The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-10-24
ECHOES FROM THE FAIR.

Yesterday saw the final breaking up
of the State Fair of 1897, and the folks
are all vending their way homeward
with happy memories of the occasion
There is regret, of course, that the rains
interfered with the attendance, but the
Fair has been a reasonable success.
The handsome exhibits have gone
home; the pretty girls have gone to
their homes, some taking with them the
marshals' regalias, others carrying the
hearts Of the gallant boys they met.
The regalas and the hearts are In good
bands, and let us hope that we will all
meet again in the golden days of the
next autumn.
There were but few out at the grounds
Yesterday and those that went out saw
only the breaking up of the exhibits and
the attractions.
The city has been lively during the
week. Trade has been good and the best
of order has prevailed. North Carolina
folks always behave themselves, and the
crowd in Raleigh this week has been one
again demonstrating this fact.
The Fair is over, and in just two
months we will all be joining in a
Christmas holiday. 'Twixt now and then
we will push along in busy life and keep
building up the grand old State.
THE POULTRY DISPLAY AT THE
STATE FAIR.
When the poultry department of the
State Fair of 1897 is compared to the
Fairs OF FIVE or more years ago those who
are observant will exclaim what Won
derful advance in this most interesting
part OF Cardinals resources has been
made.
A few years back dozen or more
rusty slat coops were placed back of the
building, and in it were placed the few
fowls that were brought in. There they
stood taking wind and rain, sunshine and
shadow, and crowed as Justify as if they
were high-class exhibition birds, entered
because they were valuable and not
merely as a subterfuge to gain free
pass Today this department, under the
supervision of Mr.. T. G. Hege, is the
drawing card of the Fair, and occupies
more space in the roomy building than
any other, and hundreds of fowls valued
at IS, $40, SIS and even up to $50 each,
are there to be viewed by thousands as
q proof that old North Carolina can show
thoroughbred stock equal to any State
in the Union. No other class of live
stock has made such a rapid advance in
numbers and quality in the same length
of time, and for the State Fair of 1898
we predict the largest number of fowls
ever seen at any State Fair ever held
in the United States Owing to limited
space we can give but a brief outline of
the many handsome exhibits.
Biltmore estate entered over 100 fowls,
4iaA md
skill could produce, comprising light
Brahmas, Buff Cochins, white and bar
red Plymouth Rocks, white-siver and
golden Wyandottes, Indian games, black
Minorcas, white and brown Leghorns,
ducks, geese and bronze turkeys, weigh
ing SO pounds each; Monaghan pleas
ants, etc. Many premiums We're won by
this exhibit and the aisle in front of the
coops was continually lined with visit
ors. Mr.. Jas. Z. Kerr, the manager,
wore happy smile the entire week and
took especial pains to explain the many
good points of his excellent fowls, and to
show the array of blue ribbons tackled
on the coops, which all poultrymen are
so proud to possess, especially when
won in close competition.
Col. J. S. Cars exhibit extended in
double row across the entire building
and were viewed by all. Twenty va
rieties Of poultry, ducks, geese and
pigeons are bred at Occoneechee, and the
mere fact that they were bred there is
proof enough that many first premiums
were awarded them. Mr.. X. Reid Hard
ing Is the manager of that department,
and may well be proud to make such a
creditable display. The best and moth
ing but the best is Col. Carr's motto.
Alamance farm of Graham, N. c., o..
Banks Holt, proprietor), had the largest
number Of fowls entered by any one ex-
hibitor and carried home with him en-
ough premium ribbons to make a crazy
quilt. His entries comprised poultry,
geese. ducks, turkeys, pigeons, rabbits,
etc, and would make a Fair by itself.
Mr.. Chic Darlington is manager of this
department of the farm, and the smile
he wore after the awards were placed,
cannot be described. 1t should be seen
TO be appreciated.
K. l.. Simmons, Of Shelby, N. c.; w.
q. Thomas, of Lousburg; S. w. Thorn
as, OF Southern Pines, N. c.; w. NJ.
Bagwell, Of Henderson; j. Zeb WALES,
OF Burlington; N. A. Ramsay, of Dur
ham, and numerous other North Caro-
lima breeders made handsome and credit
able displays and each succeeded in win
ming their shares of ribbons. r. e. Har-
rs, Of Patmos, N. c., brought in two
wagon loads of his collections of fowls.
Bob never gets left and the State Fair
could not be held without him. He is
certainty.
We must not forget our home exhibit
ore, for they made the exhibit complete
both as to quality and quality. The
North Carolina Agricultural Experiment
Station made beautiful display of
dressed fowls in a glass case made espe-
cially for it, and in addition showed over
200 head of pure-bred fowls, % varie-
ties of eggs, incubators and brooders
full of little chicks, many models of
poultry houses, fixtures, ETC., and one
large cage ID by % feet, containing 80
handsome, well-grown fowls, Matched
the past spring from eggs laid by one
hen. This cage was the centre of attrac-