a move made that was brought to bear upon the Board which caused it to abandon that rule. For the last two years, we have had a number of single admission tickets, at twenty-five cents each, and, with the exception of these coupon tickets, that has proved more successful than any other mode of admission we have had.

There has been a great deal said here upon the propriety of horse racing upon agricultural fair grounds. That question has been discussed at length in our society. Though we have a very short track upon our ground, we have a very beautiful fair ground, forming a natural amphitheatre. Perhaps there is none in the State better for show purposes, affording such an excellent opportunity for seeing over the track, but we have not a sufficient amount of ground to make a track of but little over a fourth of a mile in extent. That very necessarily debars any great amount of fast going, and we have attributed some of our lack of success in the management of our fairs to the fact that we have not sufficient room to give trials of speed. It has often been asked me when would be our best days at the fair, the best running or trotting, and I would have to tell the persons making the inquiries that our grounds were not so arranged as that we could give a fair test of speed. "Oh, well," they would say, "you will not have a large attendance."

The trotting horse attracts the attention of most people, and it is almost impossible to have successful fairs without a trial of the speed of trotting horses.

Our fair receipts do not reach five thousand dollars. About two or three thousand dollars is the most we have taken in for the last five or six years. We have got in debt, and have been pulling away to get out for four or five years. We have of late years made it a success in a small way, but had to come down on our premiums in order to get a surplus to apply on our debts. If we had had a sufficiently large track, we believe we could have been out of debt long ago.

There is certainly nothing very wrong in fast trotting horses. The ministers of our county always receive complimentary tickets, and they come to the fair and enjoy the trotting of the horses as much as other persons. I admit that we don't want jockeying, or whisky selling, or gaming. One of the banes at our fair has been the drinking. Our Board are not drinking men, as I can say, though they allow persons to go in and sell intoxicating drinks. Still we have not had a large number of drunken men on the ground.

I think there is no branch of industry that should be encouraged any more than the breeding of trotting horses should be encouraged. There is more sale to-day, and more demand for first class roadsters, than any other class of horses; and the older we get as a country the more demand there will be, and the more time and money spent in breeding those horses; and every man who has a stud of horses, and is breeding them, wants a track to speed them on; and this is one of the first features in a fair.

MR. CALVIN, of Erie county. While I advocate horse trotting at fairs, I do it on the ground that it promotes the morals of a community to do it. Previous to our introducing trotting on our fair grounds, we had a horse association in the county for many years, and had all kinds of horse trotting, and all kinds of drunkenness and fighting. Since the introduction of it on the fair ground, conducted properly, it has broken down that institution, so that there is nothing of the kind whatever. A minister in our community told me, last fall, that the best interests of the community had been subserved by the introduction of trotting at the fair. He was sensible. When we first commenced we had two very conscientious members of our Board that opposed it very earnestly. We were then holding the fair three days. The Board voted to add the fourth day to the fair, and confine the trotting to the fourth day, so that those who had conscientious

scruples about the trotting might go for the three days and remain at home on the fourth day. The consequence was that the two members who were so conscientious about it spent the entire day upon the track, and no more attentive persons were on the grounds than they were. I trust it did not corrupt their morals. The people want recreation of some kind, and my doctrine is that it is better to have that kind which we can control, and not only control but utilize, and even make a little money out of it. My experience is, and has been for many years, that it is impossible to run a successful fair without paying liberal premiums. We pay from $2,500 to $3,500 in premiums every year. We bought grounds that cost $25,000, and have put a good many thousands of dollars' worth of improvements on them, and all are paid for.

Our experience shows that horse-trotting-proper trotting-at agricultural fairs is just where it should be. We have no drunkenness and no betting at our trotting. It is well understood that we will allow nothing of the kind. It is probable that there is not a more succesful society in the State of Ohio than we have to-day. Our grounds are comparatively small for the number of people we have had in attendance. Our receipts for the last ten years have ranged from five to ten thousand dollars a year. Our buildings, most of them, are located in the center of the track, and to do away with the inconvenience of crossing the track we propose to tunnel under the track, which will cost us about three thousand dollars.

D. L. POPE, of Geauga county: This question of fast horses at fairs is one which all county societies, no doubt, as well as the State Board, have had considerable sclicitude about. It is condemned by some and upheld by others. Now I rise simply for the purpose of asking the question whether premiums shall be paid for this purpose-whether the plan has the approbation of the different persons here, representing the different county societies, and I would like to have the counties called, and members signify, as their county is called, their approbation or disapproval of the trotting course at county fairs and at the State Fair. This is a question about which we have had some doubts, but still the Board have paid premiums for fast trotting and fast running. We had a running race upon the track at the State Fair last fall, and a year ago last fall, and the question will no doubt come up in the Board for discussion this coming year, wherever the fair may be held. As has been remarked, it is not agricultural, but in order to make a success of fairs we must have an attendance, and must raise the funds to pay the premiums. Now, then, does the speed ring produce an attendance equivalent to pay the premiums and an excess? There is not any question as to the propriety of excluding intoxicating drinks and the attendant rowdyism. I do contend that a fair properly conducted need not embrace the selling of intoxicating drinks, or gambling, or shows, or pool-selling; but whether or no trials of speed should be encouraged, and premiums paid for them-and premiums of the size the boards are sometimes compelled to pay in order to bring fast horses upon the track is another question, and I wish that some member might offer a resolution upon the subject-1 don't wish to do that, but I would like to get the sense of this Convention as to the propriety of the State Board paying premiums for trials of speed.

