The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1893-05-27
IDAHO At TIE FAIR.
An Interesting Letter Yten Our Special Cer.
respondent.
IDAHO STATE BUILDING.

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IDAHO STATE BUILDING,
JACKSON PARK, CHICAGO, MAY g. I
1t will be most gratifying to the peo-
pie at home to know that Idaho's fruit
exhibit ranks among the very best in
the horticultural department at the
Columbian exposition. This is not an
individual opinion, for it is the verdict
of thousands of visitors that Idaho fruit
is excelled hv no other country in the
world. These visitors, too, come from
every quarter of the globe. A gentle
man from London, looking at a cluster
Of Idaho plums the other day, said: Il
have Travelled all around the world, and
/ never before have seen anything to
equal that" But the greatest surprise
is not that Idaho raises such fine fruit,
but that she grows any fruit at all. Not
more than one in a hundred thinks of
Idaho except as a cold, barren country,
and people can hardly believe that such
semi-tropical fruits come from state
SO far north.
Last week Judge Babcock, under the
auspices of the horticultural depart
ment, commenced the examination of
winter apples for the purpose of giving
awards. Idaho was the second on the
list to be judged, Oregon being first
This order was probably taken because
Oregon and Idaho were the FIRST two to
have their exhibits in place, and were
the only two that were anywhere near
ready for the opening day. There was
a great deal of expectancy on the part
of the exhibitors for the winter apple
test. II was the first examination of
the fair, and those with poor exhibits
dreaded the result, while those with fair
displays thought Partially would be
shown. and many rumors were set afioat.
Idaho had kept her best apples for this
test. After the close of the fair at s
o'clock for the day, Our men worked till
midnight taking the apples from their
paper wrappers and arranging them for
the judges coming next day. President
BlalOck, of the Washington state com.
mission. asked next morning when he
beheld the new lot: when are you
fellows going to quit running in sur
prises Oh u.s." Indeed, he could well
ask the question, for before him was a
beautiful display that excelled anything
else in the horticultural hall. Arranged
on shelves, making first triangle of
light apples. and next dark one, were
three or four hundred plates, four apples
to plate. the blue pearmain, the wine
sap, the red checked pippin and a score
Of other varieties, looking as fresh as
when picked from the trees in Idaho
last autumn. 1t was truly a tempting
sight, and despite the vigilance of at
tendants and guards handsome speci-
men would now and then disappear.
some visitor getting the credit of being
unable TO withstand the temptation
They certainly found they tasted as
good as they looked, for the few that
have been permitted to try the apples
have declared they have never eaten
better.
Idaho is sure to get a medal for her
apples. Judge Babcock said so himself.
His words were, while talking with
friends before entering upon his duties:
Idaho, Washington and Oregon each
ought to have a gold medal There
are no competitive awards made at the
Columbian exposition. Each exhibit is
judged on its own merits, not compared
with any other, and every one that is
found worthy is given medal.
So Commissioner Wells is certain to
bring home next fall, for awards will he
made till the close of the exposition, a
medal for Idaho winter apples. Each
fruit viii be examined in Its season. and
Idaho may obtain many medals, for her
peaches and pears and plums and many
other fruits are just as good as her
apples.
There are three aisles in the horticul-
tural hall. This allows two wall ex-
hibits. and also two nearer the center of
the floor. ldaho's space is in the north
half of the hail. Canada comes first and
occupies the floor from wall to wall
Idaho has the west wall and one of the |
center aisles. Across from Idaho is
New Mexico and Montana. Next to !
Idaho on the other end is Washington. |
and next Colorado, with Oregon oppo |
site Colorado. This brings the north. |
west states very near together. and they |
make the gem of the horticultural hall. |
1t is the wonderful Snake river valley |
that grows the fruit, and Idaho has the |
best part of it,
A little incident happened during the |
first few days of the fair which is worth |
recording. Utah occupied small space |
between Idaho and Washington. Utah's
exhibit did not begin to do her justice. |
The president of the Utah commission |
said that if their exhibit was any other |
place in the hall except next TO Idaho it
would not look SO bad. Washington |
was 10 days late in putting up their ex- |
hihit, and all this time Utah was won |
iering il it would not make matters
worse.
Their small exhibit was passed by
while visitors stopped to ad- |
mire Idaho. At last the contrast got to
be so exasperating to the Utah people
that one night their exhibit was taken