The New York herald., 1874-09-10
THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE FAIR.

The forty-seventh annual exhibition OF the
american institute was opened yesterday, in the
puidlhg known as the Rink situated on Third
avenue between Sixty-thifd and Slxty-fonrtb
streets, under favorable auspices. The object of
these annual fairs is to promote improvements In
the mechanical arts and to encourage American
industry. Since the founding OF the Institute
nearly half a century ago, 1t has steadily advanced
in public favor ana 1t exerts growing influence
on the manufacturing and industrial interests of
the country. SO great has the demand for
space in the annual exhibitions become that many
persons desiring to exhibit find II impossible to
procure space for the exhibition of their wares.
THE ARRANGEMENTS
At present many Of the exhibitors have not sent
In their goods and the number OF empty cases en-
countered in the main hail gives to the exhibition
an air OF incompleteness which tlkes from the
symmetry OF arrangements that otherwise deserve
much praise. In laying out the main hall the
spaces have been allotted that similar classes
OF goods are found in the same sections and are
so disposed that visitors can examine the goods
conveniently. In this respect the arrangement
is admirably ordered. 1t has been the
aim Of the managers to make the fair
an interesting and popular promenade, and
TO this end particular attention has been paid to
furnishing facilities for the circulation OF the
visitors. Equal care has not, however, been paid
to the important subject OF ventilation, and as q
consequence the air Is hot and oppressive, espe-
cially IN the evening, when the numerous gas jets
are lighted. The decoration OF the hall is simple
and effective. 1t consists Of lestoons OF tri-coor
muslin suspended from the roof Flags and coats
o.arms hung from the walls relieve the monot-
ony OF the endless red wnlte ana blue testOons
and give variety and picturesqueness to the scene.
ARTISTIC DECORATION
The walls at each END oil the main hall have been
decorated with immense anegOrical paintings.
which have been introduced with very happy eff.
feet, though they are by no means paintings uI any
great merit. They. however, AFFORD pleasant re-
lief from the mass OF objects in the exhibition,
which tire by their endless variety
THE EXHIBITION
is strictly an industrial one, and though very
many branches OF mechanical Industry are un-
represented, the show Is sufficiently general and
important to rank as an exhibition ofnatve indus
! try 1t Is supposed to embrace all branches OF
American industrial activity, but 1t necessarily
falls lar short OF a full representation. in the
matter Of art 1t s especially weak this important
snecmns OF "a acy beng
wrought with much skill, some photographs and a
small collection OF silver and electro plate. There
are also some ingenious specimens or work in TIN,
which display msdlrected cleverness. Orna-
mental leather work and artificial flo are well
represented. Nor are the more
USEFUL INDUSTRIES
unrepresented, ana ir0G rich sets OF furniture to
light and handy perambulators, down even to
prOsaic Currycomhs. almost all the more useful
arts of life have fond resting place IN the pres
ent fair.
4Hc iVIW1b' OpculUS VI tIe lull season OIL 1874
4 took place yesterday at little alter two p. NJ,
when an address was delivered DY Mr.. N. G. Ely,
chairman VI the Board, in which he pointed out the
beaefcial lpnuence exercised on American ln-
duStry by the American Institute, and pointing
out rne growing favor with which both manuiac-
! turers and the public regard 1t, and expressing
confidence in the great future OF usefulness that
! lay before 1t. Other gentlemen spoke the same
:, strain. and the exhibition was declared formally
opened
Among the most striking objects in the coliec-
tiOn Is huge bronze fountain which occupies q
position in the centre Of the hail. it is InYT0SinR
IN size, but is either very beautiful nor very
original in design. 1t is the only important WORK
Win any claims to general artistic merit III the
exni6i....an.- The attendance IN the afternoon
was not large, nftt dnripg the evening the public
appeared in large numbers, and Notwithstanding
the disordered state Of the hall the scene
! presented was full OF plcturesqueness and
! lle During the afternoon and evening
band under Mr.. keatng, enter
tanned the promenaders with selections
! from popular airs and to Judge from the appear
ance OF the crowds OF visitors they derived good
| deal OF pleasure from the examination OF the nu-
merous examples OF American ingenuity spread
! OUT before them. During the continuance of the
| exhibition grand concerts will be given daily from
two TO five O'Clock p NJ and from eight
to ten O'Clock p. M. In consequence OF the
number of exhibitors who have not yet sent il
their goods 1t will be impossible to put the exhibl
tion nall in perfect order before Friday.