Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1876-10-12
OUR CENTENNIAL LETTER.
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 18th, 1876.

of either the resources or the products of the
country. Cockerll's machine factory at
Liege, the greatest works OF the kind in
Europe, makes no exhibit at all. Many other
large establishments, and the celebrated far
mers of Flanders, are wholly unrepresented.
The Belgian Commissioners, when questioned
replied that they "didn't know why" this is
so. What is exhibited, however, attracts
some attention. The display is made attrac-
tive by finely carved pulpit, splendid ex-
hibit of glass, and large and handsome COL
lective exhibit from Veryiers, all arranged
around the front; but more interesting arti-
cles are to be found back Of these, where the
laces, embroideries, guns and carved furni-
ture are exhibited.
Notwithstanding the great importance of
the mineral resources Of Belgiu there is
but one exhibitor in this class. These are an
ornamental pyramid of argentiferous lead
ores yielding eighty per cent. of lead, zinc
ores, with products therefrom in the shape Of
pigs of lead, white lead and crystals, silver
ore and block zinc.
Merchant and plate iron is exhibited, most
of which has been puddled mechanically in
the newly introduced Perrot notary furnace,
and refined by the use of cryolite, mineral
from Greenland exhibited by Denmark.)
The samples Of iron are broken and twisted
in every conceivable way to show fractures
or tcnghness, and are evidently of excellent
material.
Most of the Belgian exhibitors lay equal
stress upon the quality and the low price
of their manufactures. This is especially
noticeable in the classes for polished Belgian
iron charcoal sheets, mixed iron cake sheets,
and Bessemer steel sheets. The maAufac-
! lures in iron and steel are in good variety.
Plain black Belgian marble, ornamented Wit
columns and mouldings of dull red mafble,
is on exhibit. 1t is Of very close grain, and
takes an extremely brilliant polish. Beautiful
effects are produced by contrasting dull and
polished surfaces. Some of the samples are
finely carved.
The Belgian glass industry is a very i'm
portant one. The exhibits are arranged in
large cases, divided into compartments by
partitions radiating from a common center.
They include samples of window glass, white,
colored, futed, ground, engraved, enamelled,
and stained. Immense mirrors are shown,
two of which, 16x11 feet each, are said to be
the largest plates ever silvered. There are
also large and heavy sheets of plate glass,
and a few exhibits of such glassware as
tumblers, goblets, wine glasses, decanters,
and globes.
The large pavilion containing the Belgian
laces, is a congregating place for ladies' The
laces are shown in large glass cases and are
admirably arranged for proper display and
easy examination. A thorough examination
of the whole collection will amply repay the
admirer of this class of goods No de-
scription of the hundreds of specimens can
be briefly given on paper.
There are magnificent pieces of tapestry,
among them eight panels, each about two
feet wide and eight feet high, representing
the Gods of Olympus with all their attributes
after Audraw. The ground work of these
tapestries is interviewer with silver thread.
and the pictures are in medallions. In these
and number of other pieces, some ten Ivy
eighteen feet in size, the pictures are execu-
ted in bright colors, and are quite artistic.
The tapestries are woven entirely by hand
and are extremely valuable.
The display of linen goods is full. Brown
and bleached damask linens for table cloths,
napkins and towels, are exhibited from Alost.
Brussels shows ap1ofusion of handkerchiefs,
shirtings, napkins and table linen of all
qualities and widths up to 1913 inches. The
last named is in rolls standing on end, and
graduated so as 10 resemble the ornamental
pipes in the front of church organ. Fur
niture covers, linen canvas, sail ducks, blue
linens, and linen ticking for beds and avn J
ings, are sent from various parts of the
country.
From Liege are many single and double
barreled shot guns and revolvers. Of the
quality no judgment can be formed from the
examination of them in the case. The |
prices are very low. Single barreled shot
guns are offered for $19O, double-barreled
for $500. The stocks of some appear to be
made of composition.
Chandan's mining apparatus for sinking
coal shafts is noticeable. 1t is really an ar
tesian well boring apparatus on an immense
scale. There are number of machines used |
in cloth and woolen manufactures, steam en- !