The record-union., 1894-02-07
At THE MIDWINTER FAIR.
Some of the Sights to be Seen on the
Grounds.
Though the Main Exhibits Are Not
All in Place. There is Much
That is Interesting.

Those who have not yet paid a visit to
the Midwinter Fair make dihgent in
quiries of those who have been, as to just
what there is to be seen there now and
whether they ought to go now or wait un-
til everything is in complete order. Some
OF the San Francisco papers have pub
lished such exaggerated accounts of the
display in the main buildings that people
who have visited them during the past
month have been very much disap-
pointed.
The fact is that many of the great build
ings of the fair proper are nothing like in
order yet, though the work of putting the
wonderful displays in position is pro-
crossing rapidly, and will be finished in
the near future Even what is already in
place constitutes a wonderful display,
such as has never been seen before on
this coast, and it would take a person
several days to examine what is now
ready for inspection. The buildings de-
voted to manufactures and liberal arts,
agriculture and horticulture, mechanical
arts and fine arts, each contain enough to
interest the visitor for many hours.
The Northern and Central California
building being the first in order, has re-
ceiVed great deal of attention. The dis
play therein has attracted Eastern visit
ors especially, who have expressed aston
ishment and surprise at the wonderful
| productions of a single section. The
Sacramento County exhibit has received
full share of attention, and the greatest
praise on account of the great variety of
! products shown. Erskine Greer, who is
! in charge, is kept constantly employed III
! explaining to visitors how it Is possible
| for CpptiOn tn nrO0upn G1lch wonder
ful variety of fruits and cereals. RECORD
! UNION representatives have dropped in
| upon MIN at all hours of the day and
evening, and found him always at his
post and engaged in dilating upon the
| glOries of old Sacramento County.
1t is not the purpose OF this article TO
attempt description of the fair, but to
inform the reader briefly as to what to
| expect as to the general character of the
| exposition. 1t may be said, therefore,
! that one can get the worth OF his money
| at almost every step, providing he avoids
! some of the restaurants, which charge
eXorbitant prices. In fact the charges in
some of them are downright robbery.
| Others are comparatively reasonable.
! The general admission entities one to
visit all the buildings of the fair proper,
without extra charge, such as the build
| ings devoted to agriculture and horti-
| culture. manufactures and liberal arts,
!
! ern and Central California building,
Southern California building, the
! buildings of the various counties
and many others. Beside these
there are vast number Of places where
an admission fee is charged, such as
| Boone's menagerie and trained animal
| show, the streets of Cairo, the EsuuimauX
village, the haunted swing the Colo
RADIO gold mine, the Firth wheel, the burn
| ing volcano of Kilauea, the scenic rail-
way, 40 camp, mystic maze, Pharaoh's
| daughter, and innumerable other attrac-
! tions.
These may be termed ''side-shows,"
! but the price of admission to each is small,
and in all those above mentioned the eX-
hibtion is fully worth the money.
Colonel Boone's collection of trained
and wild animals is simply wonderful
and delights both young and old. The
cyclorama Of the kilauea Volcano is the
finest piece of work of that character
ever seen on this coast.
Probably the most interesting and in
structive exhibition on the grounds is the
Colorado gold mine. Here is presented
in miniature the Saratoga gold mine in
| full operation, showing the workings of
the mine down to the 700-fOot level, illus
trating the processes of sinking shafts,
running drifts, stopping, separating ore
from waste, pumping, ventilating, hoist
ing ore, transporting it to the crusher,
etc 1t is an education in mining to see
this exhibit, which could not be acquired
in two years Of visiting mines.
The Firth wheel is not as large as the
| Ferris wheel at Chicago, but it is built on
the same principle and the view from it
is delightful
The Scenic Railway seems to secure
more patronage than any other conces-
sion, from the fact that people 90 back to
it time and again The children never
have enough Of it, and many of the older
ones are equally carried away by it's
charms. 1t brings back to their minds
the days of the toboggan on the SHOWS of
| the East
The streets of Cairo, the oriental viii
lage, the Persian Palace and Turkish
! Theater are full Of interest. Here may
be seen the muscle dancers, who have
| been so much written about in the
papers.
The Haunted Swing gives one the most
peculiar sensation ever felt, while the
exhibition called Pharaoh's Daughters. is
not only very beautiful, but it is mys-
terry which will give the beholder plenty
of food for thought for some time. The
Mystic Maze is another of this class OF
illusions and one which furnishes any
amount of sport.
The '49 camp is great attraction and
thousands of people visit it every day.
These are only few of the interesting
things to be seen at the fair, but they are
among the most attractive. 1t is i'm
possible i'll any one day to visit any great
number of them.