The union Democrat., 1868-08-22
The N echanics' Fair.
San Francisco. Aug. IL. 1S6

San Francisco, Aug. IL. 1868.
EDITOR DEMoCRAT The sixth Industrial
FAIR ot the Mechanics Institute opened
about mid day OF Saturday last. la the eve.
mug there was great display of rockets ut
the front ON Stockton street, and great toot.
ing of hurus: | suppose | should call il
music by u trass band aud all sorts Of instru.
meuts.
The Pavilion-if such an immense s,ru,t.
ure cun be properly 50 caled-is lighted bv
about l4U0 gas burners. The Mechanics
Far Datty IreSS, OF which send you ,he
hrot uumbei. calls it 1900. but they make
numoer ut errors t. my certain knowledge.
On Mouday, yesterday, tue steam Englnes
were put In motion. There was one little En-.
glne, the entire cylinder OF which is not In
iength more than SIX, and the stroke of its pis,
ton about TOUR inches, that worked with such
quickness that The eye could scarce catch its
mvtun but IL was curious to see this little
pigmy steam pony drive qdite q large piece
vi machinery aud it conveyed to the mud
notion vi the power Of SIeam more vivid than
Is conceived by watching the working of the
TWO larger engines, that were also running.
THIS iIttle stedm euSine was built by d youth
named Robert BLAIR Iii the first year VI his
apprenticeship. The engines are all placed
Inside ct the main building; but the furu.
aces aud steam boilers are III a separate ad-
joining building. With single line vi
shatlng 24O feet long and several supple.
mental shafts, with pulley wheels enough to
carry all the machneryof the largest man.
uiacturlng establishment, there is very little
machinery at the Fair and none attractive
tor skill vi workmanship.
Sewing machines, anu the fabrics they are
used upon, ARE largely represented. Cut.
lery, mechanicS tools, saws Vi every descrp,
tim, aud brass fUundery work. all manuiac.
tured IN our State, make considerable display
but what attracted my attention plost were
the beautiful wuoien fabrics, which gave
promise TINT the Pacific world was destined
TO rival all the world beside in the manutac.
ture Ut wool. There Is u great variety of
these including the finest and heaviest blan
kcls and hanhels | ever saw. | noticed also
suine heavy cloths. similar TO the English
and French Beaver, which for suftness of
material, evebnesS and beauty of finish,
might satisfy tastidious taste, if made in.
to gentlemen apparel. Also Tor ladies
wear, a very large assortment of heavy ty.
ured woo.en siutis, generally with light
ground and small spotted figure. such rs
are worn IN SACKS UT jackets, were quite
noticeable as exhibiting the skill and prog
ess III woolen manufactures in thi, new
word.
Arranged upon stands, platforms and tn
bes, or enclosed in show cases and in rail.
ings are to be seen the various articles of
utility as well us Of elegance and luxury
spread all over the ground floor of the PaviI.
ion, u vast area 272 feet long and $50 wide
It's chief beauty rs whole, perhaps, is to be
touud In It's great variety. Aud when one
sees so many evidences OF Art and fine mech.
anism III one grand collection all nro.
duced in our midst-Jne can scarcely bsEeve
that California has risen up so Gracefully
and symmetrlcaily from its barbarous cradle
ot twenty years ago.
1t Is n very pleasing sight to ascend to the
gallery, und, standing at the eastern end ,o
guZe down upon the scene when ;iuhted bv
gas'light. The countless Jets of light in
themselves, stretching alous in rows on
either side and enclosing a vista of nearly
300 teet III length, is sight both novel and
pleasing. In The very midst the fountain is
seen with three principal Jets of clear sn.rk.
ling water the centre jet throwing its ner.
pendicuiar column from 90 to 25 feet ond
descending ina giiltering spray into the ba.
sin below. Near by Gordon power nress
carried 10y beltlnS from tue main shaft i
operating In the printing Of the last remain
ins page ct the Mechanics Far DaVv
fTeSs rs being the first page y aud as fast
as IL Is printed, 1t Is distributed among the
curious waiting crowd. Then in conrrega
TED array, We behold the gorgeous display ,f
many hheries the view embracing the whole
VAST collection, enriched to the sight by its
endless variety. And there, through the
imneanderiny no. passage ways, moves the crowd.
insre are men, there are boys and girls
'heFe are even some old ladies': but there
are hSewise some fair. beautiful women in
jus, tue beautiful time of life. who, whilst
g'uing through that brilliant place seem, no
uouot, TO the young bloods like houris OF
larry land, or like the nymphs of paradise.
put, at The very least, the whole tout ensem
c'e Is very pretty sight. And the music
rum Tue raised stand at the west end of the
gallery, which at short intervals regales the
ears OF visitors, will aid the Imagination in
co.luring up very delightful fairy scene
cut OF the splendid pageant before him.
ioere Is great variety of flags dying; per
maps The flags Of al! nations but cannot
decide that point vet / think such was the
design in their display.
In addition TO what is contained in the
large room of the Pavilion great variety of
pianos. melodeons, etc. occupy the north. east
! Dom at the front, its dimensions being 81
oy oo ieet while the south east room of the
same slzs copssirs the we'll supplied Fair