The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-10-15
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY'S
OPERATION OF THE BIG FAIR
History OF the Last Ten Years Showing It's Great
Growth-Debt R~educed-Friend Stick to it When
Needed

~S oAA III DU1lUlnS known
as Floral Hall: the addition OF about
one hundred new box stalls for the
accommodation Of exhibit and race
horses; the wiring OF the BUILDINGS
Tor electric lights; the extension Of
the city water pipes into the grounds,
and the consequent providing of run
ming water throughout.
$4,000 for improvements.
The auditing committee of the So
ciety, in their report last year. took
occasion to state that after a brief but
comprehensive review Of the expendi-
lures on the fair grounds since jan
uary, 1900. they found that the pres
ent management had paid out IN
round hgures. nearly $4,000 for
permanent improvements. In this
connection the auditing committee
also found that during that period
about $4,000 had been paid out for
past due coupons. bonds paid and can
celled. unpaid debts, and premiums
u from former fairs.
Altogether, 1t may be said in the
most conservative terms that the fair
has grown from modest beginnings
until In recent years, just as the old
North State is taking her proper place
among the foremost commemorative
Of the Union, her State fair is taking
rank with the leading Institutions of
it's kind in the country. Moreover, it
has been gaining more and more the
enthusiastic support, cooperation.
and advice Of men in all industries
Of the State. and that is absolutely
necessary for the making Of a larger
and greater fair.
To Continue Building.
It is the intention OF the manage
ment to continue to put up new perm
anent buildings as fast as the profits
from the fairs will permit. or the
public policy Of the State towards her
agricultural and industrial interests as
expressed at the State Fair will make
possible, finally replacing all Of h
old wooden structures with buildings
that are adapted to the rapidly in
creasing needs OF the more and more
representative exhibit that are year
by year demanding in tones less and
less larger and better &C
cOmmOdatiOHS.
Some definite idea Of the tremend-
GUS growth Of the fair during the last
few years nay be gathered from the
fact that one year the number OF solid
J forty-two to eighty-three, and the
number of separate entries from
, twelve hundred and one in 1908 went
to three thousand five hundred and
one in 1910, and four thousand one
hundred and thirty-six in 1911.
r The Great Occasion.
AS TO attendance, no other occasion
in North Carolina draws anything like
t the throngs that visit the Great State
+ Fair at the capital city each year
e The railroads for years have been
putting on special rates and specfal
I trains to handle the crowds.
e Keeping pace with the most mod
e ern methods of stimulating the efforts
to produce better and better crops o.
n all kinds, the management during the
g last few years has Instituted the corn
a contest feature for boys. cotton con
tests for men and boys. the tomato
contest for girls, and still more prize!
a for county and Individual eAh1oits aht
6 AGRICULTURAL products.
The list Of great national live stocl
associations offering their special pre-
miums at the State Fair keeps grow
= ing longer as the years so by, ane
l. in the case of one Of the most prom
s nent of these associations the n: =
q State Fair is honored among onis Aou
e. fairs. It is thus apparen
le that the State Fair is recognized a.
one of the greatest gathering polnt
q for pure-bred live stock In the Soutn
Is For years h management has peel
le working away from the g-mlo"a:
y. and little-exhibit idea Of a far bacl
& to the fundamental purpose or us e2
y istence, the competltlon OF lhe PC
to make better, until the executiV'
L committees, upon the recommending
as of the secretary. resolved
< hat all questionable shows an
l. games be absolutely TORPID
i don the grounds. and so gave a clea
Of field to the best shows In the countr
ts Offering legitimate amusement a
ID wen as educational features an
reached far toward the final u
A. of the climax. the Ideal state rai,
n which shall be h meetlng-pt" e Q
ar agricrlture and industry, a deltghIu
onting for all the members OF tn
h family, a summer school for the n ne
~ and women and boys and girls, tn
t. best short course in agrlc arh ne ,
es = university Of experience and es
rs neriment. an annual advertisement
d. the greatness OF a great State.
Walter Raub, Balloonist.