The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1893-07-01

line Of road carriages and wagons are
here upon display. The Americans
have also exhibited a wonderful orig
inality and taste in many Of the new
designs presented They have not only
exceIed all Of the foreigners in origi-
nality of design, but in interior and
exterior decoration of carriages and
in the fineness of woodWorkManship,
but also in taste in making the display
and in variety and number Of speci- )
mems exhibited. It presents in it's
fullest conception the glory of Ameri-
can originality and workmanship and
perhaps more than any other exhibit
appeals to the pride of the America4T
who has been in the habit of seeing
our countrymen eXcelled in matters ct
decorative finish and decoration Of all
kinds when they come into competl
ton with the foreigners. The only
country which will at all bear any com
parison in exhibit with that of the
United States is France. The keenE
est competition was expected to como
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, tan
dems, 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-
cept, perhaps, a few designs in talley-
hos and some silver and gold-mounted
harness. The most noticeable differ
ence in the construction of carriages
between American and foreign makes
is the lightness 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
ffteenth-sixteenths of an inch, while
the foreign make cannot get below an
inch and quarter and more often
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 I
have. seen in foreign makes, and even
in the upholstery. where I 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. / had talk the other day with
one of the leading New York carriage
makers, who Informed me that it ap-
peared to him that Americans could
have 40 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
come Ito the sa conclusion to send
the inimitable American drummer
right into the stronghold of the enemy
in the European countries and endeayor}
to- sell American makes Of vehicles
in competition with the best of them.
He pointed out to me a hunting cart,
so beautifully painted, that it looked as
if it had been sheathed in white satin
and said: Il do not think you can
find q 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 stimu]ators Of such work as
that, because they are remarkably fine
judges Of good workmanship, and will
patronize no other. It 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 to
the Atlantic and southwark to Ten
neSSee.
In contrast with this exhibit in the
transportation building, however, we
must put the remarkably fine displays
Of the great British shipbuilders in the
line of models. The Cramps of Phila-
delphia have furnished models of all
the great vessels built for the Ameri-s
can navy in the model warship Michi-
gan, on the lake, hence they do not
come into direct contrast with the
British models in the transportation
building. The model of the British
armored battle ship Victoria" has
nothing to compare with it in the
American display. The United States,
however, furnishes the great show of
the transportation building and far
eyertops all compettors.-R McelI
Kepzie. ,,u.r-r- - 50 $--l ~