The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-10-30
CROWDS ATTEND State FAIR.
HAPPY SOUTH CAROLINIANS In
COLUMBIA FOR FROLIC.
Military Day mt Fair Sees Biggest
Tuesday Crowd ON Rccord-Ex-
hibits Designed to Teach Valuable
I Lessons I'm Agriculture.

ing and contented visitors poured by
hundreds into Columbia yesterday for
tire second day OF the South Carolina
State fair and harvest jubilee. Forty
ak fairs have been held I'm Columbia
during the harvest season, yet none of
these has compared with the present
gathering. The fair Is fine index of
the prosperity OF the State-it shows
the temper and humor Of the people
In concrete manner and the power
behind. the throne. physical and
spiritual. Is Twelve cents cotton"
The gates clicked away at the fair
grounds yesterday at a rapid pace and
last night the fair officials declared
that II had been the biggest Tuesday
on record" The night trains brought
large numbers Of pleasure seekers and
thousands more will arrive this morn
ing. The railways are offering very
low round trip rates and today and
tomorrow several special trains will
be operated from irious points in
the State.
The information bureau on Main
street In charge Of N. o. Pyles Is open
night and day and Columbia will be
able TO care for all visitors who ar
rive for the festivities.
Gov. Manning and the members of
his military stan visited the fair yes
ferday as the guests OF the society.
The governor inspected all Of the ex-
hibits. declaring that the fair marked
an era OF progress In South Carolina.
1T looks good and believe that
we have assembled the best exhibits in
the history OF our organization" said
j. N. Kirven. president of the society.
He Is pleased especially with the in
creased attendance. Secretary Efrd
and Treasurer Ellison wore smiles
Of contentment last night after read
ing the reports from the gatemen.
Yesterday was Military day" at
the fair and I'm Columbia. The Ma
tional Guardsmen rubbed shoulders
with the regulars" in the parade,
which was led by Gov. Manning and
came out with applause. The several
companies OF the guard marched al
most like regulars" During the
morning the military visitors parti-
cipated In contests at the fair and the
liveliest kind OF interest was develop
ed.
Experts. State and national. were
agreed yesterday that the present fair
Ia one OF the best from an agricultural
poi'., ever held In the State. w. w.
Long. State agent for the demonstra-
tion forces, believes that II Is the best
agricultural display ever assembled In
the South. with the possible exception
OF the Texas State fair at Dallas.
which is housed In buildings worth
N.250.00O and has a countrywide
reputation. A. q. Smith OF the Unit
cd States Office OF farm management,
one OF the leading agricultural experts
OF the national department. was OF the
opinion that the field crop displays
are tho best ever collected I'm this sec
ton. There has been great improve
ment In the quality OF all the exhibits
and only the very best Is sent from
each county.
The exhibits this year are designed
to teach great agricultural lessons.
Yesterday hundreds OF farmers and
even business men crowded about the
various booths and fired a volley of
questions at the experts who are in
charge This was especially true In
the State building where the results of
soil incubation are shown in n most
striking and comprehensive manner.
The farmers are coming to the fair
for pleasure and for instruction.
There is the keenest kind OF rivalry
between the demonstration agents who
have brought the exhibits from prac-
ucaliy all OF the counties. Each agent
mas successfully brought out in the
booth some important point. bearing
on the agricultural development of the
State.
III all farmers I'm South Carolina
we're to visit the fair and carry home
every thought offered by these ex-
hibits this would be a cleaner and
greener State. The exhibits In the
main are attempts to assassinate the
one-crop idea, 80 long prevalent In
this State. Diversincation is the key
note OF success on the farm and this
In nptly illustrated on every side
The department OF agriculture Is lay
Ing especial stress on the growing OF
home supplies and abandonment OF