Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-11-04

1.-The place. through VIC AAOA-'J
Icitizens of Augusta and the City Council
lfiftv,thousand dollars have been spent upoI
the Grounds.
The Fair Grounds are within the cor
lporate limits of Augusta, easily accessible
Iby the street railway, and also by the cars
LOT the South Carolina Railroad, which
company has laid down q track TO the
grounds. The entrance is most tasty, and
Ibeautiful drives and walks spread out be-
fore the visitor. Upon either side Of the
main drive are bronze statues OF flora
and Ceres, inviting you to the respective
Halls over which their colors wave, and IN
which they reign supreme. On the r1ght
stands the Industrial Hall, and to the lett
lis Floral Hall. Two hundred yards apart
stand these Halls tho walks and drives
which unite them with each other and with
other portions Of the Grounds diVerge
from magnificent fountain. hall way be-
tween them, which throws innumerable
jets Of water high ii air.
The centre Of the Grounds is taken up
with the race track, half mile IN clrcum-
ference. At the opposite end from the
Halls mentioned is Mechanics Hall, in
which hundreds Of improved machines
are busy ginning and packing cotton,
spinning, weaving, &C., around which
thousands of farmers are collected, dis
cussipg lie merits of each. On one side
| of the track is the Grand Stand capable
of seating three thousand people. and
throughout the week it has been tested to
its utmost capacity.
| shall mako no attempt to give au idea
OF the articles upon exhibition or their
mefitg It would be an endless task.
Every department of industry, CT fine arts,
of every thing which renders our Fairs use
| ful and interesting, is full to Overlooking.
Floral Hall is q scene fit for fairy land,
whether we consider the attendant god
desses or the exhibition. The useful and
beautiful are blended with taste and har-
mony.
The Board of Managers of the Cotton
States Fair Association have evidently in
their exhibition desired to satisfy the
wishes of every class of people Those
who have come for useful agricultural and
industrial information will go away much
benefited. The sight-seer will be fully re-
paid, while those in quest of amusement,
will certainly be moro than pleased. The
wants and tastes of all have been respect
ed. and he must indeed be hard to satisfy,
who departs from Augusta not delighted
with The Fair. and the whole souled, big
hearted hospitality of its people.
There has been 40 very fast racing here.
Indeed, the Fair has not been given up to
! the 81 horse men," as is too frequently the
case at Fairs Of late years. Those fond of
the sport have no reason to complain, while
other departments have not been ne
elected.
The Tournament has been the great at
tractive feature Of the amusement seekers,
and even the staid farmers were drawn
from among the plowa and gins, and away
from the cotton shed to the neighbOrhood
or within tho Grand Stand while it pro-
crossed. Thursday was the day set apart
for the Tournament, and the attendance
was at least double that of any other day
during the week. Upwards Of ten thou
sand people crowded the Stand and the
vicinity Of the track, entering into the
manly sport with deafening cheers, as one
after another, the gallant knights rode
through the lists with varying success.
"Ienry of Navarro, Mr.. Z. c. Thomas,
of Augusta, lad of sixteen, bore off the
first prize among the nineteen contestants,
making twenty-five of the forty-two points.
He was awarded fine horse. The Knight
of Richmond" the next most successful
rider, crowned the Queen, an arrangement
I thought little in accordance with the
chivaIric memories of the olden Journeys.
But will not complain, as this isthe only
rt-coming noticed during the Fair.
The regal ceremonies were CONSUMING
ted at night in most gorgeous manner al
a Banquet given by the citizens of Augusta
to their guests. The hall fitted up for the
occasion was from three to four hundred
feet long and half as wide. All the ar
engagements for dancing, promenade and
refreshments were superb. Upwards o.
one hundred couples were on the floor.
Che loneliness and grace of the ladies, the
gallant bearing of the men, the splendid
toilets, the magnificent hal! and its decor
atoms, the fine music, combined to make
it an occasion long to be remembered.
The several addresses during the weel
have formed one OF the most importan
features of the occasion. On Wednesday
Hon. BARNES COMPTON, President of thu
Maryland Senate, delivered most admira
Die address. On Friday, Hon. JAMES
LYONS. of Richmond, Va, and Genera
CAPRoS, in charge of the Agriculture
Bureau at Washington, delivered ad
, dresses All were characterized by grea
ability, and were listened to throughout b.
vast concourse of people.
I have not time now to speak of th'
Agricultural Congress and its labCrs
will try to do SO on my return.
I wish it was in my power and entirel.
Will, xoroYar 1ooorup, 70 n