose names had been announced as constituting 
a part of the attractions of the day, but the time was so well occupied with 
various entertainments, including ladies’equestrianism, and trials of trot¬ 
ting and running horses, that their disappointment was soon forgotten. 
The Exhibition itself, though in some departments quite creditable, was, 
nevertheless, as a whole, very much less than it ought to have been, even in 
those best represented ; while in some it was a positive reproach to our 
people. 
Instead of 1491 entries in the several departments, there should have been 
at least twice that number; and there might have been, with but little 
effort on the part of the farmers, mechanics, manufacturers, artists and others 
of the State. Multitudes of farmers from Rock and the other counties were 
^ere to see, trut how small was the number of those who manifested enter¬ 
prise enough to bring anything with them. 
The plain truth is. Agricultural Hall was a positive disgrace to the farmers 
of Wisconsin; and had it been in our power to do so, we would have 
“spirited away ” the tent itself, and thus abolished the department entirely. 
The premiums were not large ; but in view of the little expense and trouble 
•nvolved in getting out samples of agricultural products, the premiums ou 
these were relatively as large as in any of the stock departments. 
