Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1901-10-31
STATE FAIR OPENED.
Opening Ceremonies In the Presence
of Large Crowd

! State Fair began Tuesday, under the
most favorable auspices, as to weather,
| attendance and exhibits. 1t ranks as
! one of the best fairs ever held in the
| South. The procession, which was a
very creditable one, second to none, es-
| corted the Governor and Gen. Cox, the
| president of the fair, together with 9TH
er State and city officials. In the pro-
| cssion were a battalion of the State
Guard, the cadet battalion, 500 strong,
Of the Agricultural and Mechanical
| College here, with its band and bugle
| corps, the fire department, etc. At the
grounds the Governor was introduced
by General Cox and said
'~Tfe opening of the North Carolina
State Fair at its forty first annual ex-
hibition is a matter of no small signt-
fcance, We have entered upon a new
century and | believe upon a new era.
l am among the optimists who believe
that the world grows better and that
the future holds for our children a
larger measure Of usefulness. distinc-
ton, happiness ann success than the
past has held for us. Born in the
trOublOus times before the war, the as
sociation which now conducts this fair
maintained its organization ana mae
its exhibits except for few years du-
ring the war and the period immedl-
ately following. At the time of its BIZ tn
agriculture was almost the sole inauG-
try OF the State. Today it is but one of
three sisters-argi manufacture
and commerce. We have made great
progress in the years since the organ
ization OF the association which annu-
ally makes the exhibition here and this
fair has much to do with our progress.
1t brings our people together, il shows
them the things which have been done
and stimulates them to doing other
things. 1t makes is acquainted one
with another. 1t shows to some ex.
tent what statehood is and makes eacn
man think more Of the land of his na.
tivity
There are many problems before us;
We shall solve them all, but we can
only solve them by sturdy adherence
to our convictions Of duty, by careful
study, by thorough preparation and by
recognition Of the divine right of the
difference of opinion. BY these means
we shall not only remain what we have
always been, an independent people,
but we shall become a more creative
people. capable Of doing the things
whose performance we have heretofore
merely celebrated. We shall not only
grow the products of the farm, but we
shall multiply those products MANIFOLD
by manufacture and shall increase their
value by commerce.
eve are becoming more united All
with the building of better roads,
which is already assured, and by the
education of all our people We shall be
able % make our impress upon the
public opinion of the nation. 1t is fol
these purposes that we come together,
not merely to see what has been done
but to consider the things which YET
remain to be done. We take courage in
our past achievements and start into
the future with the hope OF better
things. We have a great State, a homo
geneoUs people but with enough diff
ference to bring about that diversity
which is essential to the largest
growth. Knowing one another better
realizing what our fathers have done
approaching the labors OF the present.
let US strike out for greater things in
the future and prove ourselves worthy
of the distinguished ancestry who have
earned the plaudits of the world il
their deeds have not been celebrated
as they should be.
with heart full Of hope, with
gratitude for the past, with apprecIa-
ton for the present, with anticipation
Of glorious future, | now formally de-
clare the forty first annual fair open