The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-10-02
OUR TRIP TO THE STATE FAIR.


ted the State Fair at Milwaukee, leaving
here in the morning, passing nearly three
hours at the fair grounds, aud retur ing
home in the evening. In the mort ng, |
although the weather was anything but |
pleasant, three fine new palace cars ere |
comfortably filed with passengers, among |
whom we met many old friends and &C.
quaintances from Two Rivers and this
city. We found the road much better
than we anticipated, and on an average,
already as good as any we ever travelled
over. although its improvement is con-
stantly going on. The number of pas
sengers increasing, another car was at
tached in Sheboygan. Reaching Mil
waukee on time. we took passage in an
omnibus for the fair grounds, which we
reached In shower of rain, but soon
found shelter within the exhibition build
ings, all of which were crowded with
people.
The display of farm and garden pro-
duce was most excellent, also that of
apples, pears, plumbs and grapes; that
OF flowers, although very extensive, did
not excel what we saw there last year.
Furniture was exhibited Of the finest
workmanship and latest styles; sewing
machines in some thirty varieties. All
kinds of new inventions and improve
ments in machinery were largely repre-
sented. The art exhibition was inferior
to all the rest. The display of fine horses
and cattle was better than We have ever
seen there before. The races were spoil
| ed by the rain, which caused the course
to De too muddy for any proper display
of speed. Taking all in all the last State
Fair was the best yet held in Wisconsin
After partaking of a good dinner at
the Congregational Dining Hall. and en-
joying the attention and sprightliness of
the interesting lady walters as much as
our meal, we took our departure from
the grounds in hack, No. 10, whose
owner swindled US out of one dollar over
charge, and then went to the depot and
were soon whirling homeward again, reach
ing Manitowoc in good time and were
gladly met by our dear onos at home.
We enjoyed the best of company going
and returning one incident was rather
remar sable Our better half told Dea-
con Smith that it was thirty-two years
ago on that day when we first landed in
Two Rivers, and the Deacon answered
that it was just twenty-eight years ago
on that day when the little schooner Sa-
Yannah landed him and his family on the
same spot. What change since those
early days in our county. Then we had
the first and only railroad in Wisconsin
at Neshoto--all of wood, with one plat
form car, carrying the lumber from the
mill to the landing bellows, the engine a
good stout OK Now our State has as
many railroads as almost any State car
boast of and our own county is crossed
by several, thus being closely connected
with all parts of our vast domain. Then
there was but a bridiepath between Mil
waukee, Manitowoc Rapids and Green
Bay, the distance to pass over, requiring
almost as many days as it now takes
hours. Then we owned the only horse
belonging to white man in this county,
and brought the first vehicle on wheels
cart-to this county from Chicago.
Then the farm of Hiram McAllister and
the one at Neshoto were the best and
almost only ones in this county. Now
there is hardly a quarter section in it
without valuable improvements. Then
products-lumber and shingles-had to
be RATED out into the bay and loaded on
some one of the so-called mosquitoes feet
the largest not carrying over 20 thous-
and feet. Now we are building the larg-
est sailing vessels and steamboats, on our
own shores and have two of the finest
harbors on the lakes. within our own
county. 1t would be really interesting if
some of our first settlers like Benz. Jones,
II II and P P Smith, H. McAllister and
others would take the pains to give de-
scription of their experiences, we should
be most happy if we could publish them.
But We have digressed too much already
and now close with heartfelt congratula-
tons to the men and women of our vast
community on the large progress made in
every branch of our industries, and to en-
courage them to increasing efforts to
make our county one of the best cultiva-
ted and its inhabitants the most indus
trious and best educated people of Wis.
consin.