to the propriety of such suspension, this day issued the following official notice of POSTPONEMENT OF THE FAIR: STATE AGRICULTURAL ROOMS, MADISON, Aug. 5, 1861. 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 Cammander-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, were 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 Committee, glad of their ability to favor the State and advance the cause of the Union, cheerfully tendered to His Excellency "the use of the Fair Grounds for a Campus Mar. tius, until such time as the Society shall be able to resume possession without serious detriment to 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 enlargements would be necessary; which were accordingly made at a final aggregate cost of nearly $4,000. Subseqnently the 5th 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 regiments 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 arrangements, 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 number of troops should be demanded of Wisconsin, and the Governor should feel that the Grounds must be had for their occupancy. The recent call of the 7th and 8th Regiments to this place, and the yet later order from the Secretary of War for five aditional Regiments of Infantry 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 occasiou of profound regret, as it is even more important 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 will appreciate the reasons and motives 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 national trial. J. W. HOYT, Sec'y W. S. A. S. EXECUTIVE MEETING. 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.] Which, on motion, was accepted, and after a careful comparison with the Secretary's accounts and vouchers, approved by the committee. On motion of D. Williams, it was Resolved, That Dr. J. W. Hoyt, Secretary of this Society, be and he hereby is, granted leave of absence during the next spring and summer, to represent this State, by appointment of the Governor, as Commissioner to the International Exhibition of 1862. On motion of the Secretary, it was Resolved, That the President and Treasurer be and they hereby are, appointed a committee to wait upon the Governor and make application for the amount of one thousand dollars, as a consideration for the use of the Society's Grounds, and the improvements thereon, during the past year, and that, if practicable, they report before the final adjournment of this meeting. On motion. the committee adjourned to 7 1-2 o'clock this evening. 7 O'CLOCK P. M. Committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present, same members as before. Committee appointed to negotiate with the Governor for payment of rent on grounds, not being ready to report, after the settlement of sundry bills, Adjourned sine die. J. W. HOYT, Secretary. ANNUAL MEETING OF SOCIETY. STATE AGRICULTURAL ROOMS, MADISON, Dec. 11, 1861. The Annual Meetihg was held pursuant to the requirements of the Constitution, at 3 o'clock P. M. of this day. President Hinkley in the chair. The Secretary on behalf of the Executive Committee, read the required statement of the Society's fiscal affairs for the year 1861; showing the total receipts to have been $3,569 50, and the disbursements, $3,568 44. Which was approved. Secretary gave notice of an intent to offer, at the next annual meeting, the following amendments to the constitution, to wit: Strike out the second paragraph in Article V., as published in the 5th volume of Transactions of the Society-seid paragraph commencing with the sixth line and ending with the twentieth of said Article V-and substitute therefor the following, to wit: "The election of all officers of this Society shall be held, each year, during and at the State Fair; and the exact time and place of the election shall be notified by the Secretary in the public newspapers, at least twenty days before such election; and the Life Members of the Society and the Presidents of the several County Agricultural Societies, legally organized and in active operation within this state shall be the legal voters thereat; and the officers so elected shall continue in their respective offices during the period of one year from the first day of January subsequent to their election, and until their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified." The Society voted an approval of the action of the Executive Committee in postponing the Annual Exhibition and then, on motion, Adjourned sine die. J. W. HOYT, Secretary. ABSTRACT OF RETURNS OF COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES FOR 1861. Bad Ax,.. Brown, Adams,...... 1859 H. W. Kingsbury, H. V. Brown,.. S. Thompson,.. ... A. Smith,... 1856 M. Merrill,. 1857 J. Q Adams,. 1858 E. Davis,. ... Polk, Calumet,... 1859 Wm. Mann,..... Eau Claire,.. 1859 E. W. Robbins,. Fond du Lac, 1861 H. Conklin,. Grant,... 1855 Green, .... 1857 E. T. Gardner,.. Green Lake,. 1854 I. Sherman,.. 1856 L. W. Joiner,. ... (1853 H. H. Wild,.. Kenosha,.. 1856 H. S. Thorp,. La Crosse,. ... Jas. Barr,. J. M. Leland,.. La Fayette,. 1857 G. W. Russell,..[A. W. Hovey,. Manitowoc, 1857 C. Klingholz,.. C. Hottleman,. Marquette,.. 1859 G. W. Robinson, . J. Edson, jr, Pierce, C. Z. Cutting, 1856 W. T. McConnell, R. C. Bierce,... J. Q. Fowler,. G. L. Chapin,... Jefferson, Spt......18 Kenosha,.....Spt. 24-25 La Crosse,...Oct. 3-4 Manitowoc, .Oct. 15-16 200 82 165 45 95 00 35 37 Oxford,... Oct. 8-9 279 79 217 65 177 02 62 14 Sparta, Spt. 19-20 329 80 177 90 105 00 151 90 Appleton,.. Oct. 1-2 211 03 206 70 183 25 4 33 Cedarburg,..Oct. 4-5 891 45 359 95 191 60 31 50 Prescott,.....Oct. 4- 5 283 75 265 58 120 00 18 17 י, Osceola,.. Oct. 291 09 291 00 17 00 |