“The Alabama State
Fair”
Harper’s Weekly, November
27, 1858
The Fourth Annual Fair
of the Alabama State Agricultural Society was held in
Montgomery, the capital of the State, between the 1st
and 6th days of November, 1858.
The grounds are
beautifully located upon the banks of the noble
Alabama, occupying a large, level, grassy plain, to the
north of the city. The space inclosed is ample, and the
facilities afforded for display are on a scale
commensurate with the rapidly improving interests of
this young and flourishing State. In addition to a
large number of well-arranged stalls for cattle, hogs,
and horses, there is a finely graveled training course:
a grand
ampitheatre for the
examination of stock, and for the exhibition of
hippodromic performances; a commodious two-story
edifice for the proper display of mechanical
contrivances, as well, also, for the use of exhibitors
in the department of the fine arts; a substantial
gin-house, for the purpose of testing improvements in
the preparation of our guest southern staple, together
with fixtures for pressing and baling cotton already
ginned.
There are characteristic
points of difference between a show of this kind in the
Northern, and such a display as we are now describing
in the Southern States. In the former, distinctive
prominence is given to those mechanical appliances
which represent the interests of the mighty grain
growing countries of the North and the imperial
Northwest. The eye is bewildered by the multiplicity of
inventions for reaping, garnering, thrashing, fanning
and grinding the exhaustless products of the cereal
regions. There, too, are to be seen the infinitely
varied modifications of machinery by which the
numberless processes of manufacturing operations are
carried on. There are more perfect planning apparatus;
simpler contrivances for drilling, or boring, or
filling; a new cog-wheel; a trifling, yet important
readjustment of ratchets and pinions; some novel
methods of printing calicoes, or weaving domestics, or
spinning cottons; a new waive in an old piston-rod; an
ingenious key, or an unassailable lock. There are men
from the sooty forge and the clanking anvil; men from
the dusty flouring-mill and the odorous laboratory of
some noted perfumer; men whose ears are daily stunned
by the whirr of spindles and the clatter of looms; men
who listen forever to the groaning of ponderous wheels
and the incessant puffings of busy steam engines.
At a Southern Fair, on
the contrary, the eye at once discerns the habits,
tastes, and pursuits of a people wholly given to
agricultural and pastoral employments. But few machines
are on exhibition, and those relate exclusively to the
interests of the farm and to the homely duties of the
planter. Here is, perhaps, a corn-sheller and
separator, and there is a bit of mechanical ingenuity
applied to the grinding of corn and the crushing of the
cob. Not only does the visitor discover at a glance
that the tillage of the soil is the noble vocation of
the sturdy and happy yeomanry around him, but he sees
with equal readiness that the one great, engrossing,
controlling idea is the growth and culture of cotton.
On every hand, in every variety of phase, is this one
absorbing topic represented. Here is a long row of
beautifully ginned and securely packed cotton bales,
with their fleecy samples exposed to view. Read the
label on this plow. It is intended for the cultivation
of the young cotton plant. Stop to observe this
vociferous old man, who industriously plies an ungainly
wooden machine to and fro all the day long. “What
is that concern fur, Mister?” “That is
Carter’s Cotton Planter, the outbeatingest
contrivance for evenly drapping and kiverin cotton seed
in the world!” What is the use of all these cogs
and spirals, and files? The answer shows us how young
Elliot goes to the planter’s gin-house, takes his
broken, useless gin saws, and in a few hours makes that
busy file reset and rewhet every tooth to its pristine
sharpness. The crowd rushes toward the discordant
creakings of some huge fixture on yonder side of the
Fair grounds. I run too, and am “in at the”
packing, tying, and discharging of a beautifully
compact cotton bale, weighing six hundred pounds. I see
a fellow sedulously bent upon twirling a crank for an
admiring crowd, and thrusting my spectacles through
some cranny in the living wall, I find a man explaining
how some cut Yankees, way in Varmount, is trying to
“do” the Alabama planter with a
cotton-packing contrivance, full of wheels, and screws,
and levers. Thus it is on every side; you see the
enshrinement of the mighty staple in the central fane
of this great, warm, throbbing, Southern heart.
