sight-seeing. These instruments were surrounded, in the American department of the Main Building, by large pipe organs, and were not far from the large organ at the east end, but even while one or more of these powerful instruments were being played the Clough & Warren would strike into the same tune and blend with a harmony and yet a distinctness which were wonderful, and excited very general expressions of astonishment. The judges from whose report the award of merit was made gave this organ credit for "volume, with purity of tone, having the character of the diapason in the ordinary (pipe) organ." The other ground of award given by the judges was "because of certain mechanical arrangements which facilitate the working of the instruments, together with neatness of design and ornament, combined with simplicity of construction."

VARIOUS EXHIBITS.

The National Leather Company, of Detroit, made a display of their leather, tanned on the Richter process, which converts hides into leather in a few days, instead of by the old routine of from six to twelve months. Their exhibition was in the Shoe and Leather Building. The leather is peculiarly adapted to the making of laces for machinery belting, for which purpose it was very generally applied and tested. Its great strength was proven by its use on the heavy belting of the Corliss engine. The Richter process is also applied to the preservation of hides with the hair or wool on, adapted to the manufacture of robes and mats, arctic shoes, etc. Neither bark nor alum are used

in the process.

James Flower & Brothers, of Detroit, exhibited James Flower's patent stopvalve for water and steam, James Flower's patent hydrant for fire purposes, James Flower's patent squaring machine, and William P. Stephenson's oil cup, for lubricating engine cylinders, etc. On the first two a diploma of merit and medal were awarded.

The manufacture of artificial veneer, or in other words converting common wood into the finest ornamental wood, in outside appearance, is an invention of Messrs. Cross & Mehling, of Grand Rapids. Their imitations, exhibited in Agricultural Hall, produced great surprise when visitors were told that they were not the real wood, which they so closely resembled. The exhibit received an award.

C. W. Coe, of Fentonville, exhibited in Machinery Hall, class 515, his patent drill press and bolt cutter. The machine is made of different sizes, for use either by power or hand, prices ranging from $25 to $50. It is claimed to be

capable of drilling holes and cutting screws up to two inches in diameter. The Centennial judges recommended it for an award "for ingenuity of feedmotion, simplicity, and adaptability of machine to its use."

The exhibition of two of the Pullman palace cars, manufactured at the company's works at Detroit, attracted many visitors, who were permitted to walk through these beautiful portable palaces.

J. B. Sweetland, of Pontiac, exhibited his very useful invention for elevating building materials during the process of erecting the walls. The chief economical feature is, that while one platform is going up loaded the other is coming down empty, and that it can be operated by either horse or hand invention received diploma and medal.

power. The

D. Farrand Henry, of Detroit, exhibited his invention--a current meter, inlet pipe and strainer for a water works-a very valuable invention to cities obtaining their supplies of water from rivers and other streams more or less impure. It received an award.

E. J. Knowlton, of Ann Arbor, exhibited his patent bathing apparatus in Agricultural Hall. It consists of a bath-tub formed of water-proof materialmainly of India rubber made for the purpose which is suspended to a pole of hickory wood, so bent as to form the top of the tub in the shape of an ox-yoke, but large enough for an adult to bathe in. An award of diploma and medal was granted.

Messrs. Bishop and Northrup, of Wyandotte, had a display of their beautiful long wool dusters and mats of various colors and shades, which was, so far as could be found, the only display of woolen manufacture from Michigan, and therefore attracted the more attention.

D. C. Grant, of Houghton, exhibited what is designed both as an ice-plow and ram attachment for vessels, in its first named character being an instrument for breaking and removing ice obstructing the passage of vessels, and in its other feature a naval ram or submarine armor.

Charles L. Millar, of Colon, exhibited at Agricultural Hall samples of his flour of pumpkin. It is made of pumpkin dried as in the Alden or Jones process, and then ground into flour, in which shape it is made into packages and shipped to any part of the world. It is said to be admirably adapted for making the favorite New England pumpkin pie.

Notwithstanding the fact that Detroit is probably the most extensive tobacco manufacturing point in the Northwest, there was but one exhibitor of tobacco or its product from Michigan, namely, the firm of Sullivan & Burk. This firm are the successors of Oliver Goldsmith in the business of manufacturing cigars,

which business has been established in the city of Detroit about twenty-five years. They exhibited four of their well known brands: The "Detroit Club House," the "Gold Medal," the "E. B.," and the "Iron Cross."

