The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-10-26

in the State may well be proud. And
for this too much credit cannot be given
to the good women of North Carolina
God bless them. (Applause}.
1T is now pleasure to me to introduce
to you the Governor of North Carolina,
who has greatly aided us in this under
taking and who will now formally declare
the State Fair open" (Applause).
ADDRESS OF GOV. RUSSELL.
Governor Russell. standing at the en-
trance of the grand stand, said
1T is a matter for cOngratulation and
great pleasure to the friends of the Agri-
cultural Society of North Carolina that
it opens to-day under auspices so en-
cOuraging.
For many years. especially since the
property Of the State was lost by war;
the promoters of the North Carolina
State Fair have been hard pressed to
find men of enterprise, executive ability
and of wealth who would take charge OF
the Fair and run it successfully. EX-
perience has proved it not only requires
n man of vim and vigOr and enterprise
and executive ability, but it takes n
man with great wealth. man who has
n bank accent and is not afraid to draw
on it. AS [ look at the exhibits in yonder
halls. at the busy scene and crowd about
me can say they have made no mistake
in this time selecting John S. Cunning
ham.
This is no time to lecture on agricul-
ture. | am neither prepared to speak
on that subject nor you to listen to it
A brief reference to it, though, in connec-
- will thr of
may be interesting. The North Carolina
Agricultural Society was organized in
1859. about forty years ago. At that
time North Carolina had only about 900,
900 people. of whom at least two-thirds
were negroes. Our fathers were living
under primitive and patriarchal institu-
tions. There wasn't a moving machine
or farm engine to be found in the land;
scarcely house had water-pipe or gas
Jet in it. Electricity was where Franklin
found tin the clouds. Now witness our
growth as State, as people. In spite
of the civil conflict and its terrible desc
lation we have prospered. The State
has 100000 inhabitants. How has this
been accomplished? BY honest, genuine
thought and action.
I'VE need industrial education. We
need college-bred men. but we need that
they shall come from the college with
a knowledge of machinery and electricity
and of tilling and improving the soil
and erecting buildings. There should be
among us an unwritten law that a me-
chanic or a farmer belongs to a profess
sion as honorable as the lawyer or the
doctor. There is no degradation in hon
est toll and man should not try to make
it so.
Farming is not what it once was. 1t
must be done by machinery, by engines
and mowers and gins and wind mills.
Man must take advantage of the forces
of nature and utilize the inventive power
of his own brain.
And we are doing it. Men have
been trying to cut rice by machinery and
never succeeded until the last three
months 1t was done by w. II. Boyd, n
Mecklenburg county boy, and it means
much to the world"
Again ngratulating the Fair manage
ment on so suspicious an opening and
bidding all welcome, Governor Russell
concluded his remarks amid much ap~
plause.
At the conclusion of the ceremonies
dispersed to see the attractions. A stroll
through the main building easily dissi-
pates any preconceived opinion that TIE
North Carolina State Fair is merely a
crazy -quilt and biggest-pumpkin affair
1t is North Carolina in miniature, a
splendid panorama of what she has
within her borders, and magnificent
testimonial to what she is doing-and
Al, III ,Ln@ ,I,r
can and will do when she finds herself
and really comes into her own.
There is scarcely an industry, art, pro-
fessionA business or calling that is not
represented in the immense display that
crowds the building from entrance I"
exit. And the exhibits are arranged with
excellent taste and judgment, both with
view to proper variety and an impress
siye toue en- ensemble. AS one moves
through the artistically arranged dis
plays he thinks of Omaha, Atlanta and
Nashville. There are many points of
similarity to suggest thu comparison.
1t is impossible to make Il survey "f
this array of the products of tho brain
and Drawn of the State without feeling a
thrill of pride in North Carolina. A day
spent in Il study of this "index Of in
dustries' is ample reward for u journey
to the capital. Nowhere else and in no
other way can one SO well grasp the
greatness and diversity of the Safes
growing commercial life. 1t affords at
once u lesson and an inspiration
From a miniature white squadron
rocking on Il miniature sea that rises and
falls by electricity, to a white bull dog OF
lengthy pedigree and many battle sears.
there is something to appeal to the
imagination and interest of every visi-
tor.
THE RACES.
One of the main attractions Of the
Fair this year, as previously, arc the
trotting and running races. A horse
race appeals to more men, perhaps than
any other one thing, dog