The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-30
SOME OF THE SURPRISES
 STATE FAIR WILL OFFER
Big Show In Birmingham Next October Will Be On More Elaborate Scale Than Anything Ever Before
 Attempted In the State
By BURR BLACKBURN.

The Alabama state fair is now the up- permost thought in the mind of the pub lie. There is such fair to be held in Birmingham during the week October 9-17. People have found that out, but they are still debating in their minds whether it is worth while, whether 1t is out of the ordinary, whether 1t is re- production of the fair they saw last year.
 When returned from their vacations the boards will be entirely clear until October g. Then, with crops in and the cold months coming on, the farmer and the merchant of the state will want one grand time, a week of fun, an old-time genuine fair, with all the modern inn provements added. He must decide whether he can find it in Birmingham.
 The object of this story is to tell him in plain words just what he will find there-no more and no less. He may then easily determine whether the Bir- minghan merchants, the Birmingham capitalists, and the men who stand for the backbone of the Birmingham district are wrong when they confidently and positively declare this to be the greatest fair in the south."
 The officers of the association are Gull peper Exum, president; John L. Kaul, vice president; c. w. Ufford treasurer, and George T. Barnes, secretary and general manager The first three officers are among the best known and most successful business men of the state. Mir. Barnes, who directs the workings de 1nta Poi.. tx. every branch, is the most successful fair manager in the south. He took the Bir- mingham fair last year and, under big odds, made 1t surprising success He has proven the most energetic, business like capable officer that has ever held the position. He has succeeded in group ing about him twenty superintendents of the various departments, all specialists in their lines, with reputations that will hold anywhere.
 He is backed up by the most active executive committee in the history of the fair, every one of them giving his per sonal attention to the work. They in- clude Sol Caheen chairman; Ferd Marx, c. W. Ufford, John L. Parker, Eugene Fies, G. B. McVay, and the finance com mittee of which A. H. Ford is chairman, M. V. Joseph and R. M. Goodall, mem bers, has already accomplished such won
 
 great and successful fair.
 So much for the officers. For tools. they have three new, large and complete exhibit buildings, grandStand seating 5000 people, a racetrack the best in the south, holding the record for the fastest mile ever made on a circular track in the world by an automobile; enormous grounds containing s6 acres, and alto gether representing an expenditure four years ago of $100,000
 It is enough to say that already plans for nearly every department are com pleted. Nearly all the privileges and concessions have been let, and in every instance they have only been given to genuinely honorable people who may be counted on for courtesy and attention. Since the closing of the northern race tracks better animals are running on the southern tracks this year than ever, and Manager Barnes has just returned from trip in which he secured great num- Der of fast animals. Running, trotting and pacing races will be most exciting and enjoyable.
 Prizes for exhibits total more than $24.000 this year, and not least among the contests for honors will be that among the owners of live stock. Beef cattle Herefords, Jerseys, Holstein Holstein. Fresian, Ayreshire, and many other pure
  the horse show will not only include the fastest, but the most beautiful, animals of the state. Exhibitions of swine, sheep and other animals will include all that Is well bred and exceptional
 That the poultry show will be one of the biggest and most interesting attrac- tions on the grounds there is no question or doubt. Breeders are making exten- sive preparations for one of the biggest state exhibits ever held, while those from other states coming in large num- bers
 The local exhibit will De very strong and it Is very gratifying to note the many faces that will be seen at the show for the first time. It seems that the poultry people as whole have all joined hands and are going to make this show one that will be talked about for a long time to come. The county exhibits this year promise to be better and stronger than ever.
 The special attractions at the state fair poultry show this year will be worth coming miles to see-"Peggy," the fa- nous Kellerstrass s10000 White Orping- ton hen; "Fishel Louise' the ceehra ted s5oOO U. R. Fishel White Plymouth Rock hen; Frank Langfords 5000 Rhoda Isl- and Red cock bird, winner at Jamestown and Madison Square Garden, and lnsny others equally as noted. These birds will be on exhibition only and will not com pete for premiums.
 The exhibition of bantams this year will be a big feature of the show and you entry in this class will be very large. Ducks and geese will also be featured in large classes, while the exhibition of turkeys promises to equal the great tur- key show held here two winters ago.
 Superintendent John A. Murl1in has perfected every arrangement for award ing the premiums promptly and has se- cured the services of the best poultry judges in America to do this work
 The exhibits in the agricultural depart- ment will be really unusual One thou- sand eight hundred and fifty dollars will be given away for county exhibits alone and eight counties have entered Cotton. grasses, hay, corn. potatoes, and every thing that represents thrift and industry on the Alabama farm, will be entered. Horticultural exhibits will be made in beautiful splendor by the fruit raisers of the state, and the floral exhibitions will be unusual.
 Every exhibit in the mines and manu- factures department will be entirely new. The space allotted in the buildings has already been filled up, while the grounds at various points on the outside will be taxed to contain the collections, big and small.
 The womans department will contain an art exhibit of the rarest kind includ- ing paintings, drawings. and water color work by the highest class artists; textile