New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-09-16
MINNESOTA STATE FAIR.
The First Exhibition on the New Fair
Grounds-Satisfactory in Most RESPECTS.

Inc Hrso TAR on the new grounds given to
tne state by Ramsey county, midway be-
tween st. Paul and Minneapolis, opened
under favorable conditions. The railroad
arrangements were nearly perfect, and left
nothing to be desired in the point OF Access
slblllty-trains running from Minneapolis
ana st. Paul: and from the grounds to
these cities every fifteen or twenty minutes,
and transporting the thousands who at
tended without complaint from every quar-
! ter. Trains ran to the heart of the grounds.
~ The grounds ELECTED general praise. They
are admirably fitted for the purpose at
present, and susceptible OF holding any
thing that will be demanded by the future
growth OF the state and the magnitude OF
any exhibition that may be desired. From
elevated points on the main building and
from the racing stand, most beautiful
and extensive landscape meets the eve in
every direction.
The buildings are OF the best character.
The late poor house, almost new, of
rooms for the offices of the
Society and for storage ETC. The most
striking features are the immense amphi-
theater at the racetrack the cattle, horses,
and the main exhibit building. These
must be seen to be properly apprecia ted.
The first object that attracts the atten-
tlon OF the visitor even before reaching the
Jar grounds, is the main exhibition build
ing, which is situated on a high ridge, max
ing it very conspicuous object. The i'm
mense dome, surm Mounted by a huge flag
can be seen for miles from any direction.
The building is in the shape OF a cross
there being four wings, which lead toward
common center.
The building erected, and at future fairs
to be used as machinery hall, is this year
given over to the railroad exhibits, and is
occupied by the Northern Pacific St. Paul
Minneapolis & Manitoba, St. Paul & Du-
luth, and Chicago, Milwaukee & st. Paul
exhibits. The eight large barns for stock
are connections and present a fine appear
ance. There are a number of other build
lngs Tor dairy products, poultry and various
other things and handsome buildings for
machinery, etc.
On the first day most of the exhibitors
were on the ground, but, as usual, there was
a good deal of confusion. The stock was
all in place, but machinery and many
other things were not in working
condition, and the attendance was not ex-
cesslve. Before evening everything was in
its place and the exhibition fairly opened.
main building would fiji! columns. General
y, they were exhibits OF trade from ST.
Paul and Minneapolis embracing every
thing OF use and convenience in hcusekeep-
ing, including needework, &c. While the
building is hardly as large as it should be,
necessitating the crowdirg OF some OF the
more important exhibits into small spaces,
the display is magnificent one, rejecting
Z great credit on the different enterprisins
firms contributing to make up the general
effect.
The building for railroad exhibits was
thronged with people. The best display,
and also the largest, is made by the North.
ern Pacific road, though the others were
not far behind. All were arranged in the
artistic and elegant style familiar to all
), who have attended previous fairs.
4 One OF the principal features OF the fair,
, which was a center OF attraction to the ma
jority of visitors, was the cattle exhibit.
SO numerous were the entries in this de-
partment that the managers were forced to
build two additional barns, making six in
all, which are devoted to this part OF the
fair. In this department the exhibition OF
full-blood Shorthorns, Devons and Hol-
stems is larger than ever before, and the
feature OF the department is the herd OF
fifty head, including Shorthorns, Polled
Angus and grade cattle exhibited byJ. j.
Hill OF St. Paul. The cattle exhibited by Mr.
Hill are not entered for premiums. There
were about four hundred in ALL embracing
Shorthorns, Devons, Devonshire, Angus,
Swiss, Herefords Jerseys, Dutch Fresians,
Holstein Fresians, etc. From morning un-
til eve the stables were thronged with prac-
tical farmers, stock raisers and those who
eel an interest and admiration for fine an
imals.
The horse department was also made
very attractive by the entries from a num-
Der OF the most prominent stock and breed
ing farms in the west. In addition to
this, the high premiums offered for thor
oughbred horses and mares and draft
horses has added materially to the number
OF entries, and made the exhibit nearly
twice as large as at any previous fair held
in the northwest. Among the. breeds were
Clysedales, Normans, Pecherons, English,
French, and blooded animals OF all the ia
vorite strains. #
The poultry show was not extensive, but
it embraced specimens OF all the fine and
common breeds, and attracted much at
tention.
The sheep pens are commoclious struc-
lures adjoining the cattle barns, and con-
tanned several valuable and pure bred ami
mails.
The dairy building. fifty feet wide and so
sfeet long, had two entrances, was lighted
by windows that extended completely
around the building and constructed with
especial reference to the needs OF those who
occupied it.
In the center was mammoth refrigerator,
or, more properly a cold storage room,
having plate glass windows on three sides.
Within this refrigerator are the butter ex-
hibits, consisting OF prints, jars, frkins and
a score OF ornamental examples wherein
fruit, flowers and berries are counterfeited
in every essential save color, some of them
most beautifully wrought and fashioned.
The hall devoted to the exhibition of
horticultural, agricultural, pomologcala and
floral products, while not us imposing as
Others i'll close proximity, is one OF the
most attractive on the grounds and well
filled. AS specimen OF this department it
is enough to say there were 376 varieties OF
potatoes.
The horse trotting, as usual, attracted
horsemen and others. The time OF all was
in the thirties, and therefore nothing to
boast Of
The second day. Tuesday, was rainy and
as a fair proper, with the usual accessories
OF sunshine and pleasant weather, it was
not success. The rain came in sheets,
and from the fOrbiG( lin "a snect IF tho clo,,<}a