The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1876-08-17
CENTENNIAL LETTER.

trunks, etc., which were In as great
variety as the boots and shoes. One
set Of harness valued at $4,000, we
passed on. Also the pair Of boots
for $500. Bill of Germany or Dom
of Brazil may have them for aught
care.
The Carriage building has days
study for any one, but was COMPEL,
ed to give it much less. Here we
found everything from the immense,
and apparently unwieldy English
coach, to the delicately finished and
superbly decorated baby wagon. The
clumsy old English coach, is much
larger and heavier than our old stage
coaches, and has nothing that l can
see to recommend it for beauty OF
utility. Here are all kinds of car
riages and buggies, single and double
plain and elegant; here are phaetons
of every shape, including some beau
tiful ones of the basket pattern
coaches and cabs, single and double
dog-carts, spring wagons; two elegant
Pullman Parlor and dining coaches
Cor cars) of the latest style and most
beautiful finish, including everything
of the latest pattern. Several baby
cabs, gold-mountcd, silk and satin
lined, and otherwise eXpensively
finished, running their cost up to the
price of a good two-horse buggy
There are many other things l do
not now recall.
In Horticultural Hall we found a
very fine display of all kinds OF
plants, the most striking of which are
from tropical chimes. On one side OF
the hall lemon and orange trees
stand in the grounds loaded with
fruit almost ripe. These have been
transplanted from some greenhouse,
as of course they would not live in
that climate, in winter. In the hall
the various kinds of palm, with their
immense leaves from which palm
leaf fans are made, are very attrac-
tive, as arc the numerous varieties of
cactus, the banana trees in several
places are loaded with great clusters
of fruit, rapidly maturing, while pine
apples, coffee trees, oranges, lemons,
and a thousand we knew no name
for, make up a rich scene. Standing
in front of this hall and looking west,
down the avenue, is splendid sight,
beautiful basin, or series of basins,
for fOwcr-beds, the green grass
bank sloping gradually down to the
center where magnificent flower beds
charm the eye, and make a sight per
fectly enhancing, reaching for. ap-
parently half a mile or more.
Go back with me moment to
Main Hall, and I'll give you a few
prices, to show you how much money
to take with you. Tiffany & Co.,
the "boss jewellers" Of the country,
have Il case Of jewelry, about yard
square, that the policeman who Is
always in attendance, and in close
watch over it, informed me was
worth the handsome little sum Of
$325,000 in gold. | mentioned the
$4,000 necklace once before; as its
mates may be seen $4,000 ear-drops,
and $l5,O00pin. A dark opal pin
at $500, and a gold and amber
necklace at $4,000, a tea set of five
pieces for $1,000, and another of sew
en- pieces for $4,000; a card-case at
$3.50 In another place a $1,000
dress; 500 bonnets do for baby
dresses velvet dress $4,000 a dress
trimmed with point lace $500; a
lace shawl worth Sl,700.
Now by your leave we. will skip
away to Machinery Hall. l have
not attempted general description
of this hall, because the job is so
huge, ! know not where to begin.
The first thing to speak about, though
not probably the first thing you
would see, is the mammoth Corliss
engine, one Of the grandest victories
of mind over matter-the mightiest
engine on the face of the globe. 1t
was placed in the hall to furnish
power for all the machinery therein,
and right we'll does it fulfill its trust.
When the directors were seeking for
power to run this part of the exhibit,
they advertised for bids, and quite
number responded, varying in price;
but Geo. III. Corliss saw his chance,
and offered to furnish the power for
nothing. The proposition was ac-
the engine put in, and so we'll
did it do its work, that when Dom
Pedro was here he purchased the
engine, to be sent him as soon as the
exhibition is over. This is q big
thing for Csriiss, for it introduces
his engine in new country, and an
immense one at that, with the EN-
peror's endorsement, something that
any manufacturer would give thous-
ands for. This engine is 400 horse
power and has two 40-inch cylinders
with 120 inch stroke. A very fine
display is that of fire engines, how
many, l know not, but in great var
iety, and in magnificent splendor.
Looms of every kind are running
daily, manufacturing all kinds of
goods from the finest silk to the
coarsest cotton. The principal watch
manufactures of the U. S., have es-
Establishments here, and make their
watches on the grounds, complete in
every particular. Printing-presses
of score of makes are daily showing
the beauty of their work, and max
ing a country publishers heart swell
with envy. Many beautiful steam
engines; pin mandatory, where
that useful little article is made by
the barrel; tacks ditto candy man.
ufactory turning out its sweet-meats,
and rubber-shoe mandatory with
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