I can not tell you of
the various equally characteristic accompaniments. Your
readers must imagine the shining faces of the darkeys,
their ivory white teeth, and their loud guffaws. You
need not hear of the rolling carriages, the flying
clouds of dust, the panoramic beauty of gaudy female
attire, the bustling throng of amused spectators, the
lowing of cattle, the bleating of sheep, and the
braying of asinine quadrupeds, the inspiriting strains
of the band, in which an important “culled
pussun” fiercely struck the clanking cymbals and
the thundering drum, the exciting sports of the arena,
the air torn with outrageous noise, when some gallant
young Godfrey of Boulogne, or Richard Couer de Lion,
riding a tilt in frock-coat and standing-collar –
alas, Ivanhoe! – bore triumphantly away the
suspended ring upon his wooden lance.
A word about this
year’s exhibition. It was declared by those
entitled to know to be a decided success, a marked
advance upon former shows of the kind in this State.
Very many fine cattle were on the ground, chiefly
Devon, Durham, and Ayrshire breeds. Milch cows fetched
at the sales from $60 to $155. Berkshire pigs were sold
at $30 per pair. Several fine stallions were in the
ring, one valued at $4100. Another splendid Morgan
horse, the property of Colonel Ferell of East Alabama,
so closely contested the premium with his costly
competitor, that skillful judges required time to
discuss their points.
But lest you might take
is for granted that Alabama is devoted wholly to
grosser pursuits, I am constrained to refer to a fine
collection of pictures in oil, crayon, and pastel,
together with several very creditable specimens of
industrial art, such as designs for wall paper,
carpets, table-covers, dress goods, etc., all furnished
by the pupils of the Tuskegee Female College. This is
the first effort to develop this application of
artistic pursuits in the Southern country in connection
with a literary institution. As an evidence of the
favor with which it was received, the executive
committee made a special presentation of a splendid
silver pitcher to the College, through its President
the Rev. Dr. A. A. Lipscomb.
A new product of the
laboratory also took a prize before a special committee
of scientific men. It is a disinfecting agent,
superior, they say, to Labaraques French liquor. The
fortunate discoverer is Professor John Darby, of
Auburn, Alabama, a man of scientific acquirements of a
high order.
In fancy needle-work, in
embroideries, in patch work, in home-made counterpanes,
quilts, and similar goods, in leather work, wax and
fruit ornamentation, in all these departments our fair
Alabamians were tastefully represented.
The success of the late
fair is due mainly to the energetic efforts of Dr. N.
B. Cloud, the indefatigable Secretary of the State
Agricultural Society, of whom an excellent likeness
accompanies this notice. To him more than to any other
single individual, perhaps, is to be attributed the
origination and perpetuation of our State Exhibitions.
The worthy Secretary is a native of Edgefield District,
South Carolina, and removed to Alabama in the spring of
1838 to engage in the practice of his profession. With
his professional business he soon associated the
pursuit of agriculture, to which he was very successful
as a farmer. In 1852 he established the American Cotton
Planter in the city of Montgomery. Beginning, under
manifold discouragements, with a subscription list of
500 or less, it now stands foremost in the ranks of
agricultural journalism in the South, with a growing
popularity, and a current list of about 6200
subscribers. Its success is worthy of its active and
intelligent editor. Although great and deserved praise
is due to Col. Croom, the widely-known President of the
Society, as well also to Col. Pollard the Treasurer,
and to various other influential members of the
Agricultural Associations, yet the chief honor must
undoubtedly rest with Dr. Cloud. I would add, that
although “bearded like a pard,” and
decidedly military in his appearance, the Secretary is
one of the most genial, kindly, and affable of
gentlemen.
