ing of the National Agricultural Society, to be held in Boston, on the 25th of this month. Upon an examination of the hair braid exhibited by Mrs. H. J. Lipscomb of Menard county, and considering the great merits of the work, Resolved, That Mrs. H. J. Lipscomb be awarded a silver goblet, of the value of $12, for the same. Resolved, That the president of this society be authorized to arrange and contract for diplomas and medals for the use of the society. Resolved, That the president, Messrs. Ross, Webster and Francis be a committee to examine Dr. W. B. Egan's osage orange hedge, and that they report upon the same. Resolved, That the society grant Danforth Johnson a diploma for his model for a three-flange tread and car wheel-" a life saving improvement." On motion of S. Francis, the following resolutions were adopted: Resolved, That on closing our arduous duties, we desire to express our obligations to the citizens of Chicago, for their kindness, liberality and hospitality towards the great mass of strangers who visited the city on the occasion of the state fair. We cannot forget the unwearied efforts and attentions of the committee of reception, in providing places for temporary sojourn to those distinguished citizens of other states who were present at our great anniversary exhibition. Resolved, That the mayor and other city authorities, in seconding all our efforts to make this exhibition worthy of Chicago and Illinois, should and do receive our most profound thanks. Their assistance was absolutely necessary to the undertaking, and it was at all times and under all circumstances effectually and liberally awarded to the executive committee. Resolved, That the Mechanics' Institute, in assuming the work of preparing the buildings and other necessary fixtures on the ground, for the various objects of the exhibition, and the energy they exercised in their completion, entitle that body to the strongest expression of our obligations to them. The citizens of this city may well be proud of their "sons of labor," whose exhibitions of skill, taste and well-directed labors were one of the great features of the exhibition. We desire to record the expression of the deepest thanks of the committee for the various contributions by which the mechanics of Chicago have added interest to the fair. Resolved, That while we feel that the late exhibition of the Illinois State Agricultural Society has been most successful, we are gratified to acknowledge that this has been the result of contributions, in various articles, by citizens from almost every locality of the state. It was a triumphant exhibition of the farmers' taste, skill and success in breeding stock, in the growing of grains, fruits and vegetables; and of the genius, science and skill of those engaged in all the industrial arts. Resolved, That we feel an entire conviction that the late gathering of the industrial masses in this city, from the various and distant portions of Illinois, will tell on the business and future prosperity of Chicago. Men have been here from nearly every portion of the state, who had not before visited Chicago, and who were not aware of its great advantages as a mart of business, and who were ignorant that here all the various articles of merchandise, for the necessary consumption of the country, or to gratify the desire of luxury, would be readily and cheaply obtained. During the days of the fair we were told a vast amount of money was expended in this city, and the acquaintances then made will in future extend and increase its great and growing business, influence and wealth. The cities of Illinois belong to the people of Illinois. It should be our pride, as it is our interest, to promote their welfare. Resolved, That the favors extended to the visitors of the fair, and to the vast number of people who visited the fair, by the various railroad companies, were essential to its success. We feel and acknowledge their importance to us. We trust and believe that they will not be losers by their liberality. Whatever advances Illinois in wealth and improvements and increases her population, adds to the value of her railroads. We have a united interest. Our obligations are mutual. May their recog. nition be lasting. Resolved, That we should fail in our duty should we refrain from expressing our obligations to the police furnished by the city. They were vigilant, and their faithfulness continued until the last hour. And we cannot forego the pleasure of stating here our admiration of the order preserved in the crowds of citizens who attended the fair, and remark, with feelings of the highest satisfaction, that we did not witness a single case of intoxication on the fair grounds. Let this be told to the honor and glory of Illinois and Chicago. Resolved, That the kindness and attention which the committee have received, while sojourning at the Tremont House, from its proprietors, Messrs. Gage Brothers & Drake, and their gentlemanly clerks, Messrs. E. H. Wentworth, F. W. Barnham, H. H. Hamlin and C. A. Phelps, call for our warmest acknowledgments. Resolved, That this committee, with the highest regard for each other, and with the determination that their efforts shall be directed onward for the development of the agricultural, mechanical, mercantile and commercial prosperity of our state, do now adjourn, to meet in Springfield, on Monday, the 9th of January next. H. C. JOHNS, President. S. FRANCIS, Recording Secretary. OFFICE OF STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, OCTOBER 15, 1855. The executive committee of the state agricultural society, being fully convinced of the practicability of successfully cultivating the osage orange plant into a protective hedge, take great pleasure in recommending to the farmers of Illinois, and to all who desire to settle on her beautiful prairies, to plant and cultivate their hedges in accordance with the rules laid down in the best written treatises on the hedge plant. Experience has shown that the result of much cultivation has been entirely successful, and the character of the osage orange, as a hedge plant, placed beyond a