The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-09-29
Correspondence of the Cincinnati Citizen
CLEVELAND. Sept. 10, 1859.

DEAR ClrlzEN:-The third State Fair Of
Ohio has been closed. and taking it upon
the whole there is no doubt, that it has far
exceeded all its predecessors. The entry
receipts up to the time of closing. 6 O'Clock
on Friday evening" amounted to no less
a sum than Sl5. 500. exceeding the receipts
Of last years. fair, by $500. This fact
alone. would prove the increasing interest
which the people take in these exhibitions,
and the practical good resulting from them,
no one who has Witnessed this fair, can
entertain any doubt. | have already in
my former letters. alluded TO the splendid
display of stock; in this department | have
been informed by competent persons that
there never was in the United States, SO
complete or creditable a show.
The competition which is excited among
cattle breeders by the exhibitions Of the
past two years has produced great results;
and the fine animals on the Fair Grounds
during the week. have astonished some of
our oldest farmers. The variety ofbreeds.
as we'll as the excellence of the animals
has never been equalled at any similar ga
thering in the United States. One Nam
moth Ok. from Columbiana county, dis
played to the eager eyes Of his visitors, no
less than three thousand three hundred
pounds Of beef, What a chance for a 81.
gantic barbecue?
The grounds, which comprised twenty
acres Of perfectly level land, were taste
fully and very conveniently arranged for
the reception of the articles on exhibition,
as we'll as for the accommodation Of the
thousands OF visitors, who come in from
all directions. Four very large and com.
modious timber buildings were erected
within the enclosure-Floral Hall, Me.
chanics' Hall, Manufacturers Hall and
Steam-power Hall, each devoted to the use
which its name implied: in addition to
which there were several large canvass
tents for the various committees, refresh
ments. &C.. and a very fine Marquee for
the speakers, and the distributors of prizes.
A most capacious dining Hall was also
erected in the centre Of the lot, capable of
seating at table five hundred persons at a
time.
Around the fences at each side, ran the
stalls for cattle and horses, pens for sheep
and hogs, and the coops of the poultry
A large ring was appropriated to the dis.
play Of the PAGES of the various horses on
exhibition-and here a miniature race
course was in operation for two days.
Refreshments of every kind was abun-
| dant within and without the enclosure, and
to the honor of the committee Of arrange
ments and Of the visitors from all quarters
/ who were in attendance, | place on record
the fact, that for three days, amongst the
hundreds of thousands Of persons who
thronged the area, not one single case Of
drunkness came under my observation,
nor moi one accident of a serious nature
occurred. Good fellowship and general
satisfaction characterized the Great Fair
from its commencement to its termin alton,
and even the awards Of the judges, which
generally creates bitterness of feeling, and
much recrimination, in this case appears
10 have given universal satisfaction. Some
Of the prizes were very beautiful, consisting
Of silver plate Of various kinds-cups,
pitchers, ~salvers, medals. &c. Acomplete
list Of the awards, | was unable to obtain,
owing to the great crowd and excitement.
The Floral Hall was OF course the great
point of attraction. in consequence Of the
display of blooming beauties of various
kinds which was collected there. and do
not think | shall ever forget the crush Of
that Hall on Thursday last. 1t was an
exhibition ofjam (b) that might delight the
hearts of the worlds housewife. The Da.
guerreotypes in this Hall had a great
charm for the country girls. and they pack
ed themselves into the room appropriated
to them, with most commendable energy.
The prize IN this department, pictures not
| girls was awarded to Mr.. Bisbee. of Day.
ton, for his view Of Cincinnati. This pic
ture, which was got up for the fair at great
expense and labor, was taken on several
Of the largest sized plates joined together,
so as TO form one uninterrupted view of
our city. from Mill creek to some distance
above Fulton. The execution was very
perfect, displaying great skill and perseve-
rance on the part of the operator. The
whole picture was eight feet long by fifteen
inches in width. A specimen Of the hand
writing Of every pupil! in the Cleveland
High School, was also exhibited in this
Hall, and reflected much credit on their
writing master; we would have been better
pleased, however, to have seen their skill
in p%enmanship displayed in original pieces.
than in merely copying the thoughts and
ideas Of others. The spelling in many Of
them, too, was careless and incorrect.
Singers patent sewing machine, exhib-
tied in Manufacturers Hall, attracted much
attention. especially among the fair por.
tons ofthe crowd, who appeared delighted
at the operation Of this exquisitely ingeni-
Gus labor saving machine. A most extern
sive attempt at a very small swindling op.
Grafton, was detected on the Fair ground
yesterday, and nearly one hundred per.
sons were arrested. The sdodge'' con.