Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-09-22
Righteenth RxhIbItIon Of the Ohio ME-


Ifany doubts are entertained BY strangers,
with regard to the ability Of Cincinnati me-
chanics TO compete with those of any other
city in the Union, they must at once be dis
PEELED by o visit to the exhibition, now in
progress at the Catholic and Mechanics
Institute. Nearly all branches Of our manu-
factories, capable Of being represented, have
entered the list, and are competing before
discriminating public for the laurels that
will certainly reward the deserving.
One Of the principal merits of annual fairs
is, that it enables all those engaged in any
particular occupation 10 observe the excel
lencies and defects of the productions of his
competitors, thereby giving him an oppor-
tunity to improve, which he could other
wise with difficulty obtain. By this means
a commendable rivalry is engaged, which,
by elevating the standard Of excellency,
benefits alike the competitor and his patron,
the former by improving his skill, and the
latter by furnishing him articles of a more
desirable quality.
As an incentive to commerce, local fairs
Of this description are productive Of greater
results than almost any thing else. Strangers
coming to the city during their continuance
will seldom fail to spend few hours admir-
ing the collections, both ornamental and
useful, contributed by the taste and in
genuity of the hundreds who have devoted
y
being scarcely possible for any person of
means to see every thing presented and not
discover some thing which he finds nearly
indispensable, more extended trade must
necessarily follow, and as no particular
branch of industry can be expanded, without
also enlarging, in greater or less degree
many others, it will readily be seen that fairs
of this description, both directly and indi
| rectly, influence, in no triling degree, the
| nv oFf p.f Tbasa f,frrru chOVlH
be borne in mind by our merchants and
| traders, who ought to contribute largely, by
their presence, to the general interest of the
exhibition.
For eighteen years these annual reunions
| have been held in Cincinnati, and could q
| perfect description of each be written, the
| collection would furnish an abundance OF
food for philosophical reflection, as well as
| self-congratulation; their history would be
| the history of progress in the West, and a
comparison between the first and the last
would be q comparison between Cincinnati
now and in l843.
In many respects, the exhibition this year
| is superior to the last. The specimens in the
art gallery are finer and more numerous, and
in the large miscellaneous halls, the arrange
ment is more perfect. The opportunity fol
the successful operation of the machinery il
| not so good as it was last year, which, com
bined with the presence of the United States
Fair, has somewhat detracted from the gen
eral interest in that branch. These are loca
causes, however, and will not operate here
| after.
The attendance from the first has beer
large-fully equal to the expectations of thu
managers; and it is to be hoped that a sufi
cent sum may be realized to the Society t.
relieve it, in some measure, from its pecu
mary embarrassments. If this should no
| ha the pase II wOuld nOt only he diSCOurap
ing to those who have so literally contrib
uted to beautify the city by their costl
edifces, but it would be almost disgracefu
| to our citizens.