Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Resolved, That the thanks of the society, be tendered to the ladies for the valuable aid rendered in decorating the hall, and in originating and carrying out the plans for the festival.

On motion, adjourned.

TREASURER'S REPORT-1869.

JOHN HAROLD, Treasurer, in Account with the QUEENS COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Printing, stationery, insurance and contingent expenses..
Balance on hand..

$381 49

3,884 64

385 26

1,480 13

1,831 30

727 78

342 22

$9,032 82

We, the undersigned, do hereby certify that we have examined the treasurer's account, with full and complete vouchers for all expenditures, and find the same just and true. The balance on hand this day is three hundred and forty-two dollars, twenty-two cents ($342.22.) SAMUEL B. MERSEREAU,

BENJAMIN D. HICKS,

J. BROWNE, JR.,

Auditing Committee.

The total amount of indebtedness at the present date, is $1,500. JOHN HAROLD,

Secretary and Treasurer.

RENSSELAER.

Agreeably with a resolution of its board of directors, the twentysixth annual exhibition of the Rensselaer County Agricultural and Manufacturers' Society, was held September 20th, 21st, 22d, 23d and 24th, 1869, on the grounds of the society, which are located midway between Troy and Lansingburgh.

The exhibition, we are pleased to say, though not equal to our anticipations was, nevertheless, very respectable in every department, and our gathering would have been pleasant, instructive, and fairly remunerative to the society, but for the unpropitious weather which occurred at the opening, the equinoctial storm, much to our grief, having been fully inaugurated in the afternoon of the second day of our meeting, and so affected our receipts that we are about $500 in

arrears.

In regard to amusements, at our annual county fairs, I have this to say: That society which furnishes the rarest, and the greatest amount, and variety of sports for the multitude, or the greatest amount of amusement for its patrons, no matter how deficient the exhibition may be in other respects, is the one most likely, in a pecuniary point of view, to be successful. And, I am happy to say, with the exception of two foot races, one for the boys, and the other for men of seventy years and over, no attempts whatever were made by our society at its last exhibition to furnish recreation or sport for the people.

If the grounds belonging to our agricultural societies are to be desecrated, or used for illegitimate purposes as they have, alas, too often been; or, if they are to be converted into bear-gardens, arenas for the exhibition of circuses, menageries, and other ten thousand nameless things, which are only designed to impoverish, beguile, or deceive us by their seductive influence; why, let us close them for the exhibition of our domestic animals, horses, cattle, sheep, swine; close them for the exhibition of fruits and flowers, grains and grapes, implements of husbandry, the products of the farm and workshop; indeed, close them to everything which is calculated to improve our moral and social condition, lessen the rigor of labor, increase our per

sonal and national wealth, ameliorate the condition of our race, and add to the general happiness of mankind.

Again, horse trotting for amusement, or what is worse, for money, is, in our view, an illegitimate business at our county fairs, and a dangerous element to introduce at such exhibitions, although its introduction may add thousands of dollars annually to the receipts of the treasury. Labor judiciously expended on the soil and in the workshop, or in the breeding of horses, cattle and sheep, is of greater value to the community at large than the highest attainments in the ignoble art of training horses for the most unworthy of all purposes, the track. The former adds to a nation's wealth; the latter contributes alike to its poverty and immorality. Alas, the passion for horse racing has become chronic, and threatens to become subversive of the best interests of our county and State associations. Let us go back to first principles, and discard everything that is extraneous or of doubtful utility in our annual exhibitions, and we shall at least retain our self-respect although our gatherings may not be invariably a pecuniary success.

The annual address was delivered by Major-General Gates, of Ulster, and it was an able address, abounding in practical thoughts and suggestions, and was creditable alike, to the speaker and the society. The address has been published in pamphlet form, and it will be widely distributed throughout the county.