C. MACK, of Putnam county: Whether the speed of fast horses is any benefit to fairs appears to be a question in the minds of some men. We tried running a fair for some twenty odd years in Putnam county, and had poor stock, poor horses, and poor every thing else-probably poor management. We had no trotting, except on one day, during the entire fair, and that was slim, and our attendance was very poor, and we were sinking money every year. This year we introduced the plan of having trotting and racing-two trotting matches every day—and it has enlivened the interest in the Put

nam county fair in a remarkable degree, and has caused men to go fifty miles to breed their mares, and the result will be that in ten years more we will have as good stock in Putnam county as anywhere in Ohio. The fact is, most men want horses of speed. Every doctor needs it, every minister must have it, and most others need it; and if you don't offer premiums at your fairs for trials of speed, you don't get horses of speed. I claim that it is beneficial to fairs in that it draws a crowd, and unless you draw a crowd you cannot get money enough to run the fair successfully.

MR. STEWART, of Clarke cou: ty. You all know something of that beautiful little city called Springfield. Our county is composed of ten townships. Some years ago the State Fair was held at our county seat-Springfield. Our society of course fell into State Fair airs, and we went beyond our means and swamped ourselves in debt. The debt is, I believe, some $10,000, perhaps more- -$12,500, a delegate tells me. Now probably it would be an advantage to many here to know how we managed that matter and got out of debt. As I said, we had put on State Fair airs, which were expensive, and the fair seemed to be run by the people of the city, while the agriculturists of the county seemed to have but little voice in directing the agricultural society. The debt was felt to be oppressive, and those that had been having an interest in the matter in the city became tired of it, and were about to throw it away-forsake it, as it were. The agriculturists then went to work and reorganized the society. We organized on such a plan that each of the ten townships in the county should have its delegates. We have two for each township, serving two years, one member going out every year. As soon as that reorganization was effected we put the question before the people whether the debt should be paid, and they voted to pay it at once.

A MEMBER. How did they pay it?

MR. STEWART. By taxation. They taxed the property of the county-the whole duplicate of the county-and paid the debt. Before our reorganization the delegates elected would sometimes all be right around Springfield, but now they are distributed throughout the townships, and will help to secure an attendance. These two delegates in each township advertise the fair, by posting up notices, and encourage an attendance upon it. In that way I think we are securing success in the management of our fair. Last year we paid our debts, and have a small surplus.

We have heard in the discussion a good deal about horse racing, but have not heard from the mule at all. I was going to ask my good-looking and serious friend from Logan if he would not get up and describe a mule-race they had at their fair last year. [Laughter.]

Member from Logan county. For a number of years we have been having no races at our fairs. Sometimes one or two would try it, but nothing of the kind was arranged for. Last year we thought we would change the programme, and would at least have a mule-race, enlisting all we could to go in. I forget the number that was there on the track, but I suppose all the mules in the ground. Some of the riders had whips, some had clubs, some one thing and another, to get up the speed. My recollection is that there were from eighteen to twenty mules on the track, and two of them, I believe, got around. One of them, when it got about one-third around the track, thinking it knew a little more than its rider, concluded to cut across and save most of the distance. It took across among the people, and, I think, got about three-fourths of the way before its rider caught up. If let alone it would have got out first.

MR. LAWRANCE. I have been publishing the Ohio Farmer for seven years, and ever since I have been publishing it this question has been discussed. It has been discussed a good deal to-night, and this Convention is about as near decided in regard to this

question as I was when I commenced publishing. For my part, I would like to see, as my friend Pope has suggested, an expression from the presidents of the different county societies who are here. It looks to me as if there would be some little weight about that. And I will move, if you will entertain my motion, to get an expressionthat it is not expendient to pay premiums for horse-racing at fairs.

A MEMBER. Do you mean trials of speed of all kinds?

MR. LAWRENCE. Any trials of speed, whatever.

J. M. DAUGHERTY. When we speak of speed in our county we mean trotting. We never allow horse-racing. They came up to our last fair from Springfield and from other cities, and said it was allowed at the State Fair, and tried to prevail on us to allow it upon our track. The board consists of ten member, besides the president and vice.president-twelve in all. As long as I have been president we have put our foot upon racing. I believe in fast horse-trotting, providing it can be kept within due bounds, and conducted so as not to injure the morals of the rising generation. I think it can be made a success when thus conducted. Some of our colleagues here have asked how we can tell a buggy-horse without his sire has been tested on the race-course. A gentlemen in Preble county says he paid three thousand dollars for a thoroughbred horse. We won't take his word as to the value of his horse till he is put on the track and tested. A MEMBER. You must run him then.

