, 1886-07-22
REPORT OF Z. MEEKER
On the Washington Territory Exhibit
al the New Orleans Exhibition.

dance with the provisions II the law |
passed hy the Legislative assembly Of |
the Territory f Washington. apVro |
priatiug - 5uu To drfray the expenses
II the commissioner on the part Of |
the territory. and the exhibits from
the territory L. the exposition at New
Orleans have this day filed with the
auditor. q detailed statement Of the
manner in which the sum received by
me was expended.
Supplemanting that report l have
the honor 10 enclose herewith. state
Inent Of the work done. the scope of
labor performed. the probable results
and other matter connected with the
execution Of the trust Tep0sed in me
under your authority
As You are aware. The commission
authorizing me to act on behalf of the
territory. was not issued until q very
late date, tAUgusti aud after much Of
our fruit. some of our vegetable, and
various other productions We're ont of
season and could not be obtained. |
Immediately made an appeal TO the
citizens of the territory at large for
contributions of both money and eX-
hibIts. and in consequence OF the
hearty response of many cOmmuni-
ties and numerous individuals | was
enabled to collect and maintain an
exhibit of magnitude. variety and
quality that was not only a surprise
to myself. but also to the management
of the exposition, the territorial and
state commissioners and visitors at
the exposition.
To this generous response Is entire
ly due this measure Of success at
tanned; to those contributors the
thanks and gratitude of the citizens
of this territory are due, and to them
through you, | wish to make this
acknowledgment, which. We're they
not so numerous. / would make di-
rectly to each of the contributors.
would refer you to the catalogue
OF the exhibits, q copy of which l
herewith enclose, for specific infor
nation of this point.
The exposition, financially, was a
failure, but as an exposition exhibit
ing the resources of our country, it
was great success.
In the government building thirty
three states and territories maintained
collective exhibits. and were repre-
sented, with but few exceptions, by
commissioners Zealors in the work.
To those commissioners. as body
and likewise as individuals, l was
greatly indebted for their uniform
courtesy and kindness, and may say
interest taken to give our territory
great prominence. l wish, likewise,
TO make the same acknowleds ement
to the management OF the exposition,
who assigned us a most prominent
and commodiOus space and rendered
all aid in their power to make our
display pleasing and effective.
The accompanying photographs of
exhibits, and the catalogue referred
to, will give you fair idea of the
plan adopted and the variety of arti-
cles displayed, which are entirely too
numerous to warrant undertaking to
set forth in detail in this report But
cannot forbear to mention some of
the departments that attracted great
attention.
There We're 81 contributions of
wheat, from 81 contributors, compris-
% varieties, averaging 81 bushels per
acre. Twenty of oats of 13 varieties,
averaging SO bushels per acre Two
of rye, averaging 80 bushels per acre.
Twenty-seven of corn, of 10 varieties,
averaging 40 bushels per acre. Thir-
teen of barley, 5 varieties, averaging
56 bushels per acre.
There were 81 contributions of
fruit, comprising nearly two hundred
varieties of apples, pears, peaches.
plumbs. prunes, cherries, grapes,
currants, blaekberries, Strawberries,
raspberries, cranberries, with many
others of the wild berries, the whole
making display alike creditable to
the territory and to the contributors,
contesting VIGOROUSLY with older
states and territories for premiums
on fruit and carrying off no less than
IL prizes. Our lfruit tables elected
unstinted praise. attracted universal
attention and were second to none in
the exhibition as to quality, size and
beauty of varieties displayed.
The display of vegetables was full
and complete, comprising potatoes,
beets, beans, turnies, carrots, onions,
squashes and many other varieties.
We had the largest potatoes. the
smoothest onions and the largest car
rOts in the whole of the exposition.
The dairy and apiary were both re
presented by contributions of excel
lent quality. though not numerous.
The timber department was full
and comprised nearly all the varie-
ties grown in the territory and shown
IN several forms. We had a section
of fir tree eight feet in diameter:
three planks of fir, spruce and cedar
respectively 53, IS and 81 inches wide,
the two first named "A and the last 2C
in length; also sapling five and one
half inches in diameter and 81 feet
long which attracted great attention
also dressed lumber of several kinds
and various forms.
The coal shown was from eight 10
calities comprising our leading varie
ties, which exhibited in a pyramid
with our lime, tlux and iron ore made
an interesting, attractive and protita
BILE display; of iron ore there were q
contributions and amCng them scme
of great merit
Stones and clGys iii nutural and
manufactured forms were exhibited
from widely distributed districts. ard
while not att acting much attention,
Yet TO critical visitors were of interest
OF hops we had Il CON pIete and fine
showing; hops in the bale, on the
vine as grown, and hop vines grow
ing IN miniature garden planted
within the exposition building; also a
complete hop house, which contribu-
ted TO make the exhibit of this great
industry complete and thorough to
the minutest detail.
l shipped ten tons of sugar beets
Ia AlvHradO. Cal, to be there manu-
factured INTO sngar, resulting in a re
turn of over 1900 pounds of beautiful
white sugar which was the wonGer of
many and the admiration of all. II
shipping, the beets took a second
growth, which reduced the quantity
of sugar obtained, but did not affect