Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-10-20
The State Fair.


1t would have afforded us much pleasure to have
spread before readers list of all the articles
exhibition in the various departments at the late
State Fair but in the first place, the labor of pre-
pairing such list would have been very heavy,
while in the second place entire space would
not have contained it. We may also add that there
were many articles which deserved special notice,
but we could not do this without appearing to make
invidious comparisons.
On Tuesday, the day which the Fair commenc-
ed, the attendance was small; but on Wednesday
the crowd greatly increased and Thursday, which
has generally been regarded the day Of the Fair
the number of persons present could not have been
less than eight thousand. Some have estimated the
number as high as ten thousand. The weather, up
to Friday morning. was remarkably propitious 1t
was clear and calm, while the atmosphere was balmy
and invigorating Those who "camPed out" were
thus much favored, though they must have had an
unpleasant time of it in the cold rain of Friday.
We counted forty wagons in one place near the Fair
Grounds, and think it probable that there were
not less than hundred wagons in the various
squares the grounds and in the City.
Floral Hall, Pathological Hall, Farmers's Hall and
Mechanics Hall were all well filled with the varied
productions of nature and art. The central portion
of the grounds covered with machinery and ag
ricultural implements of all kinds. The number Of
blooded horses larger and certainly better than
on any former occasion. We noticed number of
young horses of superior blood, thus afording proof
that our farmers and others have turned their aten
ton more decidedly than at any former period to
the improvement of the breed of this noble animal.
The showing of cattle, sheep, hogs, and poultry was
about equal to that OF previous Fairs.
On Thursday no regular orator having been pro-
cured for the occasion, brief speeches made
from one of the stands near Floral Hall, by Hon.
Kenneth Rayner, Hon. Bedford Brown, X P. Battle,
ESQ.,, and Hon. D. NJ. Barringer The large crowd
listened attentively, and appeared to be edited and
pleased with the extemporaneous remarks Of these
gentlemen.
We were pleased to see in attendance Edmund
Ruffin ESQ., of Virginia one of the ablest and most
distinguished agriculturists in the country. We
were also gratifed to see present the venerable
! Thomas Rufin Sr., and the Hon. Bedford Brown,
| doth eminent practical farmers) taking deep in
terest in the Fair, and giving the benefit of their
suggestions and sound advice to younger and more
inexperienced planters and farmers.
We have heard no complaint of want of accom-
modations during the FAIR. The Committee, DR..
Perry and Mr.. Pescud, who had been appointed by
our citizens to receive visitors and procure lodgings
for them have performed their duty to the satsfac-
ton of all, and are entitled to the thanks of this
community, as we'll as of the public generally who
were in attendance at the Fair.
As a general thing, while the number and guam
tity of articles on exhibition showed very deci-
ded increase over those of former Fairs, yet every
one who examined closely must have been impressed
with the fact that they for the most part supe-
rior in kind and quality, thus placing the late Fair
in this highly important respect much in advance
of all others previously held
Upon the whole the late Fair toas decidedly sue
cessful an every respect. Let the farmers and me-
chancs of the State, and the people generally con-
time to encourage and cherish the State Society I'M
der whose auspices these annual exhibitions are
held Let this be done and every future exhibition
will be an improvement in respect or another on
those which have preceded it and in this way more
than in any other, will our farmers, mechanics, art
sts inventors and others engaged in industrial Pur-
SUITS be encouraged to persevere and excel in their
respective spheres of labor.