Louis Black & Co., of Detroit, exhibited a glass case of their optical instruments, chiefly spectacles and eye-glasses.

In Agricultural Hall C. C. Comstock had samples on exhibition of his pails, tubs and other woodware from his large factory at Grand Rapids.

F. Shaft, Detroit, exhibited, in the Main Building, a handsome sideboard of black walnut, elegantly carved, with marble top.

Ferdinand Lapp, of Detroit, exhibited in Memorial Hall a handsome carved clock-case, which commanded general admiration for its elaborate workmanship. The diploma and medal were awarded to this exhibit.

J. W. Donovan, of Detroit, exhibited printed forms for files to hold legal papers, adapted for clerks of courts and for law offices.

Messrs. Richmond, Backus & Co. exhibited a railway ticket case, adapted to hold all the variety of tickets sold in a general ticket agency. An award was granted.

The Grand Rapids Brush Manufacturing Company exhibited a large case of their goods in the American department of the Main Building.

Marshall Wheeler, of Big Rapids, exhibited in the Main Building, N 62, a solar chronometer which was much admired.

VIII. MISCELLANEOUS EXHIBITS AND LIST OF AWARDS.

UN

NDER this head are included various exhibits that could not well be classified in the foregoing chapters. The greater part of the chapter, as are the preceding chapters of this part of the work, from and including Chapter III, is compiled from material collected directly or indirectly through the department in charge of Dr. Jacokes. The sketches of the State Agricultural Society and the State Pomological Society are included under the first general head following, because they are legally organized bodies, and their management is more or less under the sanction of State authority.

STATE AND OTHER OFFICIAL EXHIBITS.

COMPARATIVE STATISTICS.

In the Michigan Building was displayed a chart, being one of the series drawn by J. E. Sherman, of the State Land Office, showing the population and principal resources of the State at the two periods, 1836 and 1876, as follows:

STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Not only did the State Agricultural Society exhibit, through its commissioner, Mr. Charles A. Ilgenfritz, the agricultural productions of the State, but its printed transactions very properly formed an important part of the educational exhibit. Since the organization of the State Board of Agriculture, the law has provided for the publication of the proceedings of the State Agricul tural Society in the same volume with those of the State Board of Agriculture, but previous to that period the transactions of the society were published in separate volumes, and from these we gather that the State Agricultural Society was organized at Lansing, March 17, 1849. The meeting held for this purpose was called by the executive officers of the State and members of the State Legislature, sixty-three in all. The first meeting was held March 10, 1849, and a committee was appointed to draft plan of organization, constitution, and by-laws. Two acts were passed at the then session of the Legislature, one of which incorporated the State Agricultural Society, and the other appropriated the sum of $400 annually in aid of its objects. The acts were quite specific in defining the powers and duties of the society, and requiring it to report and publish results, thus giving to it a decidedly educational character. The society was first formally organized March 23, 1849, with Governor Epaphroditus Ransom as president; J. C. Holmes, of Detroit, secretary; John J. Adam, of Lenawee county, treasurer; with an executive committee of ten members, and a vice-president and a corresponding secretary from each county in the State. The first State fair was held in Detroit in 1849, the citizens of which raised $500 toward local expenses. The aggregate sum of $1,000 was offered in premiums, and there were 623 entries in all departments. The amount of money received the first year from all sources, including the State appropriation, was $3,923.91, leaving a balance, after paying all expenses, of $1,109.08. The second State fair (1850) was held at Ann Arbor, but the results were so unsatisfactory that it was returned to Detroit the following year, and continued there until 1862. In 1863 and 1864 the fair was held at Kalamazoo; in 1865, at Adrian; in 1867 and 1868, at Detroit; in 1869 and 1870, at Jackson; in 1871 and 1872, at Kalamazoo; in 1873, at Grand Rapids; in 1874 and 1875, at East Saginaw; and in 1876, at Jackson. The later fairs have continued five days each. The progress of the society is shown to some extent by comparing the results of the first year, given foregoing, with those of 1875, the number of entries that year being 2,656; amount of premiums offered, $15,261.50; amount of premiums awarded, $11,843.50; total cash disbursements, $27,964.66.