The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-04-07
Mechanics and Agricultural Fail
Association.


| The task Of reporting the annual Louisiana
| State Fair has always been pleasant one to NJ
under whatever circumstances they have been
inaugurated. The first fair In November, 1866.
was brilliant, and the novelty having attracted
| Thousands of the people of this and neighboring
States in this city, the eolat greatly enhanced
Our people felt that new era was dswning for
| them. The fair IN 1867 though not 20 brilliant
was nevertheless creditabIe affair, and stimu-
lated commerce and agriculture to degree which
was satisfactory to the gentlemen composing the
Mechanics' and Agricultural Fair As- -ocistion.
who had displayed all the energy and zeal within
their power to foster the prosperity of the great
State Of Louisiana. - - - H. -tsf.A
Yesterday the third annual fair commenced at
the Fair Grounds. The day, although not bright,
was cool and inviting, and early in the forenoon
large concourse of people had assembled on the
grounds. The programme Of the day had fixed
the commencement at IL o'clock, but owing to
unavoidable delay the ceremonies. which were
simple in their character, were not begun before
half-past O'Clock ct which ho1. Rev. NJ. B. NJ.
Palmer opened the fair with an eloquent appeal to
God for its success and the prosperity Of our peo
pie. Mr.. Palmer was followed by the Hon. Alex
snder Walker, the orator Of the day, who deliv.
cred stirring orstion from stand which had
been prepared in the center of the ampbitheater.
Mr.. Walkers Grafton was to the point, very much
appreciated and lasted more than an hour. Tie
exhibitions in the arena which followed related
below.
At the first glance over the spacious grounds of
The association IL became evident that the twelve
months which had elapsed since the last far had
been well employed. The grounds everywhere
bore evidences of perfect drainage, In which re-
spect they were greatly deficient the preceding
years. New sand roads leading to recently erect.
ed buildings were vsible in different directions.
The Floral Hall had been removed from its for.
mer location opposite the 0ctagonal Building, and
established upon much larger scale on the road
leading from the carriage entrance to the main
entrance. and access TO IL from the exhibition
buildings rendered thereby much more convenient.
This building, being one Of the main features of
The fair, deserves especial mentioDs IL consists OF
a circular inclosure of weather boards about two
feet high, painted white and over one 100 feet In
| diameter, rooted with tent of white duck, from
| the center pole OF which waved the atonal en-
blem. The interior perfectly recsled its name.
| The center had been converted into
mound Of earth, mingled with moss and white
| rocks, among which arose in luxnriant growth
| iDnumerable varieties Of plants from all parts
| of the world. from the brosdleayed banana,
laden with its luscious fruits, to the unostenta.
| tious yet bright verbens, which formed delight
| fol border of the encircling bssin flowing
| into the waters of marble fountain In front OF
| the entrance gate facing the exhibition buildings
/ A dTOuIl
ed. and we're profusely decorated with the rarest
| and choicest plants aud herbs which could have
| been collected; and go exquisite and elaborate
was this department and so great its improvements
| upon the precediDg years, that we concluded to
postpone until a better opportunity the pleasure
| OF noticing in detail its contents.
Before going any further we will say what we
should have said at the beginning OF this imper-
Of nsny of the exhibitors and many annoying con.
| trsretes the preparations were far from being
| complete, and therefore preclude anything more
tban notice in general terms OF what we saw.
Repairing TO the Octsgonal Building we found
/ that the department devoted to the exhibition OF
| objects of art was still occupied by workmen
busiy engaged, under the sole superintendence OF
Z. A Tyler, Esq, IN erecting the stands, removing
the rubbish and otherwise lifting the interior for
the reception Of visitors, and far from being CON-
plete in its appointments. The cases Of Messrs.
| A. B. Griswold & Co. and Of the clerks Of Mr.. E..
A. Tyler shone resplendent with their varied jew
| els and gold and silver ware, and above them
| hung canopy Of bronze chandeliers, 10 which We
would call especially the attention OF the visitors
| TO the fair, for the seection-and upon these we
will rest at greater length IN due time, consid-
| erirg them ss we do the best exhibition OF the
| kind that has yet fallen under our notice. In q
/ show case in the same hall We also noticed an
| invention Of our fellow citizen, Captain James Z.
McBeih, which seemed to puzzle the many la.
/ dies congregated arosnd 1t. The curiosity to
which they were naturally attracted consisted In
| nothing more nor less than patent thimble. Of
| which there were five silver and one gold speci-
mems perforated at the sides, the object Of which
we understand is to obviate many evils resulting
from the constant use of the present closed arti-
| Gle. This, also, will be attended to 10 proper
time. The exhibition of tapestry and paintings.
and hair work, was fair, and, we learn, VIII be
| increased ere the fair is day older.
| TIE center Of the hall, inolosed with railing,
Is set apart for the exhibition of marble statuary,
Of which there is better display than previously,
| and in the center OF which IL placed Powers sta
1 orfW Woch HINT nh hoa m n n.
riety from being robbed by Butler during the war
than Il really deserves-be II said, however, with
out deuaciing from ii certain real qualities which
it possesses.
ern products, is yet far from Offering the crafty
ing sight which we had expected in q department
TO which our State should and could have contrib.
uted 80 largely. Apart Of some samples Of soap
from the mapufactory Of Messrs Kells 4 Roberts
some fine specimens Of loaf and other sugars, from
the Crescent manufsctory Of Messrs. A. Thompson
q Co displayed n elegant style, together with vals
exhibiting the beautiful drippings from tae sugars
manufactured at the Crescent refinery; specl
mems of rock salt from the Louisiana Rock Salt
| Company's mines on Petit Anse island PeeeI
cotton samples; few hidee; samples OF rosir
exhibited by +. Blessey Co.; there Is as yel
very little In this department worthy of specia
| notice. The coquettish poultry pavilion was re
| ceivng its canvas roofing, and the few fowls en-
| tered were occupying the old roosts, and like the
| limited number Of sheep and pigs, were piteonsly
4
tan rat terrier, that bsrked with all its might tc
the great relief Of the monotony OF the
| reighborhood. The carriage department contains
| the handsome trucks OF Lafayette Hook aud Lad
Ger No. aud American No. 2. Also beautiful
brette, OF exquisite finish, entered by Mr.. J. Marsh
| Dennsn. This carriage should be seen to be sp
precisted. 1t would indeed create the envy OF
| the most fsstidious Partisan coquette. beauti.
ful coach and several bnggies of fine workman
| ship are also on exhibition In this department
Further on towards the center building there i
fair display Of wagons and hardware until yor
| reach the well, on one aide OF which Mr.. b
Vens's draining machine is testing ts qualities IN
der difficulties consequent upon the want OF deott
| of water. On the other side machine Tor slmi
lar purposes is being erected aud next 70 !
a circular saw mill. Near the same spot Chan
dler's patent drive well is in operation. This con
sists Of q tubular shaft driven into the ground
the depth Of los feet. and furnishes Uttered waite
by means OF q pump, worked by negro. Th'
feature OF this instrument, II We may so call II
consists in being provided at the bottom With a.
inner movable tube Of wire cloth, protected b,
upright wires, which, as the shaft In which Il \
inciosed is driven into the ground by means OF (