The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-09
Gates Are Thrown Open and Everything Is Ready for
 Visitors Today
STOCK EXHIBITS ARE
 FINEST EVER SEEN HERE
All Sorts of Amuscments Have Been Provided and Manager Barnes An nounces That Full Programme
 Will Be Carried Out.
The Alabama State fair is on!

The Alabama State fair is on!
 Promptly at 10 o'clock yesterday morn ing the gates were thrown open, in spite of the fact that drizzling rain indicated a gloomy day.
 Unfortunately, the day throughout was unpleasant, this causing comparatively few people to visit the grounds and the annulment of the entire programme
 Today, therefore, will be the first great day of the fair.
 It is expected that thousands of people, on account of the disappointment yester- day, will walk through the gates at tine opening hour this morning. The pro- gramme for the day is practically the same as that scheduled for yesterday
 On account of the slow track, caused by the rains of yesterday, it is probable that the entire racing programme will not be carried out this afternoon, although hop ing that much sunshine will dry the course, the management withholds posi- tive and official announcement to that effect.
 Busy Day After All.
 Yesterday was a busy day after all
 There was a whole lot for the visitors to see in spite of the unfortunate necessity of annulling the days programme. At the grounds this year are an unusually large number of exhibits, and the great major ity are splendid. Especially fine are tue agricultural exhibitions of the several counties of the state.
 The exhibits of the big industrial com panies and the companies manufacturing devices and contrivanees from iron and steel, are excellent. and in the majority of the cases unique and attractive.
 The stock exhibits are judged by ex- perts superb. Fine cattle, in innumerabe hordes, are about the grounds, and the lowing and mad stamping of the prize bulls creates a din peculiar to fairs. Vls- itors found pleasure in going through the poultry exhibits, where the finest birds of the United States are on display. Birds from every farm of renown are on hand, and many of them are priced as high as $500 each. The thoroughbred horses ap- pealed to hundreds. Another form of amusement was Riccis excellent band, and the selections of the fine solosts which accompany it. In all, therefore. the people who visited the grounds on the first day, in spite of the unpleasant weather were pleased. The unanimous verdict is that the fair this year will eclipse any previous fair which has been given in Jefferson county
 etc uyi1I ha tlic
 Sufficient Amusement on Hand.
 Even if the racing programme is neces- sarily postponed on account of muddy and heavy track, there will be sufficient amusement for any people or any crowds of people which might attend.
 The shows on the midway-and incident ally they are both numerous and good this year-will be In full swing shortly after the opening hour. At Il o'clock Romola will make his daring and spec tacular balloon ascension, and from a great height will shoot himself from the mouth of a gigantic cannon. Throughout the day Ricci's famous band will extend it's concerts, and several instrumental and vocal solos are promised. The band will be a revelation, for its music is cer- tainly splendid. Slated for o'clock, the racing programme will begin, in case the track permits. At clock occurs the os- trich races, in which trained birds from Tampa, Fla, will be driven against 2:20 horses Those people of Birmingham who have seen pictures of these famous birds in their Florida climate, drawing carts weighted down by heavy drivers. will ap- preciate the real article. It was interest ing yesterday afternoon to see the birds unloaded and placed in their yards. Inn media tely after the ostrich races the vau- deville concert of the fair begins, in which the comedians, Clayton and Jenkins, as- sisted by their trained donkey, Jasper, are wont to star. The Dordens, the aerial acrobats, will appear at o'clock Jean and Marie Wetzman will appear on the high wire at 3:30 o'clock. After "Rube" Shields rides his bicycle and Sunlin ap- pears with his famous bull King Bill, there will be an, airship ascension by Baldwin.
 Airship Sure To Fly.