The Northern Pacific farmer., 1885-09-17
MINNESOTA STATE FAIR.

| 1850 OH~ VAN w
the 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 acces-
slblllty-trains running from Minneapolis
and 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, u most beautiful
and extensive landscape meets the eye in
every direction.
The buildings are OF the best character.
The late poor house, almost new, of
BRICK contains large number OF
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 appreciated.
The first object that attracts the atten-
ton OF the visitor, even before reaching the
fair grounds, is the main exhibition build
ing, which is situated on u high ridge, max
ing it a very conspicuous object. The inn
mcnse dome, surmounted by a huge flag
can be seen for miles from any direction.
The building is in the shape of q cross,
there being four wings, which lead toward
| a 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 ight large barns for stock,
are commodious and present a fine appear
ance. There are a number OF other build
ings for 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
good deal Of confusion. The stock was
Ill in place, but machinery and many
other things were not in working
condition, and the attendance was not ex-
cessive. Before evening everything was in
it's place and the exhibition fairly opened.
A mere catalogue OF things to be seen in the
main building would llcolumns. General
", they were exhibits OF trade from St.
Paul and Minneapolis; embracing every
thing OF use and convenience in housekeep-
ing. including needlework, &c. While the
building is hardly us large as it should be,
necs ssitating the crowdng OF some Of the
m.,la important exhibits into small spaces,
the display is {. magnificent one, reHecting
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
One OF the principal features of the fair,
which was a center OF attraction to the ma
jority Of visitors, wac the cattle exhibit,
SO numerous were the entries in this de-
! partnlent that tho 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,
-,
l1olstein Fresians, etc. From morning u1l-
til evc the stables were thronged with prac-
, tical farmers, stock rasers, and those who
eel an interest and admiration for fine an
| imals.
The horse department was also made
very attractive by the entries from /, num-
Der OF the most prominent stock and breed
ing farms in the west. In addition to
tnis, 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 ne la"sa sa et e.J previous fair held
; IN the northwest Among the breeds were
lysedales, 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 commodious struc
lures, adjoining the cattle barns, and con-
tanned several valuable and pure bred ami
! mails.
Ihe dairy building, fifty feet wide and 80
feet long, had two entrances, was lighted
! by windows that extended completely
around the building and Instructed with
! especial reference to the needs Of those who
! occupied it.
In the center was mammoth refrigerator
having plate glass windows on three Sides
Within this refrigerator are the butter ex-
hlbits, consisting OF prints, jars, frkins and
q 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
floral products, while not as imposing as
! Others in close proximity, is one OF the
most attractive on the grounds and we'll
filled. AS IL specimen of this department it
is enough to say there were 37G 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 u fair proper. with the usual accessories
| OF sunshine and pleasant weather, it was
| not Il success. The rain came in sheets,
| and from the forbidding aspect of the clouds,
looked as il it had come to stay. Races
were postponed, and only two hundred
were in attendance besides those necessary
to the care OF the stock and the grounds.
The ommittees were at work however,
and accomplished good deal in the way
OF determining awards.
The third day, Wednesday, was bright
and sunny, but the track was muddy and
! racing was given up: Not less than seven
thousand people were comfortably seated
in the amphitheater at2 O'CLOCK, when it
WAS ANNOUNCED that there would be no
races, owing to the condition of the track:
The sights and scenes we're fraug ght with
! all the interest that tattaches to the general
class OF these events. More genial skies,
! and a temperature tempered to the con:
ditions OF comfort, were the instruments of
, attracting within the gates a crowd suffi-
GENTLY large to give an animated and
picturesque appearance to the grounds.
There was the hum of machinery and the
! sound OF many VOICES in laughter or speech.
And the sights were no less varied than the
sounds: The shooting tournament, under
the auspices OF the St: Paul Gun Club was
very interesting to the sportsnen, and was
participated il. ay many OF the well known
: crack shots OF St, Paul and Minneapolis.
THE JUDGES AT WORK.
The work Of awarding the premiums was
commenced in g. numhar of tha dana RI