The prices obtained at this exhibition ranged very high, and "full houses" were constantly in attendance, day and evening, to examine and select and purchase from the "pure-bred" stock there. "Mr. Burnham, of Melrose" (continued the Report), "declined an offer of $120 for his twelve premium Cochin-China chickens, and subsequently refused $20 for the choice of the pullets."
"The show was much larger than the first one, and the character of the birds exhibited was altogether finer, though the old fowls were, for the most part, moulting. A deep interest was manifested in this enterprise, and it went off with satisfaction to all concerned," added the Report.
In order that the details of this experiment (which I projected and carried through, myself) may be appreciated and understood, I extract from the "official" Report the following items regarding this show, the expenses, the prize-takers, &c.
The "Committee of Judges," consisting of myself, G.P. Burnham, Esq., and a gentleman of Melrose, made the following statements and "observations," in the Report above referred to:
"The Exhibition was visited by full ten thousand persons, during the three days mentioned. The amount of money received for tickets was four hundred and seventy-three dollars and thirty-eight cents; and the following disbursements were made:
| Cash paid for | rent of hall, | $175.00 | |
| " | " | amount of premiums and gratuities, | 135.00 |
| " | " | for lumber and use of tables, | 17.60 |
| " | " | for lighting hall, advertising, etc., | 70.40 |
| " | " | tickets, cards and handbills, | 18.21 |
| " | " | carpenters and attendants, | 27.50 |
| " | " | police and door-keepers, | 15.00 |
| " | " | grain, seed, buckets, pans, etc., | 25.56 |
| " | " | coops, cartage and sundries, | 7.37 |
| ——— | |||
| Total expenses, | $491.64 | ||
| Amount received, as stated, | 473.38 | ||
| ——— | |||
| Deficit, | $18.26 | ||
When the state of the funds was subsequently more particularly inquired into, however, it was found that the amount of money actually received at the door was a little rising nine hundred and seventy dollars, instead of "four hundred and seventy-three," as above quoted. But this was a trifling matter; since the "Committee of Judges" spoken of above accounted for this sum, duly, in the final settlement.
The "Committee" aforesaid awarded the following premiums at this show, after attending to the examination confided to them—namely:
"First premium, for the best six fowls contributed, to George P. Burnham, of Melrose, Mass., $10.
"For the three best Cochin-China Fowls (Royal), to George P. Burnham, Melrose, Mass., $5.