Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-09-14
The Mechanics Fair.

OF Manufactures and the Mechanic Arts, will be
opened at Mechanics Hall, in this city, on Thurs.
day of the present week, and continue two weeks;
and we are happy to state that the present indi-
e.tions are, thai it will be an exhibition worthy
Of the Association, and in all respects calculated
10 promote the objects for which the Associa-
tion was established. The three previous e1hi
billions of this society eminently successful,
although the managers labored under great dis
advantages, by reason Of want Of convenient
and commodious rooms. Bat those difficulties
have now ceased to exist, the day of small things
has passed by, and the mechanics of Worcester
county can now point with pleasure and with
pride to the ample Accommodations which the
new and elegant edi6ce they have erected will
afford to them, and give the most reliable assur
a1ce to all manufacturers, inventors, artists. and
mechanics, that here they may send the varied
products of their industry, taste, and skill, with
full confidence that the utmost will be taken
to preserve them from all injury, and that their
beauties or their merits may thus be made known
to large and intelligent community
When the educational and refining influence of
exhibitions of this kind is considered-how much
they have done and can be made to do, in cher
ishing love for the beautiful, encouraging the
industry and fostering the genius of a people,
whose pride it is to earn what they enjoy by hon
est toll it seems to US that no intelligent person
should be indifferent to the success of such an
one as is now proposed to be held here, under the
auspices OF the Mechanics Association of Wor-
cester county, and that all should be willing who
have any creditable productions, the work of
their own hands, to bring them forward at this
time, and to enter the lists as contributors inihis
generous rivalry for pre- eminence all the varied
branches of the mechanic arts. At the present
time, III eur sister city of Lowell, there is
similar exhibition open, and in the full tide of
success and some idea may be formed of its
extent and variety, from the fact, that one
chine shop in that city, furnishes $4,000 worth
of manufactured machinery, and another $4,000
worth Of textile fabrics in every variety, and that
Huntington, Jackson, Merrimack, and Mechan-
les Halls, are all crowded with the best speci.
mems of New England skill and handicraft. We
should consider it most discreditable to Worces-
ter County mechanics II our exhibition should fall
behind that of Lowell, and every member of the
Association should feel such an especial interest
in the matter, at this time, will prompt him at
once to do everything that lies in his power, to
swell the number of contributors, and add to the
variety of articles Of beauty and utility which are
to be thrown open to the inspection of the thou
sands who win visit Worcester during the next
two weeks. @ a-sa
hasty examination of the premises, on Sat-
urday, assured as that the board Of managers
have not been unmindful of their duties, and al.
Ihohgh they have been more quiet in their ope.
rations than on some previous occasions, the
public are nevertheless not to be disappointed on
that account. The most prompt and liberal re-
sponses have been received to their advertisements
and circulars, and the display promises to be suf-
heiently large to occupy not only both the spa.
cious halls Of the building, but the basement and
nearly all the ante rooms besides.
Steam power will be furnished to such contrib
utOTs as may desire to show the practical working
of their machines in the process Of manufacture,
and the Association having from thirty to forty
thousand square feet Of room at their disposal,
will be able to furnish ample accommodations for
an extensive display of machinery in working or.
der The steam engine to be used upon the occa-
sion, and which will be an important item in the
exhibition, is elegant affair Of twenty horse
power, from the Putnam Machine Company Of
Fitchburg. The whole Of the large basement
will be fitted up with proper shafting, and this
will be appropriated to the exhibition of heavy
machinery and other bulky articles.
Washburn Hall, directly above it, will also be
fitted up in the same way, and devoted entirely to
manufactured articles Of iron and brass, and to
lighter machinery, such as printing presses, card
machines &c, and it is confidently expected that
this hail will present finer display Of such arti
cles than has been collected at any previous ex-
hibition in Massachusetts,; and as steam power
is to be furnished here, also, to all who desire it,
there can be no oubt but that it will be an unu,
hsualIy attractive feature of the exhibition.
n The two spacious library rooms in front Of the
main hall are to be occupied exclusively with
stoves, furnaces, and ranges, and here ample op.
portunities will be afforded to enable the public
tostest the comparative merits Of each in heating
and cooking M
In the main hall the west gallery will be APP
propIiated to the exhibition Of furniture, musical
instruments, and pianos, and the rostrum, or
. platform, at the opposite end, will contain three
grand action pianos, the music from which will
accompany the voices of volunteer choir upon
each evening Of the exhibition
AN~ WV SA0O 6NHaetAos VIII NC appropriated eX-
elusiyely to agricultural implements and the
panels in front to textile fabrics of all kinds, en-
broideries, carpets, rugs, paper hangings, &c.
The great hall win be fIled with tables arranged
in squares of seventeen feet each way, upon which
will be displayed all the nice goods OF the exh.
bition. Six Of these will be pyramidical tables
for the display Of glass and crockery ware, gold
and silver plate, &C.; and as the hall il to be
brilliantly lighted, the effect Of this arrangement
will begrand indeed. s,,a d .5s,, 2
The large drawing room In front Of the main
hall will be devoted TO- the exhibition Of paint.
ings, statuary, &c. This room, which is sixty BY
twenty-feur, is being divided BY temporary parti-
4 tons, in such a way a. to present a very large
surface for the display Of the various articles to
be exhibited, andNe are informed the light will be
arranged in such q manner as to give the most
pleasing effect to the eye.
Our limits will not permit US toldwell longer
upon the subject Of this exhibition at this time,
and we will only add in closing that we believe
'tne Board Of Managers are doing their best to
make the exhibition IN all respects what such an
exhibition should be, and express the hope that
the Manufacturer, mechanics, and artists Of
worcester county will cooperate with them in
tner euoFts to secure success, by the immediate
forwarding Of snch articles as thew NAV no.sess
calculated TO add to the interest Of tho ooo.s,on