MR. DAUGHERTY. No, we will trot him two or three miles and see whether he has got bottom. We want no racing, because it is almost always attended with gambling and betting. But we have not had any drunkenness, or pickpockets, or anything of the kind. If we want to test a horse for his speed and bottom, and test him right, I don't think there is anything immoral about it. At our fairs we have managed it so it has been a success year after year.

J. C. LEVERING, of Knox county. The most difficulty we have ever had was to keep it from being known before the horses went on the track which horse was to beat. We had some trouble in that direction, but we have as fine fast horses as any county has. Members of the State Board know that Knox county has a great many men there who have a weakness for fast horses, and our best fair days are when we have good horse trotting. On such days we have the best attendance and make the most money. We have endeavored to control the matter, but find it very difficult to control. Those horsemen have many devices by which to get ahead of boards, and unless they are pretty sharp they will do it. But we have been able to control the matter; have had no accidents and have the best results. We have four classes of premiums on horsesfor thoroughbreds, draught horses, general purpose horses, roadsters.

A MEMBER. It seems to be the idea with some that we cannot have fast horses in the State at all, unless they are brought on the fair grouud. Now, the great State of New York, I think, has just as good horses as the State of Ohio, and they don't permit them to go into the State fairs to trot or run. I think there is a legitimate place for fast horses, but I don't think it is at the fairs. I have attended a great many fairs in my life, and have noticed this one thing: that where there were fast horses to show their speed, the people would go in one continuous string to see the racing, while they would not stop to examine anything that was calculated to be useful to them, but would pass by mowing machines, reaping machines, the finest cattle, etc., and go on in a great hurry to the ring to see the racing. My objection to it is that it attraets the attention from the legitimate objects of the fair, and also object to it because it is demoralizing. J. F. CHARLESWORTH, of Belmont county. We have held thirty fairs in Belmont, and

have always had a contest for speed. We stand, I believe, the third county in the State for horses, and have some of the first horsemen in the State engaged in raising horse, and have imported some five thoroughbred horses into the county, and they have been bred to good mares there. Trials of speed have been kept up at our fairs, and the horses whose speed has been developed there have sold at high prices. I remember of one that sold for eleven hundred dollars; another for six hundred; another for a thousand; and one for thirty-five hundred that was a half brother to Sleepy George, the fast pacer. Their speed was developed, I think, on our fair ground; the money for these came into Belmont county, and this result, I believe, was from our trials of speed in trotting on our fair ground. I think there is no doubt but that the speed contests at our fairs have developed fast horses that sell for more money than the common draught horse, or horse for all work. We contend that the developing of fine horses, speed included, is encouraging agriculture and bringing money to agriculturists; therefore, I am opposed to the resolution.

J. H. SHIELDS, of Mahoning county. I represent Mahoning county, a county that probably has as good horses as any other county, and that has sold as many trotters, I presume, as any other county in the State, and for good prices. We have never had at our agricultural fairs trials of speeed for trotters, for the very reason that we have a horse breeder's association that makes that a specialty, offering large premiums for speed, which we, as a Board, have not considered in accordance with the law. We have discouraged this matter at our fairs also to keep gambling out of our grounds. We have thus been enabled to give larger premiums on crops, so that instead of paying five or six dollars premium on the best five or six acres of wheat we pay twenty-five or thirty dollars to encourage farmers in the raising of wheat, and so with other crops. We prohibit gambling. We permitted the selling of beer last year. Persons who were at the State Fair said, "Why they sell the privilege to sell beer on the grounds at the State Fair, why can't we do it?" That argument carried; but the result was such that we are now satisfied to shut the beer out forever, and not only beer but everything of that character.

T. F. JOY: I understand that the resolution does not propose to exclude the proper testing of roadsters or thoroughbred horses, but simply to state that, in the opinion of this Convention, it is unwise to make speed in running a test of merit. One horse may be able to go around the ring in a few seconds less time than another that may be three times as valuable for other purposes.

W. B. MCCLUNG: I think the resolution ought to be amended a little. We ought not, perhaps, to pay premiums for racing, but that we should offer premiums for fast horses and that the test should be for trials of speed, and that we may test it by running them together or against time. We want this thing to give a fair show for thoroughbred horses.

WM. PARR: I would move to amend so that it shall provide that there shall be no premiums paid at county and State fairs for trials of speed for horses.

T. F. JOY: I move to amend the amendment so that it shall read in this form: That speed exclusively shall not be made the test, etc. That will not prevent the proper trial of blooded horses, or proper testing of roadsters, but that speed exclusively shall not be made a test, and that the committee shall have the right to take into consideration the general make-up of the horse, and if he comes out second or behind other horses, he may take the premium.

MR. LAWRENCE: The clear intention of this resolution was to get a square expression upon this subject. You all understand it. I don't think we need dodge it. The ques