The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-10-22

tions, covering several hundred acres, and
are most tastefully laid out. They belong
to an association, under the auspices Of
which the expositions are planned and exc
cuted. The premiums are numerous and
most liberal, and the consequence is that
parties eau afford to transport their stock,
implements, goods, ETC., and place them on
exhibition to contend for the prizes. Think
of sweepstake of one thousand dollars
being offered for the best bale of cotton,
and then five hundred for the best one from
each of the cotton growing States, with
two hundred and fifty, and one hundred,
for the second and third premiums for the
same; and then it can be understood why
the st. Louis fairs are so celebrated. The
cotton prizes are high, probably higher
comparatively than any others, but they
give an idea Of the iberality displayed.
And while an immense sum is each year
expended in this way, the people of
St. Louis claim that they are amply
repaid in hundred different ways.
The price of admission to the fair
grounds is fifty cents, and the exhibition
lasts six days. On Wednesday and Friday,
each. there were about sixty thousand per-
sons admitted, and on Thursday, the great
day, over one hundred and fifty thousand.
1t is estimated that four hundred and fifty
thousand visitors will be the number for
the week. Persons are here from all parts
of the United States and foreign countries.
Texas is very well represented.
The exhibition is too immense to tell
anything about it in detail. The stock
show, which has more attractions for me
than any other, is perfect wonder within
itself Horses of every description, cattle
of every breed, and hogs Of unparalleled
value, come before one in endless numbers.
The stock show is a sort of eternity within
itself-no end toit-an incessant round of
attractions each time increasing in interest,
until one becomes almost bewildered. l
have seen many stock fairs before, but /
must say that had no conception of the
perfection in animals until / had looked
through this one. In this perfection be-
lieVe cattle are going in advance of horses.
The short horns exhibited are worth a
first class German principality.
Thehorses, especially trotting and draueht
horses, are numerous, and display
thoroughly enough the value Of breeding.
As fancy trotting stock, the ''Gold Dustsn
have carried of the palm.
The show of poultry is very comprehen-
sive, and gives evidence Of the great inter
est and value attached to feathered farm
yard productions in the Western States.
This branch of industry is the source of an
immense revenue, to Illinois especially.
The exhibition of labor-saving machines,
1 presume, is the best in the world. St.
Louis is in the centre of the great farming
section of the Mississippi valley, and this
part Of the exposition is attended with in
tense interest. Reapers, mowers, threshers,
plows, cultivators, mills and all kinds of
plantation and farm machinery cover acres
of ground, and among them one is con-
stantly jostling against the stalwart forms
of Western farmers and rounded damsels,
fresh and blooming from the dairy.
'.Dutch" is the prevailing language heard
in the implement quarter. The greatest
labor-saving machine I saw for the field
was mower, which not only cuts the wheat
OF oats most beautifully, but binds it and
places the sheaves in a row ready for the
shock or wagon. s.s W
! Among the dairy implements a churn
is exhibited, which turns out butter in
from one to two minutes. Engines, pumps,
ploughs, and other heavy machinery, take
up great deal of space, and bear the evi-
denees of rapid Improvement
The general show of the fine arts, oi
manufactures in fabrics, wood and iron, o.
minerals, ores, etc, have their Thousand
attractions, which it would take volume
to describe, but 1 cannot pass over thu
fruit and vegetable show without specia
mention. St. Louis is in the centre of one
of the finest fruit growing sections of th,
world. Celebrated for the variety OF sucl
productions, the fair at this place is Ger
tainly . fit point to find collected evidence
of what the country can produce. In look
ing at the grapes on exhibition, I observed
to friend that one from each variety ex
posed would be an ample feast for any one
Then, too, they were so highly improved
SO luscious in appearance, 80 beautiful, tina
it became cruelty to oneself to look o.
without the privilege of tasting. There
, probably carload or more Of apples
pears and peaches on exhibition, simply a
samples, and all the other fruits in season
The display of vegetables is truly grand
. embracing everything from the garden.
Flowers and plants have very capaciou
: hall in the shape Of a cross devoted to them
Whittaker's pavilion, at the Houston fail
could be hidden away in corner, AM
passed BY without notice. The floral dis
play is unsurpassed, embracing eyerythin
knoSn to the horiculturist, and the arrange
ment is so artistic, 50 perfect, that it add
e much to the natural beauty of the flowers
!. In recess in this hall is grand artifcil
cascade, lending a charm to the spot whic
: could be given IN no other way. Near thi
floral hall the city papers have each ereete
3 most tasty little Offices, where they carry o
the reportOrial business Of the fair week.
5 found the fraternity in st. Louis compose
q Of high toned set Of gentlemen, and ar
Q under obligations to some Of its membel
for courtesies.
! The ssCotton Parlor' IS one Of the grea
/ est features Of the present fair. The larg
q amount Of premiums offered has brougt
d some three hundred bales Of cotton to th
) fair giounds to contend for the prize
n Texas IS not as well represented as e,