472 
STATE AGKICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 
enjoy its opportunities, it is a just ground for congratulation that after per¬ 
sistent effort and the expenditure of much money, we are at last in possession of 
grounds more suitably prepared for our use. For these superior accommodations 
we are largely indebted to the liberality and public spirit of the officers and 
members of the Dane County Stock and Agricutural Association, and of the 
citizens at large of Madison and vicinity. 
It is a matter of regret that the weather has been such, for the past several 
days, as materially to lessen the number of exhibitors and visitors who would 
otherwise have attended the Exhibition. For this we are not responsible. No 
pains have been spared to insure the pre-eminent success of the Fair in every 
respect; and so far from feeling disheartened by untoward circumstances, every 
officer, member and employee of the Society must feel it incumbent upon him 
to make an extraordinary effort to meet the exigencies of the occasion and 
so insure its measurable succes in spite of all opposing difficulties. 
Upon the superintendents of the departments and upon the judges who are 
to examine the articles on exhibition, I would especially and earnestly en¬ 
force the importance of a patient, faithful and impartial discharge of the 
duties to be performed by them. Vain is all that we have done in preparing 
for the Exhibition and getting together the products of industry, unless those 
who are to systematize and watch over the several departments do their part 
thoroughly and justly. Let each and every one of us do our work to the very 
best of our ability, and, so far as it bears on the material interests of the 
State the Fifteenth Annual Exhibition of the industry of Wisconsin may be 
made one of the most useful of the whole series. 
It now but remains for me, on behalf of the Society, to declare the Exhibi¬ 
tion open, and to urge upon all the best use of the opportunities it affords. 
