Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-03-19

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Delaware's Exhibit.
Special correspondence Of Gazette and journal.
NEW ORLEANS, March Z Our first I'm
pression Of New Orleans ia that 1t Is a
dirty oity and badly drained, aud that 1t
invites the fearful epidemios which occs-
sionally deo'm its population. II has
no underground drainage, and all iia sur
face waters run from instead Of toward
the river, the river being higher than the
city. The whole back country 10 bog
or swamp, most Of 1t covered with water,
from which grows rank vegetation Of
water plants OF which the palmetto is the
most conspicuous. Shrubs, brisrs,
climbing plants and cypress trees also
grow with rank luxurisnce In this black
rich soil ; the Cypress always hung thick
With trailing Spanish moss that waves In
every breeze like funeral plumes over
this vast bed of pessilenoe.
II ia q cosmopolitan oity and embraces
In Its population many nations and
variety Of languages. In one portion
French Ia almost exclusively spoken, even
by the negroes. spaniards, Germans,
Russians, Turks and Chinese are all
quite numerous. In the newer por-
tion, called the American Quarter or
Garden district, the streets are broad,
fairly we'll paved and the houses neat,
some Of them handsome, and each
nestled In shrubbery and flowers. Orange,
l,mon and lime trees, with the fruits
hanging on them, are the most common
ornamental trees, whilst live oak and
other more majestic evergreen trees are
the favorite lawn shade trees. The
richest and most beautiful Of all shade
evergreens 10 the magnolia, with Its
glossy, green leaves, its smooth, straight
trunk and Its magnificent csmelia like
flowers.
New Orleans 10 lust now pretty well
Hlled with strangers, although the rush
has been moderate compared with that at
the centennial, No single day has yet
equaled one half the number Of the CEN
tennial's greatest attendance. Yet the
visitor who wishes rooms at good hotel
should telegraph for them in advance. We
did not telegraph, but took hack and
drove at once to 81. Charles, and found IL
full. We tried other first class hotels
and found them all full. Then we remem-
bered experience boughtin foreign cities,
and inquired for rooms which are plen-
tiful In all parts OF the city, and at all
prices ranging from $l to % per day.
Restaurants are abundant, well served
and prices reasonable and altogether the
room and restaurant plan 10 preferable 70
| the hotel plan, and Ia now largely adopted
/ by visitors. We secured large first
| floor room near Canal street, the Broad
way Of New Orleans, and are comfortably
| fixed.
The fair grounds are five miles from
Canal street, reaohed by steamer at 81
oents the round trip, or by street cara 3
| five cents the single passage. II 10 bette
| TO be near where the cars or boats star
than to be on the way out, for they nearly
always run full from the start, and tn.
way passenger may have to wait long
| time for his chance.
Ths enclosed grounds are extensive,
bus sre In no other respect comparable
/ with tine Centennial grounds. The main
building covers 33 acres, and seems to us
little TOO large for the exhibits, which
are nowhere crowded. The government
and states building ia large, we'll filled
and the most inter esting Of all except the
horticultural, which 10 the gem OF the
exhibition. The art building is not 30
fine as we expected and, In our Judge
ment, the general character Of It's ex-
hibits Ia interior to that Of the cen.
tennisl, though several fine pictures are
shown. The pomological exhibits In
horticultural hall, are certainly the most
alluring Of this vast international show.
The northwestern states have many
long tables OF handsome spples
Of every size, color and flavor,
and fine display OF pears for the season;
but Arkansas heads them all In the
variety and perfection Of her fruits.
Mexico shows fine tropical fruits snd
plants In her own especial building, but
1t is reserved for Florida to surprise and
delight every visitor by her magnificent
display OF tropical fruits which, probably
has never been exoelled by any collection
heretofore. Oranges, lemons and all
varieties Of the orange family: pine
apples, figs, bsnSnas, ,oocoanuts and Japan
persimmons are shown In such lsvish
quantity and Of such superior quality
that hundreds Of northern men are hast
ening to Florida to purchase lands, snd
agents are here selling the land at prices
ranging from s10 to 5000 per acre prices
doubled within few years.
/ am sorry to say thst Delaware, con
sideriug her resources, exhibits on psr
si-lonious scale, though her display II
most tastefully and alluringly set fortf
. by the ingenuity Of our assistant com
, missioner, Mr. King. A few evsporatet
,, peaches, excellent 50 far as they 60, ant
: SOME prints OF her possible fruits Of othel
!. varieties, make up the pitiful total
giving scarcely hint Of her exoeIlen
i, capacities. Had our railroad men mad,
! the effort Of the western and northwestern
railroads in giving hints Of our resources
! or, had the land agents inter
: ested themselves, or the farmer
! contributed Of their best products 1
would have been the best and most effsc
, tive advertisement Of Delawars's lande,
!, real estate. Some good maohinery,a - nes
= display Of Cowgill's uood-stsins, fu
! display OF the Vuloanizsd Fibre Com
= pany's products, the Dean cloth exhibi
and ornamental bricks Of BtRgs & Co.
:. include most Of the Delaware department
= OF these, the ornamental bricks, taste
~ fully arranged, attract most attention
!, and are superior TO any otherR shown.
= In our ofioisl capacity as delegate
:, = the National Agricultural Congress-
~ whose sessions we have attended, "
had the fortune to make the acquaiptant
Of no: q few prominent men OF the ooui
try. The society is represented by man
names familiar TO us in the political hi
10 tory Of the country, ard political. IS we
rs ss agricultural matters were freely di
rs cusssd. Mr.. Bay ard 10 conceded the FIR
n place In the csbinet with remAIkab
y, unsnimity. and in this connection We o.
II constantly questioned as TO his probsb
as SUCCESSOR in the Senate. What can '
OF tell them 7 We can only hops that Il
o, choice Of the Legislature shall not be SUI
m as to lower the high standard Of Del
~ ware's national representatives..
ee