The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1876-09-21
CEDAR RAPIDS, Sept. II.

on the Northwestern, and we must
say it is the first train we was ever
on where they gave up the whole
management of the train, On its ar,
rival at town, to pick-pockets and
made no efforts to protect their pas
sengers while getting on or off their
trains. Thieves were on every hand
and Railroad officials were scarce.
Thursday morning we went to
the fair it being, we are told, the
first pleasant day they have had. On
our arrival Wednesday evening, we
put up atlBrown's Hotel, and found
everything crammed full and run
ming over, but after tedious tial
managed to get bed for all, by TAX
ing different rooms, and piling down
on a miserable dirty floor. The ho-
tel is large enough and third more
might be Accommodated by employing
a clerk that did not part his hail in
the middle and had three grains of
common sense. We got along well
enough, but oh, we were horror
stricken when we saw a young man
walk up to the clerks desk and ask
for single room and the naughty
clerk refuse, and the young gent use
such arguments as that he had just
got married that afternoon and his
wife was timid and did not like to
be alone, but it was no go, he had
to separate from his newly welded
wife to spend sleepless night for
fear some accident might happen her;
but they were up early next morn
ing and proceeded to hunt up more
commodious and comfortable quar-
tiers.
OF course we met Major Downing
and Levi Cook a State Fair without
these twogentlemen would be poor
affair indeed. Levi can beat the
world keeping gate; he appears to
know every one, and can take in
tickets equal to Barnum's ticket
agent And you know Downing is
in his element when conducting q
fair. He appeared TO be the one that
run the whole machine. On our
grand entry we met Z. w. and A.
W. Allen, John McMaines, Charley
Duke, and 1. N. Penland from our
county.
Thursday, we are told, is the first
day they had anything like pleasant
weather for the fair, and quite large
number were in attendance. The
grounds on which the far is held
contains sixty acres, well shaded and
well watered, and altogether is the
most suitable ground in the State for
the Fair without any exceptions at
all. The show of all kinds of stock
is good, in every respect The cat
lie, hogs, and horses, is the finest by
odds ever shown in the great and
growing State of Iowa. Among the
showers of swine we find two of Ma
haska's fine stock men, A. J. Lyle
and Petit Bros; both have a good
show Of Poland China hogs, and at
tracted a great deal of attention here,
by prominent stock men of this and
adjoining States. A. J. Lytle took
the second premium on sow and pigs
at Davenport, and had one of his
sows selected to go to the Centennial
which is compliment indeed. Pet
TIT Bros. also had a fine lot of Po-
land China on exhibition; they took
the first premium on sow and six
pigs at Davenport, and first on boar
two years old and over. At State
Fair, first premium on pair of pigs
under six months, and second on sow
one year old and over six months,
and had two sows selected for the
Centennial, and these were picked
out of over four hundred others of
the Poland China breed on exhibit
ton, Notwithstanding hundreds of
other kinds of breeds. The boys
will 90 from the State Fair TO West
Liberty Fair, where they will again
meet great competition. The fair
Thurday was good, and the Board of
Directors met and concluded to hold
the fair until Saturday. Thursday
night went out on the train Is miles
from here to visit the family of ]. @.
Gritman and other friends, where we
found them we'll and comfortably
situated. Friday morning we took
the excursion train back for Cedar
Rapids, and on arriving found
large number in attendance, about
twice the crowd Of any previous day.
The weather was warm and pleas
ant and everything seemed to turn
to favor the fair in every respect. On
Friday, in the stallion race, A. W. Al
lens "Little Grow" took third money.
There was six entries in this class.
"Crow" done very poorly until third
heat when he more than redeemed
himself, and made Mahaskians feel
happy.
Mr.. Bryant, living two miles south
of New Sharon, took the first premi-
UNI on fruit and also on corn. 1t will
be seen that Mahaska came out all
right in everything she took hand
in; even her representatives at the
fair were among the most noble look
ing, John Hambleton and Charlie
Duke, and no doubt would have tax
en- the premium on best looks.
The fair, taking everything into
consideration, was a success, and we
understand will be able to pay all the
premiums. 1t was feared awhile the
rains would make it a failure, but
Thursday. Friday, and Saturday were