The morning call., 1893-01-09

ment. for they are too commonplace. They
will rather occasion an inquiry into the
cause of the decadence or retrOgression OF
Callfornla's squashes and pumpkins.
SQuashes and pumpkins that couldn't beat
800 pounds by considerable have seldom
been thought worthy of a two-line note by
the California country editor, and the
Mechanics Fair has never seen year
when 3Q0pOund pumpkins and squashes aud
beets five feet long have not been displayed
as ordinary affairs.
No big pumpkins have yet arrived, and
there is yet bat one squash that comes any
where near the usual standard.
Has 1t then come to this, that measly
squash of 205 pounds must be pampered,
foTsOotb. on milk and that one decent
squash. itself of doubtful weight. must be
relied upon 10 uphold the glory of this
great State? Must We now hang our heads
in shame when the Eastern reader of county
Board Of Trade literature and New Years
issues Of country papers asks But where
are your big pUmpkins2' Let il be hoped
that they viii yet arrive.
Alameda County has a magnificent dis
play Of fruits at least There are over a
thousand great handsome jars of big Ius-
cOus-lo9king fruits aud vegetables being
unpacked cleaned and Tabled where that
county's shelves are rising. The display
will include 400 varieties of fruit and over
go varities of vegetables, preserved and
fresh.
It has set out 10 win the first prize, but
when an inquirer crosses the Pavilion TO
where TIE great Sacramento County display
is being uupacked he will be told that there
are 300 Of those big jars TO be displayed
there. A cursOry lock at the great arrays Of
beautiful fruits of almost every variety
grown between the trOpic Of Cancer and
the iorly-ninth parallel, all coming from
some one California county. will make any
Californian proud of his State The county
o-yhf n m ba fpa ho,
before at the Pavilion, although so many
counties are not participating Tie exhibits
have been prepared for Chicago, and hence
there has been more money spent and more
care taken than ever before.
The Pavilion presented a crowded and
busy scene Saturday and it will be just as
busy and crowded, If not more so, to-day.
In the big central space the unique
structures for the citrus belt, which will be
covered with oranges. we're nearly COM
pleted and the work of putting on the
Oran yes began. To-day the big archway Of
placer, the Gateway County," will turn
yellow and go will Chico's old Dutch mill
and some OF the other fabrics there.
-Four or five carloads OF oranges in boxes
were stacked here and there about the
floor and everywhere was confusion Of
boxes, potted palms, ferns, flowers and
orange and lemon trees, carpenters and
forty other kinds of things.
Along the SIDES under the galleries where
county and private exhibits will be placed
the confusion and crowding was worse.
Great tiers OF naked shelving we're rising
all along both sides and carload after car
load Of stuff was being rapidly added to the
disordeTed mass Of packed and unpacked
exhibits. Rich fruity smells arose here and
there from boxes and barrels. Everything
raised in several counties was coming forth.
Many private exhibitors were getting their
displays pretty well in shape and the famil-
lar mountains OF cocoa, pickles. salt, min
eral waters, ETC., were appearing here and
there behind ratings and booths, some OF
which we're bright and new, and some Of
which have served out there during two or
three former fsrs. Here and there was
a soda-water fountain getting in place,
q showcase for gloves being leveled or some
knitting machinery being set up. Those
pumps were getting ready to pour their
steams ont in the machinery annex and a
great deal Of heavy mining and other ma
rhinery was being moved in.
Up around the galleries similar prepare
tons were going busily on. The rough
tables and the blue and pink curtains for
the ieeeream stand and the restaurant were
getting shaped and so was the den of the
optical Illusions The booth of the Women's
Auxiliary of the Worlds / air Commission
is being made a dream of artistic beauty
under the direction of Mrs. Mary Bates.
So everywhere throughout the great
building there was din, confusion, hustle,
aud here and there suggestions Of rapidly
developing order. Everything will not be
ready tomorrow, but there Will be more
than one can well see In one evening, and
the fair will have so much that Is novel
and pleasing and interesting that it will be
refreshing 70 those VIII 0 have seen Mecban-
les fairs for years.