I am pleased to say, in addition to what has been stated above, that the exhibition of horses, fruit and flowers, at our last annual meeting, surpassed that of last year very considerably, and was quite respectable in each department.

The hay crop throughout the county was very large, as was also the potato crop, though the latter, we regret to say, was nearly ruined by the rot; the peachblow, of all the various kinds, suffering the most. The corn crop, as compared with last year, was small; but of oats and winter grain, there was a fair, but not an abundant yield.

Our annual meeting, for the election of officers and for other purposes, will be held on the 18th instant.

FINANCIAL CONDITION JANUARY 6, 1869.

Expenditures.

Paid amount due treasurer last report.... outstanding bonds of the society and interest. preminms of 1868.....

premiums of 1869.

all other disbursements.

Cash on hand.....

$327 94

306 63

191 01

445 50

1,999 89

277 13

$3,548 10

[blocks in formation]

We think that the outstanding bills against the society, and the amount due exhibitors for premiums, will quite absorb the cash on hand, and possibly leave the society, as last year, a little in arrears.

In September last, two weeks after our annual exhibition, we had the misfortune to lose "Floral Hall," our central building, by fire; by which we sustained a loss of at least one thousand dollars. It was evidently the work of an incendiary.

The premiums offered to exhibitors this year by the society, were considerably less than they were last year, and the amount actually awarded, was between five and six hundred dollars.

OFFICERS FOR 1870.

President, Jas. R. Fonda, Troy; Secretary, S. K. Stowe, Troy; Treasurer, G. Waters, Troy.

RICHMOND.

S. K. STOWE,

Treasurer.

The past has been an eventful year in the history of the Richmond County Agricultural Society, and in taking a retrospective view of t, the members have reason to congratulate themselves on its prosperous condition to-day, as compared with a year ago.

The close of 1868 was disastrous. Bills were unsettled, premiums unpaid, diplomas undistributed; the books could not be obtained, the [AG.]

81

society utterly bankrupt, and a wide spread and deep seated prejudice existed in the minds of the community against it. Many of its most valuable members had withdrawn, its most enthusiastic grown lukewarm. At the last election, a new board was the result; and against all these disadvantages, a new administration set their energies to work to make the society a success, retrieving its ill fortune, redressing grievances, reconciling differences, restoring it to the place it had once occupied in public opinion and placing it upon a sound financial basis. In the words of its treasurer, "to make both ends meet and lap;" and, in the spirit evinced by its president, "every dollar of indebtedness must be paid, if I have to do it out of my own pocket." Reform, retrenchment and economy were the order of the day. All unnecessary expenditures were curtailed, and the closest economy exercised in the disbursement of the funds. In addition to the regular fall fair, a velocipede race, a trotting match, and a horticultural fair, were instituted; and by the aid of these, and dint of good management the society is again in a solvent condition. To-day with every dollar of obligation (except a few unaudited bills) discharged, and a balance, small though it be yet still a balance, in the treasury, good feeling restored and credit unimpaired, it may well feel proud of its success, and assured that the coming year will be one of at least equal prosperity.

Among the transactions of the society may be mentioned, the velocipede race, at which a silver cup and gold and silver medals were awarded as prizes; it at least paid expenses, and advertised the society. The horticultural fair (June 18th and 19th), a new enterprise, and which it is proposed to make a feature, hereafter, was received with decided favor, and considering the short notice at which it was gotten up, the display of flowers, plants, strawberries, etc., was very good. The trotting match between private horses of members of the society, was also a fair success, and the two added to our funds some $150.

The fall fair, in quality and variety of articles exhibited, was fully up to the standard of previous years, though the number of contributors was not nearly what it should have been in a county of over 30,000 inhabitants. Many causes contributed to this lack of interest, among others, the unpopularity of the society, though we hope the coming year, through the result of this, to show a much larger number of competitors, and consequently to enhance the attractiveness of the fair.

The programme embraced racing every day, a base ball match for

« AnteriorContinuar »