The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-01-04
"CALIFORNIA ON WHEELS"
Description of the Fine Exhibit Now
In the City.

The two fine coaches bearing the large
and diversified exhibit of natural and
manufactured products of California ar
rived in this city over the Omaha road
Saturday evening as per announcement
and were sidetracked near the depot for
the inspection of our citizens. They re-
manned here until Tuesday morning and
anyone who cared to look. through the
cars was courteously treated by the
gentlemen having charge of the exhibit.
The cars were thronged Sunday and
Monday by curious spectators, though it
must be said that, considering the mag
niticent weather that Minnesota has
been enjoying, few were Influenced to
think seriously of changing their abode
to any other state, even to rich and glor-
ious California, by which state only can
our climate beapproachedi in excellence.
The cars left San Francisco Dec. 16, I'M
der the management of the California
State Board of Trade and the Southern
Pacific Railroad Co., to advertise to the
people of the North and East the many
advantages that fair California has to Of
fer to settlers, and will take in the in
auguration of President Harrison.
The cars, which bear on their sides
the announcement Free Exhibition of
the Products of California by the State
Board of Trade" are fine, large hand
somely painted coaches. One is devo-
ted to the purposes of the exhibit, while
the other is used by the accompanying
party. These coaches are connected by
vestibule and are warmed by patent
heaters. The persons who compose the
party are E. Med. tombstone, Howard
G. Tibbitts, d. ]. Mcdonald, Mrs. E.
tombstone, Mrs. Mclean, and Edgar
Price, the press correspondent for San
Francisco papers. The badge of the par
ty is small gold bear. From here the
cars go to LeSueur, st. Peter, Minneapo-
lis, st. Paul and many other places from
here to the Atlantic coast.
The exhibition car is lined on each
side with rows Of shelves of polished
rosewood, bearing the various exhibits.
Attractive photographs of scenes in var
ious parts of the state, many framed in
native woods, form the ceiling. The
principal exhibit is that of fruits. Ev-
erything Is plainly marked with the To-
cality and name of the producer. Or
anges, apples, ounces, olives, pears,
raisins, prunes, preserved peaches,
plums, grapes, cherries, etc., tempt the
visitor with their luscious appearance.
Among the products of the soil are ex-
hibited great stalks of golden wheat,
from which the state has well received
its title. Tobacco, oats, barley, rye, corn
ETC., are also found. There are all kinds
nuts, including chestnuts, English wal
nuts, soft and hard shell almonds, hazel
nuts and Brazil nuts. Besides these
there are glass cases filed with pure silk.
cocoons, and fabrics giving some concep-
ton of the silk industry. Bottles of the
wine product of the state and bottles of
olive oil and glass boxes of sun-dried
fruits are interesting features of the ex-
hibit. Marbles, minerals and native
woods are displayed. Among the man
ufactured products are wooden blankets.
stocking, fiushy cotton and other arti-
cles. Designs of the two largest engines
ever built in California are shown.
Maps of California and printed matter
Is distributed by those in charge of the
car. A blackboard is also shown, giving
the temperature in various parts of Cali
fornia daily, as reported by the signal
service agent at Sacramento.