Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-30
ENORMOUS CROWDS
AT RALEIGH FAIR.
Every Part of the old North State
Represented at the Big Display
Finest in States History.

RALEIGH \. c.. october c9.-(Special.)
The predictions that this would be a
record-breaking State Fair proved true.
The attendance to-day was the largest
ever known on a Wednesday, and to-
morrow the throng will be so great as to
be overwhelming
Train after train rolled in to-day, reg
ular and special. packed to the limit.
| 1t was a well-dressed and wel-behaved
/ people, truly representative of North
Carolina. Prosperity was evident in the
happy faces and the neat clothes. All
classes mingled Not a part of the State
is unrepresented. Indeed, it is asserted
that during the week every county will
have people here.
Commissioner of Agriculture Patterson.
when asked for his opinion of the fair.
said: 1T is a splendid one; the finest l
have ever seen" 1t is high praise.
One Of the great fea lures of to-day
was the Industrial, floral. bicycle, and
military parade; the floral part being
| equal to anything ever seen in this part
of the country: the Industrial was second
only to that at Raleighs centennial cele-
bration; the bicycle parade a large one,
and the military parade of ten compa-
| mics and a company battalion of the Ag-
ricultural and Mechanical College fine
one.
At the fair ground this parade marched
around the race course upon it's arrival
from the city, while thousands viewed it
| adniringly. and then 1t was grouped in
the oval of the race course. making a
| lovely picture.
| The day was an inspiration, the sky
| cloudlesS. the air clear of dust, and the
autumn foliage, as yet untouched by
! frost. made q fine frame for the picture
of the fair grounds and its scenes.
Not an exhibit Of all the thousands was
missed by the sightseers. The poultry.
COO strains; the cattle. many and fine;
the hogs. the sheep, the horses, all had
their admirers, while a score of tiny
ponies were a delight 20 old and young
The long lines of agricultural products
of: the highest quality, the great apple
show of go varieties. the manufactured
products the exhibits and handiwork OF
the deaf mutes. the blind. and the stu
dents Of various institutions. all had
their admirers.
There are no end of attractions on the
Midway" 1t is a clean one this year.
There are good shows. too particularly
that of the Layton Carnival Company.
The clay-piseon shoot begins to-day
and continues tomorrow and Friday. On
the latter day it Will be for the State
championship.
The racing is sood this year. There are
also many horses on exhibition besides
the racers Robert Hough, of Baltimore
is the starter this Year. For several years
w. J. Carter, of Richmond, was starter
and q fine one, too.
The Commissioner OF Agriculture says
that up to October there was a large in
crease in the number of fertilizer tax
tags sold. He does rot know what it is
since that date. He expected a large in
crease in the acreage of small grain
At noon to-day a portrait Of the late
DR.. Charles j. O'Eagan, OF Greenville.
was presented by the North Carolina
Medical Society to the State Library. eX-
Senator Matt. w. Ransom making the
address of presentation