The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1896-11-05
THE ROCKY MOUNT FAIR.
GREAT CROWDS OF PEOPLE.
A Prosperous Town.

The Rocky Mount fair was held last
week, beginning on Tuesday and clos
ing on Friday. There were good
crowds on Wednesday and Thursday,
the crowd on Thursday numbering per
haps four thousand. The agricultural
exhibit was good, showing fine farm
products of choice variety. The live
stock exhibit was not very good. The
ladies' department showed great taste
in the display and the exhibits were
very pretty, but this department was
not very full.
The Rocky Mount Cotton Mills had
nice exhibit which attracted consid-
cradle attention.
The Tar River Lumber Go. also had
an exhibit of turned work and mantels,
which made good showing.
The Rocky Mount telephone exhibit
was something new and was attractive.
There was considerable horse-racing
and many OF the races were said to be
good. The lovers of the race-track
had much amusement and the great
crowd looked and enjoyed it too.
There was the usual number of ia
kris. They made the noise for the
fair, took pictures of all who
were concerned about looks and told
the fortunes of those who were more
anxious about the future.
We haye always thought that the
fakir institution ought to be excluded
from the grounds of a country fair,
and we are very clear in our conviction
now that the midway" business at
Rocky Mount was a little too tough
for country fair.
There were many pleasant reunions
of old friends, which is one of the chief
attractions of a country fair. Some
old soldiers who had not seen each 9TH
er in more than thirty years were the
happlest persons on the grounds. They
talked over "the days of battle" and
lived again in few hours the years of
long ago.
ROCKY MOUNTS PROGRESS.
The fair is nothing new to the
Rocky Mount people, for they have
kept 1t up now for many years; but
the good progress which the town is
making is a matter Of special import
ance. While there has been no
'boom" progress in the business of the
town, Rocky Mount tor the past few
years has made such marked and steady
progress that it is now considered one of
the livliest towns in Eastern Carolina.
The chief sources OF it's prosperity are
the tobacco markets, cotton mills, and
the railroad shops.
Rocky Mount is now the second
tobacco market in the State, and
her tobacco men are amongst the clev-
crest in the land. The people are gen.
orally clever and show that courtesy
and attention to visitors and strangers
that always make one think we'll of
them and feel like going again.
We noticed test of the new fire
engine, which was entirely satisfactory.
Few towns of the size of Rocky Mount
have as good protection against fire.
The length of the hose for the new
fire engine is 900 feet and will throw
good stream of water 800 feet from the
nozzle. The engine can be fired and
ready to throw water in six minutes.
Besides the new fire engine the town
has hook and ladder company man.
aged by the colored people, which rem
ders goou service.
The churches and schools of Rocky
Mount vouchsafe moral and intellect
ual growth in equal pace with other
things; two newspapers literally pa
tronized by the business men keep the
questions of public interest before the