doubt. S. FRANCIS, Rec. Sec'y. H. C. JOHNS, President. RAILROAD ACTION. Early in April, 1855, letters were addressed, by the corresponding secretary, to the various railroad companies of the state, and those out of it, whose lines enter the city of Chicago. Col. Henry Farnum, president of the Rock Island road, voluntarily, and without consultation with other companies, offered the free use of that line for animals and articles on exhibition, and half-fare tickets to our visitors. This, on the face of it, was a more liberal proffer than the final terms of other lines in regard to visitors, though some of them complained of the restriction in regard to time. All the other roads of the state agreed to the terms proposed by the Illinois Central company, replying to the letters of the society in terms of sympathy and interest, much in the spirit of the letter from Col. Mason, below, which is given as a sample of the whole. The editor (then corresponding secretary of the state society) cannot find words to express his grateful appreciation of the prompt action and official courtesy of the superintendents of railroads in the state of Illinois; and though lines out of the state were not put on the footing of our own in regard to the fair, all favors asked were freely accorded to our officers and assistants. R. B. MASON'S LETTER. OFFICE ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY, Į DR. JOHN A. KENNICOTT, Corresponding Secretary State Agricultural Society: DEAR SIR-Mr. John N. Alsop Griswold, our president, has just handed me your interesting communication of the 7th inst., which would have been earlier attended to had I not been absent, south and west, almost uninterruptedly since it was received. I now beg to say, on behalf of this company, that I take pleasure in acknowledging the obligations we, in common with all railroad companies, feel we owe to the state agricultural society, and to assure you that we shall cordially join in-assisting to promote its objects and its welfare, so far as it can be done consistently with the well understood obligations to the state and the stock and bond holders, and without departing from general rules in such cases governing the action of the railroad interest of this vicinity. And to carry into practice these professions of sympathy and good feeling, we propose 1st. To run trains at about half fare over such portions of our line as we may think justifiable, for the accommodation of visitors going and returning from the fair, and to continue them to its close. 2d. To carry all cattle, stock, produce, specimen articles, and everything intended for exhibition at the fair, free both ways over our own line; the party forwarding, in all cases, acting as his own insurer, and signing a special contract to that effect, and paying infreight in advance; which prepayment will, however, be refunded, and the articles, stock, etc., returned free, on proof of exhibition at the fair, by certificate from the secretary of the society. 3d. Though this point is not touched upon in your letter, I ven-. ture to propose that we will, in case you choose a spot of ground on our line south of this city for fair grounds, run trains from our passenger station house, near Michigan Avenue, to the fair, hourly, during the middle of the day, and run all trains necessary to carry visitors early and late in the day during the continuance of the fair, at 25 cents a trip. 4th. Referring to that portion of your letter which suggests the active co-operation of this company, through its station agents, along its extended line, in bringing forward an interesting show of the natural products of the state, I take pleasure in informing you that we are ready to adopt and carry out your suggestions. If you will prepare notes for a letter of instructions, they shall be embodied in a circular to agents on the road, and an endeavor shall be made to impress upon them the importance of a zealous and intelligent action with regard to the object in view. If, in order more effectually to carry out this scheme, you should think it ju dicious or advisable to send a special agent of the society over our road to make suggestions and explanations on this matter, and to give advice and render assistance, he shall be provided with a free pass and a general letter of introduction, on application to this office. I inclose for yourself a free pass over our whole line, for the balance of the year, and have sent such another to your president, and others to each of the gentlemen named in your letter, to be used only when traveling to attend public and advertised meetings of the society. Trusting success may crown this undertaking of your society, and reassuring you of the hearty co-operation of this company in every measure tending to develop the resources of the state, I am, with great respect, sir, Your obedient servant, R. B. MASON, Chief Engineer and Gen'l Sup't Illinois Central Railroad. The society having appointed Robert Kennicott agent for collecting specimens of natural history, &c., the following circular was distributed along the whole line, and Mr. Kennicott acknowledges his indebtedness to the railroad company, its employees, agents and friends, for much official courtesy and personal kindness in the prosecution of his labors and duties. The collection made by the railroad interest, together with the private collections exhibited at the fair, will be found noticed in the report of the chairman of the committee on natural products, P. R. Hoy, M. D., of Racine, Wisconsin, well known to men of science as the best zoologist of the far west. CIRCULAR. OFFICE OF THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY, To the agents and employees of the Chicago, May 28, 1855. Illinois Central Railroad Company: GENTLEMEN-The state agricultural society of Illinois has made arrangements to hold an annual fair in Chicago, early in October of this year, and desires the co-operation of this company to bring together, on that occasion, an interesting collection of the natural and agricultural productions of this state; and the Illinois Central Railroad Company having a large interest in the soil, and feeling |