The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-11-22

Nh. EpIroA. .--As had the pleasure of
attending The State Fair, (only one day,
though, end 5wes asked by some friends who
didn't 80, p giyean account Of my trip, &c.,
thought xwould attempt II, but fear my
inability toput i in interesting and read
able shapc& Apd then, only one day, one
has to exal erything on fast schedule,
end his e work more than thoughts.
we went a. Ind vi m we Sfriyed
In the city wo' <lks&ed directly for tho Fair
grounds and found them we'll filed, but tho
crowd continued to increase, until. it was
with difficulty that one could pass, especially
in the Agricultural Hall, and the space in
front Of II. In this Hall could not ex-
anime the exhibits as I 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,
and it looked like one black sheep in
flock Of whiSe ones.
When tell you that in going through the
Fancy Work Department, and Art Gallery.
| i would often have to stop until some
one moved step, before / could move on,
you can imagine that thero wasn't much
chance for mo to take in rs much rs i
wished, in a limited time. But saw enough
to know the exhibit was cxquisitely fine and
| beautiful. There was some crazy quilts
valued at seventy dollars.
In passing through from East to West,
looking to The left, / saw the largest display
i of jellies, preserves, marmalsdes, &c. that
ever saw, anX,hey appeared moro appe-
/ tising. -
In theJAsty 6aAlsy = there was not much
chance for me TO examine so l proceeded to
the Machinery, and srw some very fine
Mills at work, and driven by very fne en-
gines, built in our own Slate. l may not be
q good judge Of machinery, especially steam
engines, but think know good one when
l see it work and don't think / ever saw
n prettier, easier md smoother running en-
gine than one, magnificent l5-horse-power,
built by tho Chcraw Iron Works, Of Cheraw,
sc. It was pleasure to see and music to
hear it drive saw, with such rapidity as
it did, through q large log. After viewing
it considerably, l, in my heart, gave it first
premium, and proceeded to examine neat
little hoy press that took n 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 1t 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
ers-it being hand press-lifting the bale
press the bale, he seemed more than anxious
to make II. I 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 r. Lambard g. Co.,
of Augusta, Ga, had the largest variety Of
articles in this Hall.
The Pratt carding cotton Gin was on inter
esting feature of the exhibits, and while il
made n most beautiful sample, it failed to
clean the seed. Another was self-tramping
cotton press. but failed to see it work, as
there was such 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 ut the last fair.
1 .oSq::e DE- t0dg> apd 9oats, in my opinion, wa.
some skeep e2&ibited >far. old age.
The poultry show was large and yariegated
There were some of the largest geese ever
saw. The largest was the Bremen. The
largest Turkeys and Ducks was the Bronze
| Turkey, and Pekin ducks. In the differen,
varieties Of chickens, the fcathered legs pre-
dominated. They had the resemblance OF
being o near relative of the buzzard.
Monteith's rabbits monopolized quito a
crowd all day. They were of almost every
color, and were beauties. The doors of the
cages were left open all day. and ono could
90 and coax a rabbit to 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 scuffle 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 tramp through the Park, but as
one OF 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. After dark we visited
the Electric Light Works. This / believe
was the best place we visited, and it was
really pleasure to see the rapidly revolving
dynamos, of which there was three.
There was a bright blueish blaze around
the end Of the shaft where the wires are con-
nected, 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 q wide berth.
Our train stopped over until after the trades
display, which do not think was as good as
last year, except train Of cars, and largo
locomotive engine of the s. c. R. r. 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 Rechling,
just back Of the State House, which was
quickly consumed. The fire engines were on
the grounds, but could not save it. never
saw such dense throng Of people as gather
ed around that fire. Thus was the fireworks
and trade display brought to an end. And
thus ended, for us, q day, / think, well spent
in pleasure and enjoyment, in the city of Co
lumbia. Although tired and almost worn
out with continuous tramping; I..don't think