The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-06-26
CAROLINA'S
FAIR HISTORY.
STATE AGRICULTURAL SOClE-
TIES OF THE PAST.
Col. Holloway Writes nu Historical
Sketch of Valuc-The State Fairs
of Years Gone by.


: Carolina people in varied ways than
the South Carolina Agricultural and
Mechanical Society, which gives tho
annual State fairs, ut which all the
people gather once u year and mingle
together. Consequently sketch of
the career of the society cannot but be
of general interest. Such sketch has
been prepared by Col, Thomas w.
Holloway, the efficient secretary of tho
society, than whom no one is better
qualified to do the work, and it is
given here:
1t is the purpose of the writer TO go
more into details rs to the successes and
partial faiI"rcs of the society since tic
present active organization in 1865
Without State aid, the society COM
menced without funds having only the
grounds and one building, the old one
IN the center of the grounds. The
society had to rely on the gate receipts
and life membership fees to pay the
premiums ard paying the expenses of
conducting the fnir. TO Col. d.
Wyatt Aiken, then the secretary, with
the assistance of Col j. =. Thomas of
large number of members of the
society.
The society was successful in its
early history, but in 1874 and 1875 the
society WAS unable to pay the premiums
in full. In 1876, the memorable year
of the redemption of the State from
Radical rule, the society failed to hold
fair owing to the political excitement
that pervaded every section of the
State. The grounds and buildings
were turned over to our people in arms
against the power then in control OF
the government.
In 1877 Mr. B. +. Crayton, of An
derson, was elected president. and to
him is due more than to any one per.
son the securing of an appropriation
by the legislature of 81, 800. and which
amount was continued until 1890.
That the society has succeeded in
its efforts to promote the interest of
agriculture, the improvement in the
stock of the country and kindred inter
ests no one will Tor should) deny.
The success of the management is
due to the untirIng efforts of the Off
GERS rs well as the membership, and
80 much has been accomplished for the
good of nil The citizens of tho State.
The success of the fair from the begin
ming, economically managed, enabled
the society to erect from time to time
tDe improvements now on the grounds,
which, with the old building in the
center Of the grounds donated by the
city of Columbia, have been erected
at cost of AT least SIG, 600.
Low railroad rates OF passage, State
aid after lS11, auG II large attendance
of visitors enabled the society to nc-
complish great results. Bat since 1870,
when State aid was wl.hHrawn, and an
increa. Q OF rates 'f passage by tie rail
roads for the years of 1898 and 1894
was put o!i, the society would have
failed to pay the premiums awarded
had the city Of Columbia not come to
it's assistance. These were trying
times The management Respondent,
fearing the society which had accom-
plished SO mach good, was doomed to
die.
1t is gratifying, however, to say
that the Legislature by close vote, re-
newcd the appropriation of S2,.iOO,
aud with this sum and patriotism upon
the part of the people our society has
great hopes Of very successful fair in
November. 1886, and that hcnceforth
it is hoped al true citizens of the
State can point with pride to each
coming fair with their stock, farm
products, agricultural machinery,
poultry and thc hnndiwork OF oar fair
women. Not only these as incentives,
but also the annual meeting together
Of our citizens from MI parts OF tho
State, where an Interchange of views
on the various topics of interest in
which they are engaged Is pleasing
aud profitable feature.
The summer meetings OF the society
are held annually in Au, uSt, where cs-
says are read and thoroughly discussed,
but it is to bc regretted that not only
the proceedings Of these meetings are
lost to the public, except the meetings
at Anderson, Greenvii.r, Rock Hill,
Orangeburg-th two latter being re-
ported by q stenpgrnpher. The pro
cecdings at Rock Hi! n second time,
also reported by n stenosrapher, have
not yet been published for the lack of
funds.
THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY AND FARM
EEs, CLUBS OF $. {.
From the third annual report Of the
commissioners of agriculture of tho
State of South Carolina, Col. A. u.
Butler, issued in 1882, on pages 2O7 to
213, inclusive, the following informa-
ton is obtaiued
"The history of the society and clubs
is represented, with some additional
data, thnt the farmers and all others
interested may be properly advised as
to the failures and successes exper-
10, Il, 60.