The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-04
WAYcRoss' BIG FAIR WEEK.
ENCOURAGING ATTENDANCE ON
THE OPENING DAY.


Long Since Gone--A Description OF
the Grounds-The Horse Races a
prominent Attraction.
tWavcross. Ca, Nov. 3-The fair opened
Yesterday morning on schedule time. over
a thousand people attended The exhibit
ton was ahead of all expectations. The
opening address was made by Senator
Clay who was introduced by Represent
alive Brantley. Mr.. Clay talked on indus
trial lines. He wanted to see factories
erected in all the towns and cities of the
state to utilize the vast resources and pro-
duets of soil. mineral and forest. The
cotton acreage ought to be reduced, he
said. to cause a demand and a better
price. The day was spentiby Mr.. Clay at
the fair grounds, and while here he was
entertained by Col. E. H. Myers.
No races occurred on the track, as the
first entries were for to-day. The weather
was fine yesterday and to-day.
The cheap rates went into effect to-day,
rate of one cent per mile each way from
various points.
The woman's department, which in
cludes the entire east wing of the main
and handsome paintings adorn the walls,
and the displays in fancy work, rare and
beautiful articles, ancient and modern,
add to the attractiveness of the room.
Miss Julia Stark of Thomasville has dis
play of very attractive fancy
work. Among the collection of relics
the following articles were noted es-
pecially interesting: A shot goufed and
powder horn used in the revolutionary
war; confederate powder horn; badge
worn through the revolution by Gen.
Floyd; a two-century old soap box 15O-
year old Bible; belt that was embroider-
ed in ITO: chinaware a century old; pin
cushion by insane lady at Columbus, o.;
pistol worn in the revolution by Capt. Pc
ter Gaillard; a dress worn by MRS. Loves
grandmother at Lafayette's reception;
silver set in use in the Goodrich family for
over two centuries; silver set in constant
use for 100 years; a book of common
prayer two centuries cold; a dress worn
over a century ago by Mrs. w. H. Millers
grandmother; a cotton dress made by
hand from lint picked of the seed and spun
and wove by hand; quilt made out of a
suit worn in the confederate army; an
Irish Shamrock quilt by Miss Agnes Free
man of Waycross; a quilt which won pre-
MUM at Canadian fair; parlor set of
china in use in Mrs. DR.. B. F. Williams
family for over century; fac smile Of
Gen George Washington's parlor china set;
a piece of the first Atlantic cable; a bit
of wood from the old East Hampton
Presbyterian church, to which the Queen
of England presented the candleStick; a
pair of snow shoes used seventy-fiVe years
ago in Vermont; a scrap quilt containing
1,S47 pieces, by Mrs H. Murphy; Chinese
H., -I.a - Trc 7
shuck hat.
A handsome china cabinet contains
fine display of hand-painted china ware.
There are several displays of fancy work
by ladies of this city and section. The
children's exhibit consists of a fine line
of paintings, confectionery, etc. The dis
plays of preserves is superior to any ever
made in this section. Mrs. Schaeffers
display consists of 173 jars. The agricul-
tural exhibit is very creditable. The fruit
and flowers display is very attractive. Mer-
chant displays are very attractive. The
live stock exhibit is fine in cattle, horses
and swine. There is a large exhibit of
poultry. T. e. Lanier has on exhibition
twelve coops of fine thoroughbred chick
ems, and Judge Brewer has fine exhibit
also. There are several other exhibitors.
over half dozen side shows are in opera
ton.
The grounds are located on the Mrs.
Lightsy tract just beyond Lott cemetery,
in Northwest Waycross, about one mile
from the Plant system passenger station,
and half a mile east from the Waycross
Air Line station. The buildings and ace
track occupy a beautiful plateau, and
some handsome pine saplings stand here
and there on the southside and on the
sloping strip alongside the brook, which
is included in the Enclosure. Some few
stately pines adorn the grounds. The
race course is half mile from start to
finish and fifty feet wide. The right of
way was graded and a strata of clay four
inches in depth was laid thereon and rolled
into smooth and hard surface. COW
ering of saWdust an inch in depth was
put on the track to give it elasticity and
protect its smoothness and firmness The
stables for the race horses are built along
side the south wall extending about 100
yards down the slope. The main entrance
and ticket office are cut into the south wall
near the main buildings. At the right of
the entrance is press headquarters.
unique pavilion erected by the Waycross
Herald Here the distinguished visitors
will meet with the editors of the wiregrass
section and exchange yarns, and drink
Jersey buttermlk. The Morning
News, the Herald and other pa
IerS will be on sale at the
pavilion. Just to the right of press head
quarters is the double-pen log. cabin
which will be occupied by the officers of
the fair association. The cabin is suppos-
ed 20 represent the first house ever built
in Ware county, and has wooden window
shutters swung on leather hinges. The
doors are swung in same manner as the
windows and are fastened with wooden
hinges. Deer horns, bear skins, goat SKINS
coon skins, sheep skins and other pelts
are hung up on the front side of the cabin
A hard-packed bed of earth serves for
floors. A log chimney, ehinked with dirt
and clay is az one end of the cabin. The
roof Is composed of long rafters and
boards, fastened with logs and wooden
pins, There is not nail nor piece of
iron in the cabin
The main fair building is just beyond
the cabin 1t Is S6x1i0 feet. Its dome is
above cross section in the center, which
Is S6xSO feet A pyramid of flowers stands
in the center underneath the dome The
flowers were exhibited by the Cherokee
Nursery Company of this city, and are
lne collection. The last wing is occu-
pied exclusively by the woman's depart
ment The other three wings are used for
various displays. A restaurant is in oper-
alton on the grounds.