Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1911-12-01
SUCCESSFUL NEGRO
FAIR N ALABAMA

SuCCeSSfUl NE0nU
FAIR N ALABAMA
coLoREp PEOPLE OF MACON
COUNTY, ALABAMA, HELD I'M
POSING EXHIBITION. 4,
Tuskegee, Ala.-The Macon county
fair held in the town Of Tuskegee re,
Gently. was one Of the largest ahd
most imposing exhibitions ever seen
in this neighborhood. The Montgom-
cry Advertiser carries full account
of the fair, and we are glad 10 quo'e
in part from this account:
"Tuskegee, Ala.-With the cheering
of hundreds and to the martial strains
OF music rendered by the four panos'
the big parade which formed IN tne
public square marched down souen
Main street to the fair grounds, where
the formal opening OF the Macon coun'
ty agricultural fair took place. hun.
dreds OF people had already entereu
the fair grounds when the big parade
arrived, and all day long people con-
tinued to flock into the Immense IN
closures. Soon after entering the fair
grounds President Drakeford OF the
association addressed the crowd. ne
spoke briefly. but in his few woras
manifested an earnest appreciation 10
the people of Macon county IN re-
spending so literally to the cause ne
had so zealously worked for during the
past twelve months. He also bade
eleryone welcome to the city and ex-
Tended to them the open arms OF the
city. Short addresses were foiioWeo
by others, Including several specially
directed to the farmers.
"The opening OF the fair was made
one Of the greatest events In the MS
tory Of Tuskogee. From early sunrise
until the opening hour people con-
tinued to pour in from the surround
ing country, anxiously awaiting the
time when the parade should move on
toward the grounds. Promptly at ten
O'Clock the parade, composed OF auto
mobiles, buggies, wagons and pedes-
TRANS, began its outward march. In
front were the city and county ON
cials, followed by those Of the fair as
ISOLATION.
Smith Leads Parade.
The parade was led by Capt. N.
Clark Smith and his famous band.
The national airs were played and
when Dixie" was touched by the sixty
pieces a laundering roar from thou
sands Of threats greeted the musicians
in response. Everybody possessed the
real county fair spirit and worked to
make it a great event. Practically
every business house in the city
closed, and their occupants moved
along with the great throng to wit
ness the opening.
The exhibits in the agricultural de-
partment were larger and more varied
than they have been at any fair here
tofore held here. They showed I'M
provement In several respects. the
most noticeable being that the farm
ers are raising higher class of prod
ucts than formerly. A common sight
was to see giant stalks of cotton set
ting about in the different booths,
some OF them containing as many as
1875 and $50 bolls. Immense stalks OF
corn with eight and ten fully matured
ears were also common. In every In
stance the producers said that the i'm
proved variety is much easier and
cheaper to raise than the inferior or
common kind. All the way through
the exhibits we're excellent and we're
even better than were expected.
Fine Stock Raised.
In the past few years the farmers
of Macon county have directed much
of their time towards the raising of
fine cattle, horses and hogs In this
department were exhibited some of the
most beautiful specimens to be found
anywhere, all Of them being Alabama
bred and raised in this county. Among
the most noted exhibits was that OF,
Mr.. w. A, Reynolds of Warrior Stand
in the lower portion Of this county.
He had at the fair several colts, mares
and many fine chickens, many Of them
having taken first prize at other fairs
in the state this season, All the Offer
ings showed that the farmers are wax.
ing up to the fact that this is not
only great farming country, but one
of the greatest stock raising sections
of the south
The exhibit Of. the Tuskegee Normal
and Industrial institute attracted con.
siderable attention. For several days
the boys and girls of the school were
hard at work arranging the several ,ex-
hibits and they presented most
pleasing appearance That which at,
tracted the most attention was the
corn exhibit. The manner in which
the corn for this purpose was gathered
was unique. Every negro farmer in
the county contributed ten ears each
and with this an immense pyramid
had been formed in the Immediate
front part OF the administration build
ing. All columns surrounding the
pyramid had been covered with ears
split in half and nailed on. presenting
a pleasing and original design The
public schools Of Tuskegee were also
represented at the fair with different
exhibits from the kindergarten up to.
the higher grades:
one-Armed Negro Had Exhibit.
A booth that attracted more than
ordinary interest was that OF one