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


The Fourth Annual Exhibition of the
Iowa State Agricultural Society opened at
this place yesterday. The weather, which
for several days previous had been cloudy
and threatening rain, was damp and foggy
in the morning, but in few hours the sun
emerged from a clear sky and the day proved
a lovely one.
About ten O'Clock, the hour Of our arri-
val on the grounds, there was considerable
stir about the various halls by persons bring
ing in and arranging their articles for exhi-
bition. Most of the stock had already been
placed in the stalls and pens. The area ap
propriated for the display of machinery al
so presented a busy scene. This depart
ment was well represented. The seats and
the vicinity of the stand, which were al
ways crowded during the exercises on the
trotting course, were almost deserted.
In the afternoon visitors began to arrive
more numerously -still, from the magnitude
Of the grounds, and the variety of attrac-
tons, there was not much appearance of
crowd. The Vegetable, Industrial and Me-
chanical Halls were the principal attractions.
But as we will defer till tomorrow
more particular notice Of articles on exhi-
bition, we will now proceed to speak in
more general terms of the Fair. The en-
tries, as we learned at the Secretary's office,
exceed in number those of last year. We
had anticipated, on account of the ''hard
times,' and particularly the unsettled con-
dition Of our currency, less number than
last year. In stock. there is large and
creditable display. We believe all the horse
stalls are occupied. Entries Of machinery
and manufactures are numerous. We OBJ
serve some from as far distant as Boston,
and quite number from our sister State,
Illinois, with few from Wisconsin.
The Fair Grounds are the admiration of
all visitors. They are located, as most of
our readers may be already aware, about
mile and a half from the main part of the
city, on Muscatine Island, large level
prairie. The Muscatine and Oscaloosa Rail-
road track runs within 100 rods of the en-
trance to the enclosure. The grounds en-
brace 80 acres, surrounded by close board
fence eight feet high. On the right of the
entrance, along the northwest side, are
erected 70 or 80 stalls, which are covered
and provided with locks. In these are kept
the stations and fancy stock. The western
and southern sides are occupied with stalls
for cattle, hogs and sheep. To tho left of
the entrance, on the eastern. side, are erect
ed five tiers Of seats, $50 feet in length, Ca
pable of seating 5000 persons. A tall oc
tagon building or stand is erected opposite
the lower end of these seats, on the inner
side of the trotting course. 1t is for the
use Of the officers Of the Society, the Judges,
Committeeman, editors and reporters. 1t
commands view of the entire grounds, and
in fact the surrounding country, including
the mighty river, the city, and the magnif-
cent bluffs which bound the Island to the
northward and westward. The trotting
course is half mile round and 80 feet
wide. The carriage way moanders through
the grounds to the exit gate. Three large |
tents or halls are located near the centre of
the grounds for the display of fruits, vege-
tables, mechanical productions and handi-
work generally. A ladies' private tent, for
dressing, refreShment and rest has also been |
provided.
These grounds are the property of the
Muscatine County Agricultural Society,"
1t cost to fit them up in their present condi-
ton upwards of $4,000.
Some modification of last years arrange
ments has been made. Nine booths to be |
let to vendors Of refreshments have been
erected inside the enclosure. The exclusive
privilege is not given to any one, so that
imposition and exorbitant prices for eata-
bles may not be expected. The seats are
free.
The report for the second day of the fair,
which will appear tomorrow, will contain
more satisfactory concerning its
transactions. Yesterday was devoted al
most entirely to the making of entries and
the arranging of articles on the ground
We found it almost impossible, in the gen.
eral confusion, to sstake notes. systematic
cally.
Second Day.
WEDNESDAY, October 7th.
The sky in the morning was clear and at.
mosphere cool and bracing, At an early
hour, the tide of humanity began pouring
from all directions towards the Fair
Grounds. Every imaginable vehicle, almost,
was in requisition, while hundreds were con-
veyed from the city to the grounds at each
trip Of the cars. The regular morning
trains from the east and the west we're filed
to overhowing. Five passenger cars on the
eastern train we're crowded, and many per-
sons were compelled to ride on fiat cars and
in the baggage car. The streets of the city
were thronged with pedestrians from an
early hour till almost noon-all going to
the Fair Grounds.
At the grounds, the exercises of the day
began at nine o'clock, with grand process
sion of all the cattle and horses on exhibi-
ton, which moved twice around the course.
The spectacle was one rarely seen. Upwards
of fifty stations and fancy horses were in
the ring, with equally as good representa-