The herald., 1894-03-13
THE MIDWINTER FAIR.
MICHIGAN IN POSSESSION OF THE
SUNSET CITY.
General AIgsr the Lion of the Day-The
Santa Barbara Building Opened
to tho PubIic-Unique
Decorations.

SAN FRANCISCO, March 12.-Today ap-
peared on the midwinter calendar as
Michigan day, and the weather could
not have been more perfect if it had
been made to order. After the crowds
had enjoyed the many sights to be
seen about the grounds. they turned
their attention to the festival hall where
an elaborate programme OF exercises
was sfully carried out in honor Of
Michigan day. The exercises were
opened with prayer by Rev. DR..
W. W. Case. after which w.
A. Tolchard, president of the
day, made Introductory remarks.
MIR. Tolchard paid happy compliment
to General Alger and to the Michigan
people present He was followed by
Director General de Young, who CAV 9 a
brief history of the midwinter
fair. A poem entitled Michigan's W ell
come to General Alger was
read, to which General Alger repli ed
in few brief, but we'll chose re.
marks. A letter OF regret, on &C ccount
OF inability to attend, was received from
Governor II. H. Markham. Mum erous
vocal and instrumental selections were
rendered, and the exercises closed with
general reception, and all the guests
were made to feel aS home.
The opening of the Santa Barha ra
county building today yes sttH.a@ ~. =
with most gratifying results to the man
agement and to q number OF Santa
Barbara people who came specially for
the day and opening. The decorations in
the building called forth exclamations of
praise from every one, not only from
their unique character and designs, but
on account OF the fact that all the deco
rations are of home production. The
walls have been covered with burlaps,
while the ceiling is concealed by 5000
pampae plumes, which wave gently in the
breeze entering through the open win
dows. In the center of the room rises
square column of olive oil in bottles,
and around the eides are arranged the
food products of the county. The win
doWs are latticed With stems OF palma,
and cur tains are made from burlaps
artistically arranged and drawn. In
the recep tion room, where the receiving
committee, headed by Mayor Gaty and
wife, were engaged in their pleasant
duties, the decorations are, il any
thing, more elaborate, and, in addition,
two sides OF the room are covered with
the celebrated collection OF old missions
by H. O. Ford, whose untimely death
occurred recently and WAS deplored by
all, The Indian baskets around the floor
are the best specimens of this work ever
seen, and the fish net decorations are
being put up as rapidly as possible. In
the next room is the celebrated Salada
collection. which has attracted so much
attention and ia really worthy OF special
notice, as Salada's experience in the
late war gave him the ground
eusk for his exhibits, and he
hgH collected with much labor and
great pains most creditable array OF
historical souvenirs of the rebellion.
The most striking feature of the Santa
Barbara building is the complete sb-
sence of color in decoration, except that
provided by nature. and this fact was
freely commented upon by the visitors.
The total admissions to the fair today
were l0,378.