The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-06-22

our country men excelled III matters or
decorative finish and decoration Of all
kinds when they come into competi
ton with the foreigners. The only 1
country which will at all bear any COM
5parison in exhibit with that Of the
United States is France. The keen
est competition was expected to come
from Great Britain, in tandems and
tally hos, but they have presented
nothing original in design or novel and
attractive in finish. The American dis
play has many new designs In hunting
carts, family carriages, tally hos, tam
denis, omnibuses, in all kinds of
wagons chaises, hacks, hansoms,
sleighs, etc. American carriage makers
are jubilant over general results, and
feel that they will have no competition
from foreign nations to speak OF, ex-
Ecept, perhaps, a few designs in taney-
hos and SOME silver and gold-mounteds
harness. The most noticeable differ
ence in the construction Of carriages
between American and foreign makes
is the lighlness and beauty Of con-
struction characteristic Of all work Of
the kind turned out in this country.
For instance, all light family carriages
have the width Of feloe reduced to
fifteenth sixteenths Of an inch, while
the foreign make cannot get below an
inch and q quarter and more often
an inch and half. The spokes are
also equally light and graceful in the
American make, and the hubs are par
ticularly graceful In outline and finish
as compared with all foreign makes.
The exterior finish Of American vehi-
| cles is superior to anything which /
have seen in foreign makes, and even
! in the upholstery where 1 expected to
see the Americans suffer by comparison
| they are able to equal and often sur
pass the best French workmanship. OF
course, much Of the American superb
ority of workmanship is due to the SUI
perior excellence Of American wood
for fine work, but this cannot account
/ for the finish nor the originality Of de-
sign. I had talk the other day with
/ one Of the leading New York carriage
makers, who informed me that it APP
i peared to him that Americans could
have no competition now in the for
eign markets if they really would take
hold Of the matter and push the sale
of their carriages in foreign countries.
He said that he had about
the inimitable American drummer
|
in the European countries and endcavor
to sell American makes Of vehicles
in competition with the best Of them
He pointed out to me hunting cart
so beautifully painted, that it looked as
if it had been sheathed in white satin
and said: II do not think you can
find a carriage finished equal to that
anywhere in the world, and I consider
it only an average specimen of Ameri
can hand work. The American people
are the Stimulators Of such work as
that, because they are remarkably fine
judges of good workmanship, and will
patronize no other. 1t has stimulated
us to do our best, and you see the re
SUITS The excellence Of the workman
ship seems not to be confined to any
locality of this country but to the ex
hibits of all states from Minnesota tt
} the Atlantic and southwark to Ten
nessee.
In contrast with this exhibit in thu
transportation building, however, w,
must put the remarkably fine displays
Of the great British shipbuilders in tn,
line Of models. The Cramps of Phila
!, Ede1phia have furnished models of al
the great vessels built for the Ameri
I can navy in the model warship Michi
gan, on the lake, hence they do no
J come into direct contrast with tn
British models in the transportation
building. The model Of the British
armored battle ship Victoria ha
. nothing to compare with it in tn
, American display. The United States
!. however, furnishes the great show o
the transportation building and ia
: overtops all competitors. Ralph Nc
Kenzie.