Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1857-10-10

possession of by the ladies and a .feso gentle
men, aud the editors and reporters were
turned out to pick up items by the unpeas-
ant process of "bobbing around" through
the crowd. No accidents occurred during
the day to our knowledge.
Third Day.
THURSDAY, October 9Th.
Weather still beautiful. As on the pre-
vious day, at an early hour all the avenues
to the grounds were thronged.
THE NUMBER PRESENT
On the grounds during the day was esti-
mated by some at l0,000-by others at 49,
600. The crowd was some larger than last
year.
There being nothing of special interest
going on about the stand in the forenoon,
we improved the opportunity to take a few
''notes' through
THE HALLS.
In the hall devoted to Fruits, Vegetable,
&C., pretty fair display was made, though
not as good as should have been at State
Fair. There were but few articles on exhi-
bition raised outside Muscatine county. Mr..
Barnard, of this county, had 80 varieties of
vegetables, including some rarities, such as
three kinds of egg plants, husk tomatoes,
"gumbo," &c. Of the larger kinds of veg
etables there were decidedly "some pump
kins." A squash raised by Alexander Clark,
weighed III pounds, but as Aleck is a COL
ored man, we presume the committe could
not, according to the bred Scott decision,
award the premium to him in preference to
his mule. 1t would be Unconstitutional"
The show of corn and cereal grains was
large and creditable. Some of the Chinese
sugar cane, and molasses made from it were
exhibited. The show of fruits was quite
fair, although there were comparatively few
competitors. The remainder Of our notes.
we have reserved for the notice of the prem
iums.
THE EXERCISES ON THE COURSE.
In the afternoon, attracted the ma jority
of the vast concourse to the seats and near
the ring. The exhibition Of roadsters was
very fair. We shall endeavor to give de-
scription of some of them, with the awards
of premiums, in to-morrow's report. Not
withstanding the ruling of the directors
that no trotting matches should be allowed,
it formed the most exciting exercise of the
day. Several horses went around the course
as fast, if our memory serves us, as in times
when trotting matches were not a condemned
feature of exercises at fairs. We are of the
opinion that if the interest of fairs can only
be kept up by exercises of this kind, they
had better be abandoned. While speaking
of the speed of horses, we will just remark
that L. Y. Skinkle's little seven-year old
mare, 'Jenny," paced the mile heat round
the course, Wednesday evening, in 2.4O, it
being the best time, we believe, ever made
on these grounds.
Fruits-James Weed and James Cattell,
Of Mus catine, obtained first premiums fer
best and greatest variety of apples, in Nos.
81 and 80 respectively, of Glass J. Mr..
Weed was also awarded first premium for
best and greatest variety OF grapes. r. S.
| farvin, Of Mu,Uatino, oA,iiultou epUvllueus
of cranberries and chestnuts raised by him.
Staple Goods.-This department was rep
resented in manner creditable to the la
dies. The number of handsome blankets,
coverlets, quilts, carpets, &C., was large and
sGeited much praise.
Farmers 7oob- Winterbottom & Jones,
! of Fort Madison, made the principal entries
in this department, and took all the premi-
| ums.
Fine Worked Metals. But one entry,
VIM. O'Mear, of Davenport, first premium
for best silver plate.
Engines, Machinery, &c.-A portable o.
cillating steam engine, by Townsend, Smith
Il Co., of Davenport, excited universal adj
mirat ton and obtained first premium. 1t is
four horse power-cost $500, and will con-
sumo but two bushels of coal in ten hours.
E. Sanderson, of Boston, exhibited small
fire engine; also, garden engine, and lot
of hose pipes. The engines are worked on
the suction and force principle, and arecer-
family valuable inventions. For railroad
stations and manufactures, in case of fire,
the section and force pump is unequalled.
Farmers and Coopers' MaAe.-A new pat
ent gate was exhibited by VIM. Sherwood,
of Muscatine. By giving rope slight
pull the gate opens itself, and and after pas
sing through pull on another rope closes
it, without the driver getting out of his car
rage at all. Mr. S. was awarded premi-
um. Cannon i French, of Davenport, ex-
hibited some specimens of door and window
sash, and Wells 4 Coe, of Muscatine, sever.
al flour barrels made of slaves manufac-
tured altogether by machinery.
Cabinet Work.-Very little competition
A secretary or bureau exhibited by Chris
tian Kegel, of Muscatine, attracted much at
tention. 1t was constructed of rosewood,
and very ingeniously and conveniently ar
ranged in all its interior apartments. It
was awarded premium as it we'll deserved
Wienker d Co.,, also of Muscatine, exhibit
ed large and elegant bedstead, for which
they obtained premium.
Best Herd of Cattle.-The premium of