Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-10-08
WILL OPEN TUESDAY
LARGE CROWDS, FINE exnl5lT S, S,eOoo
RACING, FEATURES OF OUR FAIR.
IL Promises to he BIG succeM-spIendid
Poultry and Machinery DispIsys-
Notes From the Grounds.

The thrty-nrst annual fair OF thHsVir-
| ginia Agricultural and Mechanical So
ciety VIII begin Tuesday morning. The
I opening will not be marked by formal
ceremonies. The immense buildings and
grounds will be thrown open TO the pub
lie promptly at o'clock. and will be
kept open until sundown Of the four
days Of the fair.
| Everything Is in readiness for the big
/ show to begin. and II promises TO be an
unprecedented success in the history Of
| the state fairs. the hard times TO the
/ contrary Notwithstanding. Secretary
! Tyler and large force Of clerks and
/ other employees have had their hands
| full for the past two weeks making pre-
| parations for the approaching event. Yes
/ terday the buildings and grounds pre-
/ sented a very busy scene. Many OF the
exhibitors were engaged in getting up
| their displays, which. as far as can be
ascertained will compare very favorably
with any OF the State expositions. The
various structures In the grounds have
been given such repairs as were neces-
| sary, and the entire premises have been
| freshened up for the occasion.
Low RAILROAD RATES.
The various railroads running into Rich
mond. and those In Virginia and North
| Carolina connecting with them, have Of
fered reduced rates that will attract many
| TO the capital OF the Old Dominion. Only
one fare for the round trip will be
charged. Advices and interest in the big
show indicate that there will be "A big
crowd in attendance.
The fair in 1891, II will be remembered,
wa n Cf,ic in
| the exposition last year was entirely sat
| isfactOry except from a pecuniary stand
| point. 1t is the object of the society this
| fall to have an exhibition that will show
to as great an advantage as possible the
| natural and Industrial resources Of the
Old Commonwealth, and a visit 10 the
grounds is the only thing necessary To
convince one that they have achieved
their object.
The exhibition this year has been d.
Vded into ten distinct departments: Nat
ural History and Fine Arts; Farm Pro-
ducts. Fruit, Flowers etc; Machinery
and Agricultural implements: Ladies'
Fancy Work; Horses and Mules; Cattle;
Sheep and Swine; Poultry; County Collec-
tive Exhibits; Races.
THE FINEST YET.
The exhibits In the poultry department
and the races will be far ahead OF these
features in former years. There are l,2o
entries. embracing every variety recog-
niZed by the standard The poultry eN-
hibit will be I'm the western wing OF the
main building Here the cages will be
arranged on long tables. and the fowls
will have an equal showing before the
public gaze There will also be twenty
five poultry pens. in which will be placed
six female birds and one male bird. \
most attractive feature OF this depart
ment will be the Eureka Pigeon Lott the
concept'on of Mr.. George T. King. In
this loft there will be placed about l6'
pigeons. Each will be perchod upoh a
peg. and from these appendages they VIII
be inspected by the judges.
OF course, the great preponderance or
interest has centered in the races. This
| Is but natural when 1t is considered that
| the society has put w more money IN
prlzes for the number of trials II has ever
before offered. There Will be more horses
from a distance to enter these contests
and the character OF the races Will, 1t is
assured. be better than in the history or
the Agricultural and Mechanical Society.
TRACK AND GRAND STAND.
The track. which IL the standard half
mile. is composed OF the best material
and will be put in as fine condition AS
money and skill can make 1t. 1t Is sixty
five feet wide and well thrown up on
the curves, thereby making IT very fas..
The grand stand has seatlng capaci'y
OF 5000 people. placed Immediately In
front of the start. The center Of the
race course has been fitted up as a car
riage park. and those desiring to Wit
ness trials of speed with the comforts or
home can do so upon the payment or
the prescribed fee: Carriages, 81; bugSies,
50 cents. and saddle-horses, p cents.
The old reporters stand which stood
Immediately in front OF the srand-stand'
has been removed in order to obViate the
obstruction TO the view Of spectators.
The newspaper men have been we'll pro-
yided with seats and tables just In front
of the judges stand, opposite the grand
stand.
The eastern wing OF the building has
been set apart to the machinery exhibits,
which will be both creditable and attrac-
tive. The ladies' department Is 10 he IN
the southwestern end of the building.
Much care and pains have been taken III
getting up this feature, and me manage
ment point 10 its prospects with prlde'
The exhibits of the merchants ana man
ufacturers will be both elaborate ana
handsome. They will be quite as nuiner-
Gus as at former fairs.
SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS.
! for the fair are Professor Crewe's eN-
ploits with his balloon. and his celebrated
| leap from a tower sixty feet high INTO
a pool of water eight feet deep. Professor
| Crewe will make two jumps ana go up
| In his balloon with his dog each oaN;
In the music hall will be a pony ana
dog circus which will give six perform
ances a day. This will prove especially
| amusing to the young folks. The usual
/ ticht-rope walker and contoruonist VIII
| also be on hand TO amuse and delight the
/ assembled multitudes.
The management is very earnest in the
! desire that the city Offices, stores ana
manufactures will close Thursday IN oruer
| that the big day OF the fair may lnueed
be a big day. An effort IS also on foot
| 10 have all the schools closed on Friday
| that all the little ones may take ad-
vantage of childrens day at the show.