The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-10-15

riety, which operates the State Fair
annually at Raleigh In the third week
OF october, was chartered by special
act OF the legislature more than a
ilalf century age, Ito provide a place
Tor the holding of annual fairs, in
order that the citizens NAV be en-
Outraged by exhibitions, premiums
ahu otner means, to develop and i'm
prove the productions OF Agricultural
anu every species Of native industry:
ana TO this end, and for these Great
ana VaIuable purposes. and to no 9th
: snail Inc corporation apply all the
iunos which by any means II NAV ac-
quire." may az
20 capltal stock was provided for
IN that charter. Various public-sniri-
tea cltlzens Of the State loaned to the
sou1e,y d sum or money sufficient to
purchase grounds and erect build;nu
for the purposes Of an annual FAR
taking therefor the bonds Of the 30,
clety. me real property, pledged to
secure this bonded debt, is held in
trust. The bonded debt was originally
S2",5oO. but was reduced tn 1905 to
$4,000, and refunded for twenty
years at 8 per cent, instead Of 6 per
cent, h former rate. These bonds
are now generally held at par value.
Any profits made in the operation
OF the fair go into a surplus fund,
which IS spent in permanent improve
hlents OF all kinds at the fair grounds,
TOT increased premiums, and other
betterments that go toward making
the far more and more complete.
Inc present fair grounds are just
west or the city, at the terminus OF
the electric street car line. They were
purchased about thirty-six years ago
ana cover more than sixty acres OF
land. in one Of the most desirable
sections Of Raleigh's suburbs. The
society has a number Of large build.
'ngs on these grounds. some OF which
were erected at the time this site
was acquired. The others have beer
put UP within the last few years.
The GrandsIand.
The new grandstand was built {
nan dozen years ago with a seating
capacity Of about two thousand. Thi
As a very substantial structure, will
a metal roof, and is now in excellen
condition. This ear its seating ca
pacIty has been considerably en-
iarged by the addition Of bleacher
reaching from the front Of the stant
down nearly to the race track fence
and extending almost the width Of tn,
Grandstand.
Several years ago a shed, covere,
with a metal roof, 48 by 200 feet, wa
put up for the accommodation Of tn
exhibitors of large Farm machinery
II proved a great boon to these ex
hlbitors, and is much appreciated b.
the general public.
In 1910 a modern reinforced con
crete building, SO by $50 feet, wa
erected especially for the use of ex
hlbltors of agricultural and horticul
tural products. This is a very hand
some addition to the equipment Q
The grounds, being u~p-to-date in it
appearance and well arranged an
convenient in it's appointments.
The following year another build
ING OF the same size, also Of moder
fre-prOof construction, was built fC
the housing of poultry. 1t harmon
ICES perfectly as to architecture wit
the agricultural building just spoke
Or. and In it's arrangement n Lsh'
ing facilities offers all the advantage
which the best experience Of yeal
mas brought into use in such bulie
ings.
among other recent improvement
might be mentioned the widenln
three times of the midway within IT
last dozen years. to afford room II
the eVer-increasing roWds n x