The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-10-24
Exhibits Are Nearly All in Place and Are Viewed By
 Thousands
WOMAN'S DEPARTMENT AN ATTRACTIVE FEATURE
Races Yesterday Afternoon Give Prom se Of Ten Days Rare Sport. The First Day Was
 "Ladies' Day."

The Alabama State Fair opened yester- day morning under more fattering au- spices than ever attended the opening of any fair in this section in many years Nearly 10000 people passed through the gates day and evening visiting the various exhibits, watching the exciting horse races and viewing the horse show.
 While all the exhibits were not com plete yesterday, still large number of them had been installed. and workmen were employed all last night in an att tempt to get them ready before the gates are opened this morning.
 The fair was formally inaugurated by Dr. R. M. Cunningham, lieutenant govern nor of Alabama, in short address Tn which he spoke of the immense resources of the state, and the excellent exhibits of these resources to be found within the fence of the fair grounds.
 All during the day. commencing imme- dately after the opening address, amuse- ments of various kinds were presented in rapid order. There was not moment when there was not something to Inter est the public. It was ladies' day and all women were admitted to the grounds free until 12 o'clock. Probably POO awaited themselves of the opportunity.
 First Feature.
 The first features of the day was the racing which commenced about 1 o'clock and was com peted about o'clock. The class shown by the entries in the first days events in dicates that the horse races this year will be better than any that have ever been witnessed in Birmingham before. The large crowd showed much interest In the races as a portion of the grand stand was packed.
 The other event of most importance was the horse show last night when many well bred show horses were exhibited in eight classes. The show was attended by the 400 of Birmingham, and was great success from social standpoint.
 By far the most extensive building of the fair Is the grand stand, which is in- mediately in front of the main entrance. The stand will seat 5000 people including 1900 reserved seats, and Is one of the best in the south. It overlooks the mile race track which has only recently been completed, and which horsemen say is practically as fast now as any track the south boasts.
 In front of the reserved and regular seats of the grand stand are the boxes, which are occupied in the afternoon for the races and at night for the horse show. Across the track from the grand stand is the tanbark ring where the horses are exhibited for the horse show, and for the various prizes offered by the fair The prizes in various classes, such as best mules, ponies and draught horses, are judged during the day
 To the left of the main entrance Is the office and farther to the left Is the ma chinery hall, where some forty exhibits of machinery, farming implements, wag ons, as we'll as the exhibits of the big industrial companies showing the iron pre- the pig iron and the finished pro- ducts made from the natural resources of Jefferson county. All of the exhibits are Installed In this building by tomorrow night or early this morning.
 The main building Is also to the left of the entrance On the first floor are gathered exhibits from all parts of the country and of every description. Nearly every one of the exhibitors who reserved space in this building has completed the exhibit, and there are two or three hun 1red of them.
 County Exhibits.
 On this floor are the exhibits of about a dozen counties in the state. all com petng for the large prizes offered by the fair association. The awards In these classes will be made during the week. Several of the counties have made ex- cellent exhibits and especially in products of the farm. Corn, cotton and other pro- ducts of the farm are shown in great abundance and some of them are excep- tionally fine.
 On the second floor Mrs. J. B. Reid has collected the most complete display of women's work that was every shown in the state She has several hundred ex- hibits in the culinary department. Three ladies have entered every one of the classes and each has about 105 exhibits of preserves cakes, and jellies. The awards for thn nnct aola hrp dc ttilI Bn made this morning, and several handsome prizes have been offered for the win ners. The judges will be Mrs. c. F. Robbins, Mrs. l.. G. Goodson and Mrs J. II. Bingham.
 The needlework exhibits in this depart ment are also considered exceptionally fine. The number of pieces of needle work and fancy work of various kinds is much larger than two years ago, and those who examined 1t carefully yester- day stated that the work seemed to be of better quality In this department many or the exhibitors are women about 73 years old. 4 Signor Moretti the well known sculp- tor, will award the prizes in the art de- partment today. This will include the works in oil, water colors, pen and ink sketches and crayon
 In the woman's department. exclusive of the breads and the cakes, there are about 250 exhibitors. a record breaking number for the 'woman's department at the Alabama fair.
 The Booths.
 On the second floor the following are among the booths which have been finish ed-The Age-Herald. Cox Shoe company, Advance Printing company. Bonar Hats. Louis Saks, H. M. Anthony and company of New York. Singer Sewing Machine '---~->-~
 tcontinued on Second Paael