The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-06-04
THE AMERICAN CONTRIBUTIONS AT
THE WORDS FAIR. -

L -
! THE WORDS FAIR. eA
| We extract from the London Daily
News an interesting account ofthe Amer
ican display in the great Crystal Palace:
In that part of the building devoted to
the produce OF American industry, the
most noticeable feature is the largeness of
the space allotted, as compared with the
very meagre show of the goods. Wheth-
er this inequality will be removed by sub
sequent arrivals within the very few days
which yet remain for preparation, we are
not aware, but if not, it would be desira-
BILE to divide the surplus room between
those other foreign exhibitors who, in the
neighboring compartments. are complain
ing of undue limitation. Many of the
articles sent from the States are still rest
ing in their packing cases. and OF those,
beyond the notification made in the pub
lished lists, we can give no account, VI
those which have been brought to light,
and are now being arranged round the
walls and upon the counters and floor,
utility rather than elegance OF design,
elaborate ornament of high finish, seems
TO be the chief characteristic.
There are two compartments OF the
building assigned 10 the States, each op-
posite to the other. at the eastern end OF
the nave. One of these appears to be in
tended for the exhibition Of heavy goods;
and here we have various descriptions OF
, plows. harrows, winnows, and other agrl.
cultural machines. Some few lathes, a
planning machine, and other articles of en-.
gineering mechanism, well finished. and
in all other respects adapted for their sew
( eral uses, lie scattered about here and
there Grouping with agricultural imple-
ments, are small steam boiler and en-
gine, few American house stoves, and a
number of pots, pans, and other cooking
utensils. BY the way, Of these American
house stoves, a hint might well be taken
by our own stove makers.
They combine in very small space
not larger than that occupied by an ordi-
nary parlorgrate or cottage range-a COM
plete kitchen pparatus-,oven. step pans:
boilers-all in the most compact form; and
looking at the almost minute fire place, or
furnace with which the whole is heated. it
would seem that economy of fuel had a
primary consideration in the original de-
, sign. But the article which attracts most
! attention in this compartment is a grind
t stone of remarkably fine grit, and moving
by the aid Of anti-lricton rollers. The
3 curiosity of the observer, however, is eX-
7 cited. not because of any extraordinary
S peculiarly in the machine, but by an in
t scription which it bears, informing him
5 that it is a present for Lord Stanley, from
: Massachusetts. Whether Massachusetts
, mechanics consider the wear and tear
which Lord Stanley's keen-edged satire
t undergoes while leader Of the opposition
l in Parliament require the application OF
) the grindstone occasionally, or what other
, hidden meaning attaches to this strange
present, must be left to those who are
clever in solving enigmas to discover.
, Turning to the space on the opposite
| side OF the avenue. we find several objects
3 of interest That which first strikes the
l attention, both from its extent, the com.
: pleteness of its arrangement and the cor
rectness of its classification, is collec-
3 ton of American minerals, eXtraneous fos-
t sils. and fesh-water shells. Here we have
g specimens, arranged in their order, of the
D mineral productions of the States-cop-
} per, iron, lead, gold, silver, zinc, native
= CHM nabar. and almost every other known
3 metal. Some of these specimens are OF
e extraordinary richness.
. There is amongst them block of cop
o per ore brought from Algonquin, on Lake
e Superior, weighing 2,544 lbs, and Of so
s per cent. pure metal; block Of native
S cinnabar, from California, weighing 81
t lbs several pieces of argentiierous lead,
e containing silver in proportion Of 100 o.
): to the ton, and per cent. of lead-these
d are from vein in New Hampshire, said
h TO be very extensive, and which it is pro.
e posed to work Besides these, there are
s some crystals Of grey copper, Dumbel
it of specimens of California gold, generally
adhering to quartz, but of extraordinary
It richness. the quartz in some being scarce
i ly in the proportion Of one.tourlh to the
pure gold.
: There are also in this collection, some
J, very fine specimens of the Georgian di'
il amond-the pearl and the toPaz-every
3 variety of American coal, and amongst
{: the extraneous fossils, several very perfect
Il teeth, and other remains of the Mastodon
from the Mammoth Cave in Kentucky
$ The shells, OF which there are several va
! rieties, from the fresh water rivers and
y lakes, are curious only from their compar'
j. atively large size. At short remove from
: this stand there is preparing what promises
!, ,; to be an interesting botanical display o.
Il dried flowers, the growth OF the western
J. districts of New York, preserved and franz
y ed, but retaining their natural hues. Then
we have a quantity of bar iron and steel
IS several huge blocks Of iron and other ores
i and a little further on large period o
{. curious shaped yellow canvass packages
Il meets the eye, which, from the inscription: