National Republican., 1885-06-20
THE new ORLEANS EXHIBITS
IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS READYFoR
THE PERMANENT EXPOSITION HERE.
a sample of tho Government Collec-
tions-What the Department of Agri-
culture Sent to the Worlds Fair-In-
tcrestinE historical Representation
OF the Wood Industry.

The return OF the government exhibits
from New Orleans which are all expected
to arrive here during the next two weeks,
brings the question of a permanent exposi-
tion being established in this city for active
discussion. Few people have fair or
adequate conception Of the grand proper
tions Of these exhibits, the aggregate being
a most completely representative collection,
displaying every department of industry
and natural resource.
One Of the first to arrive Is the exhibit
contributed from the department Of arri-
culture under the efficient management of
William Saunders, tho commissioner for
that department. The charts prepared by
the statistician which graphically illustrate,
the leading facts in the agriculture Of the
country and the commerce IN agricultural
products, have been asked for by some OF
the agricultural colleges and have been dis
trlbuted as desired, but the bulk Of the ex-
hibit is en- route back to this city where II
will furnish some valuable additions to ex-
istlng collections II not aggregated with a
permanent one.
Besides the very interesting contributions
Of the several divisions of the department,
there arc Others which belong 20 the de-
partment rs whole, and among the latter
one which promises to be Of especial and
permanent value Is a collection OF wood
work, designed to illustrate tho economic
uses Of American woods and the processes
Of their manufacture.
The idea of such a collection was con-
ceived by Mr.. Saunders many years ago, and
when appointed to represent the depart
ment at New Orleans he decided to carry 10
into effect, aud with this Wow appointed
Charles II. Dodge, assisted by other agents,
to collect the desired material and informa-
ton. The object aimed at was not u dis
play OF finished articles made of wood, ex-
cept In the case Of unpainted articles OF
very simple character, but to show tho wood
which forms the different parts OF any COM
pleX structure-such as carriage, a
to show the different parts IN the
several stages of their manufacture.
In wagons and carriages, for example, there
is no complete vehicle, but there are the
hubs, spoltes, and rims of wheels, with
shafts and other parts Of the woodwork,
shown In their successive stages. The hub,
Tor instance, is shown in the rough block,
then as roughly shaped on a lathe, then
suecossiyely as turned, smoothed, aud
finished. In like manner are illustrated
the different processes involved IN the
making of spoke. The rim OF a carriage
wheel is no longer made of number of
felloes doweled together, but of two pieces
of tough hickory or ash bent into the form
of semicircles and the wonderful extent 10
which this bending process can be carried
Is shown by piece of hickory six inches
square which has been bent into a spiral
form, somewhat resembling watch SPRING
From the Whitney factory, near New
Haven, there are gun stocks in their various
stages. First there Is the rough block of
wood then the stock as roughly Outlined
by the saw then the same after single
process In the lathe, and so on to the I'm
ished stock us 1t appears after smoothing
and polishing.
From piano factories there are specimens
Of all the different woods used in the manu-
facture Of those instruments, including
their ornamcntation and the works are
shown by which the motion is commune
Gated from the key to the musical wire.
Boat building is illustrated by the planks
as they come from the sawmill, then as
finished, and finally as Joined together, as
well as by other portions of the boat, and
by the oars in their different stages. In
this department of the exhibit there Is a
canoe of arbor vitae, thirteen feet In length
and weighing only ten and half pounds,
in which the owner had travelled. hundreds
ffPhIiiees >etrnung We AAfdnUndAck lakes
In The furniture department, beside parts
OF the commoner articles, there are some
fine specimens of carved work, and some
made of oak, ash, cherry, black walnut,
and other woods. A collection of cedar
ware, including tubs, buckets, and other
utensils, represents the products of the
white cedar found in the Dismal Swamp
and elsewhere in the south. There are also
platters, bowls, cups, &C., from North
Carolina, made chiefly from the sweet gum.
Surveyors implements, fishing rods,
canes and umbrella handles are exhibited
in great variety Of woods. There are
shoe lasts, chiefly Of hard maple but also
made to some extent Of persimmon wood.
In the manufacture Of spools the white
birch is extensively used, and this wood is
exhibited in the different stages of manu-
facture, from the long square rods which
are to be cut into blocks OF appropriate
length to the finished article. Shuttles for
power looms are shown made of three
kinds of wood-apple, perslmmon, and
dOgwood-tbe rough block and the finished
shuttle being presented in each wood.
There is an interesting collection OF
stamped work for cornices and other decora-
tions. In the process of stamping the
pressure is applied to the end of the block
to be stamped-thatis is, the blocks are so cut
that the wood shall be presented to the
pressure endwisc Of the grain. The figures
formed by this process, when affixed TO
furniture, &C., give somewhat OF the effect
Of carving.
The manufacture Of lead-pencils is Illus
trated by logs Of cedar as brought from the
woods, and by the different intermediate
forms which the wood assumes before 1t
becomes pencil. Specimens are shown Of
the different pencils made, down to the
delicate little article with a ring ut the
upper end, which Is used by ladies In filling
out their dancing programmes.
Among the many other articles embraced
in the exhibit are briarwood pipes, wood
types, such as are used In the printing of
posters and certain other work, blocks for
wood engraving, basket work Of willow and
split wood, including eel-traps, &c.
Another product of wood which is ex-
hibited in different stages of its manufacture
has received the name Of "EXcelsior." II
consists Of very fine shavings bearing more
resemblance TO hay, only more uniform in
substance, and is chiefly used In packing,
Then there is wood pulp, with illustrll-
tons OF the stages through which the wood
passes In reaching this condition. The
woods used include white poplar, linden,
Eastwood, and some kinds OF pine.
OF other timber products there are tur-
pentine, pitch, tar, and rosln, with blocks
of wood Illustrating the way IN which the
tree is tapped 10 obtain the crude turpen-
tine; and In this department are also eX-
hibited wood alcohol and other chemical
products Of wood,
One practical question to which attention
has been given in making the collection is
the age at which trees are best fitted for
the different purposes to which their wood
is applied. As illustrations of the results
Of this inquiry 1t may be mentioned that
for spoies hickory Of from eighteen to
twenty-four years. growth ia preferred
For coarse basket work white oak and ash
OF about ten years growth are found 10 be
better than older timber II will readily be
seen that facts Of this class are of consider
able interest to the land owner as tending to
show that he need not in all cases wait the
greater part Of lifetime before beginning
to receive returns from an investment in
tree planting.