The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-11-22
Ecerre,popassee Of Union Times
rhe state Fair.

MR. EDIT0R.-As had the pleasure OF
attending the State Pair, (only ono day,
didn't go, 70 give an account Of my trip, &C.,
1 thought Iwould attempt it, but fear my
inability toput il in interesting and read
able shapch And then, only one day, one
has to exai verything on fast schedule,
and his ePn 'r york more than thoughts.
We wcntAs<rE and when we arriyed
in the c{ty- ,ve $hssxed directly for the Fair
grounds and found them we'll filed, but the
crowd continued to increase, until it was
with difficulty that one could pass, especially
| in the Agricultural Hail. and the space in
front Of it. In this Hall 1 could not ex-
anime the exhibits as l would like to have
| done, on account Of the immense crowd, but
saw fine display of farm products. There
| we numerous varieties Of corn and field
| peas, but the stalk-cotton exhibit was not so
large rs last year.
Several bales of cotton were on exhibition,
and one encouraging sign was, that all was
dressed in the Alliance Uniform, except one,
ahd it looked like one black sheep in
flock of white ones.
When tell you that in going through the
Fancy Work Department, and Art Gallery.
| would often have to stop until some
one moved step, before ! could move on,
you can imagine that there wasn't much
| chance for me to take in much rs i
wished, in limited time. But | saw enough
to know the exhibit was cxquistely fine and
beautiful. There was some crazy quilts
valued at seventy dollars.
| In passing through from East to West,
looking to ihc left, saw the largest display
of jellies, preserves, marmalades, SC. that
l ever saw, and vhey appeared moro HPpe-
thing. nd NJ
In the Art ,Nuta1Afs there was not much
chance for me to examine, so proceeded to
the Machinery, and srw some very fine
Mills at work, and driven by very fine Gu
gines, built in our own State. l may not be
good judge Of machinery, especially steam
engines, but think know good one when
see it work and don't think i ever saw
n prettier, easier and smoother running en-
gine than one, magnificent l5-horse-powcr
built by tho Chcraw Iron Works, of Chcraw
s.. C. 1t was a pleasure to sec and music to
hear il drive n saw, with such rapidity rs
it did, through n large log. After viewing
it considerably, |, in my heart, gave 1t first
premium, and proceeded to examine neat
little hay press, that took fancy to, on
account Of its simplicity. and mode OF pack
ing downwards. In talking with the in
ventor, who is a Georgian, he informed me
that il was his intention to make cotton
press on that style, and on my expressing
a favorable opinion of its downward packing
rs it completely does away with the pack
crs-it being hand prcss-lifting the bale
of cotton, thus requiring more power to
press the bale, he seemed more than anxious
to make it. l tried it and found it much
easier than an upward packer.
In the Machinery Hall proper, there was
fine display of machinery and Agricultu-
raj implements. George Il. Lambard & Co..
of Augusta, Ga, had the largest variety OF
articles in this Hall.
The Pratt carding cotton Gin was an inter
estng feature of the exhibits, and while it
made most beautiful sample, it failed TO
clean the seed. Another was a sclf-tramPing
cotton press. but failed to see it work, as
there was such n baulky engine trying to
furnish lint for it.
The exhibition of stock was very fine. The
horse show, both in the stables and the
arena. was more interesting to me than any
year previous.
The cattle was also very fine. There were
more mammoth ones than any year before.
The swine exhibition was large, with some
very large hogs, but do not think they were
in as good condition as at the last faisr---
I r. ffie SheeI Iep6 goats, in my opinion. was
some sheep exhibited for old age.
The poultry show was large and variegated.
There were some of the largest geese | ever
saw. The largest was the Bremen. The
largest Turkeys and Ducks was the Bronze
Turkey, and Pckin ducks. In the diiferen,
varieties of chickens, the fcathcred legs pre-
dominated. They had the resemblance of
being n near relative of the buzzard
Monteith's rabbits monopolzed quite a
crowd all day. They were of almost every
| color, and were beauties. The doors of a."
! Cages =c-o ioit open aIl day, and ono could
| go and coax rabbit II the door, but moth
ing could induce it to come out. You
might undertake to put it out, but the little
fellow would rebel and scutflc vigorously,
to keep from coming out, and as soon rs you
put it on the ground it would hop back.
As the day was fast drawing to close,
and wanted to see sights outside the fair
| grounds, we started to see some of the city.
We took a tramp through the Park, but as
one Oft the party said, we saw no deers, but
saw some fellows who did.
| We went to the State House for the first
time in our visits to the city, and came very
near breaking ourselves down. running up
and down the stairs. Af,er dark we visited
the Electric Light Works. This l believe
was the best place we visited, and it was
really pleasure to sec the rapidly revolving
dynamos, of which there was three.
There was bright blucish blaze around
the end of the shaft where the wires a"c con-
nccted, and we could see sparks or flashes,
continually leaving this blaze, and going to
others. and small connections near by on the
same dynamo We were on our guard. and
gave the wires in the room a wide berth
Our train stopped over until after the trades
display, which do not think was rs good as
last year, except n train ofcnrs, and largo
locomotive engine Of the S. &. II. II. This
train was drawn by ten mules. just as the
procession was about to close the fire alarm
sounded, and almost everybody rushed to the
burning house of Photographer Rcchling,
just back of the State House, which YVES
quickly consumed. The fire engines were on
the grounds, but could not save it. never
saw such dense throng of people as gather
ell around that fire. Thus was the fireworks
and trade display brought to an end. And
thus ended, for us, day, l think, we'll spent
i'll pleasure and enjoyment, in the city of CO.
lumbia. Although tired and almost worn
out with continuous tramping; don't think
there was one Of our party who regretted the
trip. On our way home on the train We had
at the same time drowsy and lively crowd.
While some were trying to sleep others with
their mirth were irving to keen them awake