The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-10-15
FAIR WILL OPEN IN
TWENTY THREE DAYS
Interest in the Big Show Con-
tinueS to Increase.
MANY SPECIAL FEATURES
DR.. Smith at Work on Mineral and For
esty Exhibit-Success of Negro
Department Assured It. o.
Smith Grand Marshal
MANY SPECIAL FEATURES

just twenty-three days from today the
gates of the greatest State Fair In the history
of Alabama will be thrown open to the public.
AS the date for the opening approaches
interest in the fair continues to increase in
proportion to the enthusiasm with which
the work is being carried forward.
Great preparations for the opening day
exercises which promises to be to Birming-
ham what Dewey day was to New York.
Invitations are being prepared to send to
the government, county and city officials,
the military Commercial club, Board Of
Trade, secret orders, labor organizations,
civic bodies and prominent citizens to take
part in the grand parade that will take
place on that day.
Colonel T. 0. Smith has been selected as
grand marshal of the day, and has accepted
that position. He is actively at work on
the details of the parade and 1t goes with
out saying that it win be a great success.
The Mexican Band
The Mexican band will be- one of the main
features of the show, just as 1T was dur
ing the days of the great explosions at
Nashville and Atlanta. The band will be
on the grounds during the entire ten days
of the fair. and will give concerts daily
In securing this magnificent organization
to furnish music to the thousands, the
management may be said to possess a fine
streak of luck. Other fairs and expositions
have tried in vain to hire the band for the
fall, but to all entreaties the president OF
Mexico who controls the movements of the
band turned deaf ear. He said he would
Lot ailt of blIt on
sion, and that was for the Georgia State
fair on account of Secretary Martins per-
sonal friendship
1t is due to Secretary Rountrees persist
ant work that President Diaz has finally
consented that the Alabama State fair
should also have the service of the band
1t is given to the fair to be used on all &C.
casions as the management sees fit. Tile
generosity and courtesy of the president of
Mexico will be given due appreciation by
the fair management, who, to show that
the president is not alone with that spirit,
will give the band over to the visitors.
They will be charmed delegated and vastly
benefited by the magnificent music they
will give them.
To say that the Mexican band is the
most popular musical organization that has
ever visited Birmingham would not be far
from the real truth. Those who have heard
the band play la Paloma will never for
get the sweet strains from the reeds and
strings of the artistic instruments. Who
did not appreciate the soulful ''Zenda"
waltzes as interpreted by the Mexican art
lists? These and scores of new pieces are
in the repertoire of the band for this sea-
son.
The band has forty-five pieces. This con-
stitutes a larger band than has ever visited
this country through the courtesy of the
president Mexico. There "A 6S
in the world which carryl a larger number
of artists than this, and there are none
which furnish sweeter music and that is
appreciated more by the general public
No music touches the soul of the southerner
quickly as the dreamy waltzes inter-
preted by the Mexican band. A great ora
ton is awaiting President Diazs musicians
and they will get it good and strong when
they come to Birmingham.
Mineral Department
DR.. Eugene Smith, the state geologist,
who is superintendent of the mineral and
forestry department of the State fair, has
gone actively to work to get up good ex-
hbit at the State fair. He has sent out the
following circular letter to all the big mine
and mineral producers of the state re-
questing them to take part In the fair
Mr.. Smith has appointed MIR. James An
derson as his representative to take up this
work and arrange all Details and has ad-
dressed the following letter to prospective
exhibitors:
Dear Sir: have been appointed superin-
tendent of Department Fl (mines minerals
and forestry, of the Alabama State fair
and 4 trust that l can secure your aid in
making this exhibit in this department Il
creditable one.
Copies of the premium list will be mailed
to you Under separate covers.
AS l shall be personally unable on ac-
count of college duties, to attend to all the
correspondence and details of the business,
Mr.. James A. Anderson, of University, Ala,
will be my representa- tive and assistant.
Exhibits will go to Birmingham at the
expense of the exhibitor, but will be re-
turned free of charge if desired 1t is,
however, the earnest wish of the authori-
ties that all the exhibits of this class be
left with the association as a nucleus of a
permanent exhibit of the states resources,
the exhibitors card remaining on sane all
the year through
In case you should not yourself send
some one to superintend the installation
and arraignment of your exhibit, Mr.. An