Dates of Fairs Fixed

New York, 1895

THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY'S DIRECTORS HOLD A MEETING.

Days in June and September When the Entries of Horses Will Close — Sale of Privileges — A Generous Offer by Hon. Benjamin D. Hicks.

The board of directors of the Agricultural Society met at the fair grounds on Saturday. The printing for the society was awarded to THE FARMER at its bid of $1,000.

The Summer fair will be held June 13 and 14, and the Fall fair September 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28. Thomas H. Bacon was given the management of the horse department.

The board passed a resolution to pay Carpenter Weigel $700 in full for all work on the new grand stand and extra work on the dining room.

The Hon. Benjamin D. Hicks presented to the board a request of the woman's Christian temperance union of Jamaica for permission to erect a building on the grounds to be used for the sale of tea, coffee and sandwiches, and the distribution of temperance literature. Mr. Hicks said very frankly that the proposition required careful consideration.

Director Van Nostrand of Flushing said that such a privilege should not be granted without compensation, as the business the women proposed to carry on would detract from the value of the victualing privileges. The women might think it proper to engage in some other business, or lease out the house. No business except that specified in the agreement should be permitted. The privilege should only run for a limited number of years, and at the end of the time the building should become the property of the society.

Treasurer Bacon stated that the privilege could not be granted to the women for the June fair under any circumstances, unless they agreed to give the proceeds to the festival association. Privilege was granted to a man to put up a building for the sale of sausages. He pays a rental of $100 a year, and when his privilege expires the building becomes the property of the society.

The matter was finally referred to the committee on privileges.

Mr. Hicks asked if any steps had been taken looking to the improvement of the new grounds. He was answered in the negative. He said the work should be undertaken this spring. The trees along the driveway should be set out. Henry Hicks, the landscape artist, who designed the improvements, proposes to set out pink oak trees. This is not a common variety, and is not to be found on Long Island. It will take time to secure them. Mr. Hicks said that he himself would set out a row of trees along the highway on the north side of the grounds running west, if the society would grant him the privilege. The privilege was granted, and with it went the thanks of the society.

The hostlers' privileges for the June fair will be sold on June 8,at the grounds, at 2 o'clock. Entries in the horse department will close June 1, and in all other departments on June 8.

On August 31st stands and other privileges for the September fair will be sold at the grounds at 2 o'clock. Hostlers' privileges will be sold September 20th at 2 o'clock. Horse entries will close on September 7.

A pleasant feature of the meeting was the presence of Mr. Valentine Willis, an ex-director. Mr. Willis was for many years an active man in the society and contributed largely to its prosperity. He has been ill for some time, but is quite recovered, and has plenty of the old spirit left.

The following resolution was unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That we, the board of directors of the Queens County agricultural society earnestly requests our members of the senate and assembly to use every effort and exert every influence in their power to defeat the bill introduced by Mr. Ainsworth, which provides that the pool money now in the hands of the comptroller, and which was collected from the tax imposed on racing associations during the year 1894, be distributed as follows:

Seventy per cent, to county associations and 30 per cent. to other fairs.

Rulff Lewis of Mineola, was engaged as caretaker of the grounds for the current year.

The committee in charge of the various departments for the year are as follows:

Horses — David L. Van Nostrand, Thomas H. Bacon, J. W. Ahles and George P. Titus.

Cattle, sheep, swine and poultry — George P. Titus, Sidney W. Jackson, John E. Backus and D. L. Van Nostrand.

Vegetables, fruit, flowers and grain — John E. Backus, Sidney W. Jackson, I. Cornell Remsen and George P. Bergen.

Fine arts, domestic manufactures and miscellaneous articles — J. W. Ahles, I. Cornell Remsen and Jacob Hicks.

Implements and carriages — Sidney W. Jackson, J. E. Backus, Thomas H. Bacon.

Table articles — I. Cornell Remsen, Jacob Hicks and George P. Bergen.

Improvements — George P. Titus, J. W. Ahles, Thomas H. Bacon and David L. Van Nostrand.

Treasurer Thomas H. Bacon was appointed a committee on railroad, and George P. Bergen, Thomas H. Bacon and D. L. Van Nostrand, committee on leasing stands and privileges.

The committee on tickets consists of Thomas H. Bacon, I. Cornell Remsen and John E. Backus.

The board authorized the treasurer to borrow $1,000 on the bond of the association.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, March 22, 1895, p. 1.