New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-05-30
THE TEXAS STATE FAIR.
Especial Correspondence of the Republican,
HnUSrnN Nov O6 1871

| y
ing rain. The buildings are but partially
constructed, and, although rooted, have no
windows The result is the rain beats in,
and has, doubtless, damaged many articles.
The fair was opened on Tuesday by an
address from Horace Greeley, which was
carefully prepared, and delivered in the
hearing OF as many people as the very poor
accommodations tor an audience would per-
NIT to approach. Luckily, however, all the
| leading papers of the State publish the ad-
dress, thus affOrding everybody an Oppor-
| tunity to read the well considered and en-
! tire1y original views of the great editor and
| philosopher. Mr.. Greeley's visit to Texas
has, no doubt, been tue means of diffusing
deal of good feeling, which was very
| much needed. No one can look squarely
into his honest guileless face, and listen to
his sensible remarks upon the various ques-
tions of interest to the people of this great
agricultural, but comparatively new empire,
this heretofore comparatively little known
State of Texas, without involuntarily dis
missing all feeling of anger or irritation.
We have often heard it said, that within
comparatively few years past Mr.. Gree
ley could not have safely visited this
State without meeting with personal vio-
lence. l regard this assertion as a doubtful
one at the best. can not believe there is
rutfian in Texas, or even in the whole
South, who would harm hair of the good
old mans head after he had once got a
good look at his simple, good-natured cOun-
tenance. The people of Texas certainly
appear to me to be truly grateful to him for
coming two thousand miles, at his time of
life, to address them-to take them fami[
iarly by the hand and talk to them in his
own paternal way. On Wednesday he and
General Merritt and Mr.. Storrs attempted
to go up to Austin, a special train having
been assigned to them by Mr.. A. Groes-
beeck, the capable and public-spirited acting
president of the Houston and Texas Central
railroad; but they were overtaken a hun
dred miles or so above here and returned to
Houston. Mr.. Greeley will now return to
New Orleans, where he will probably arrive
on Monday.
To return to the State fair
The Fair Grounds comprise between
sixty and seventy acres, and, until the
present year, unimproved. Buildings have
been hastily put up, and walks and drives
thrown up of the black mold lying on the
surface. A heavy rain makes soft mud of
it, and pedestrians and horses soon trample
all signs of elevation down TO a level.
A large number of people are in the city,
for a fair in this State is a rarity, and hence
a great wonder to all the people for hun
dreds of miles. And yet the collection of
articles on exhibition presents nothing new
to one who has seen such cities as New
York, Cincinnati, Chicago Philadelphia or
even New Orleans.
A moderate display of agricultural imple-
ments. all of Eastern and Northern manu-
facture, sold here by agents, is the best that
can be said of that department of the fair.
An exception to this is a cotton gin made at
Bryan, in this State, for r. X. Chatham, by
w. Il. Rhodes, mechanician and inventor.
The steel circular saws were made in New
York. z
Messrs. Westheimer & Grant, of HOus-
ton, exhibit Clarence coach of their own
manufacture which would rank as first
class in any part of the world. They pay
particular attention to carriages and horses,
and can furnish magnificent turnouts.
In manufactures | notice some cotton
goods marked "shirting, from the Houston
City Mills. The texture is not very fine,
but the threads are even, and the fabric is
IF tnIr cd lctr Dnth oil
farm and outdoor laborers. There are also
several samples of cotton yarns from the
same mills, which appear to be of good
quality.
Some attention has been given to the
manufacture of woolen fabrics by George
H. Judson, of New Braunfels. Three or
four kinds of cloth suitable for pants, coats, |
etc, and yarns of good quality and superior
colors (various), are displayed by him.
There is another cotton factory here |
called the Eureka Mills, which is in good re-
pute by dealers in coarse and strong cotton |
goods for plantation use.
In looking around among the dry goods
and notions de partment, met our own in
defatigable S. N. Moody, at sight of whom
one involuntarily examines his shirt to see
if it is likely to pass his critical inspection.
He has few samples of the wonders of the
corner of Canal and Royal streets, in
cluding shirt with bosom embroidered
in gold thread; another with silver
thread; another, made by hand. with the
most elaborate embroidery; another, made
entirely by the sewing machine, including
button holes, and even sewing
On the buttons.
A. B. GriswOld & Co, of Canal street,
nave a show case of silverware, of their own
make. j. H. Keller has some of his New
Orleans soap on exhibition.
Our fellow citizen Harrison has stand in
Power Hall devoted to machinery, where
le descants on the merits of model cotton
press, to be used on plantations. He is
,anguine of achieving success, and hope
le may, for he deserves it.
Captain A. Whitaker, who lives in the
suburbs of Houston, is the king of fruits,
lowers, and vegetables. He has one of the
inest gardens on the continent and exhibits
IN endless variety of Horticulture. His
,lants have the very longest Latin names,
mt thev thrive like weeds nevertheless. A
imilar garden near New Orleans, which
would not cost a great sum, would, if prop
rly attended to, prove fortune to the
,wner Another florist, Mr.. Bajligethy, has
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