WELCOME

TO THE

HISTORY OF

WASHINGTON COUNTY

IOWA

1880

191

CENTENNIAL AWARDS.

TO IOWA EXHIBITORS.

     UNDER the system of awards adopted at the Centennial Exposition of 1876, every article exhibited was placed in one of thirty-six groups, numbering from 1 to 36. The examination was not or a competitive character, but upon the merit of the article. Each article of merit was entitled to receive a diploma and a bronze medal of uniform value. The following awards were made to Iowa exhibitors:

GROUP NO. 1.

     Wesley Redhead and Mahaska Coal Mining Company are accredited with
samples of coal. The committee says: "Commended as samples of bituminous coal of Iowa."

LEAD ORE.

    John Harvey, of Dubuque.-Report says a large and instructive exhibit
of Galena lead ores of Iowa.
    W. P. Fox, of Des Moines.-Commended for an instructive exhibit of the
stratified deposits of the State of Iowa.
[NOTE.-In this group were shown fifty-five varieties from stone quarries in Iowa, prepared by Donahue & McCosh, of Burlington, in blocks six by nine inches square; also were shown samples of building and moulding sands, and three specimens of glass sands, twelve of fire and potters' clay, six or eight samples of mineral paint, and one sample of peat; also some fine samples of, geodes from Keokuk. Judge Murdock, of Clayton county, exhibited a collection of relics of the mound builders. The most prominent one was his large collection of mound builders skills.]

GROUP NO. IV.

     State of Iowa.-Commended as a very fine collection of cereals in the straw, beautifully Cleansed; also grasses and seeds-sixty varieties-a fine collection beautifully arranged; also a collection of Indian corn, seventy varieties.

BUTTER.

     Stewart & McMillen, of Manchester, :Delaware county, Entry No. 880.-:-Commended for the best samples of 200 lbs. and 30 lbs. respectively, made at Newberg factory, Edgewood and Hebran.

192

     Stewart & McMillen, Entry No. 895.-Commended for clean, sweet flavor, firm texture and superior excellency generally, comprising samples of different creameries.
[NOTE.-The general report of the committee on butter puts the yield of the United States for 1876 at 710,000,000 lbs. Messrs. Stewart & McMIillen had about ninety competitors, among whom were the best butte, makers of the world. In addition to the centennial awards; they got the golden medal awarded by the national butter and egg association. Iowa creamery butter sells in the Philadelphia market readily with the gilt edged brand. The butter crop in Iowa is an item of interest, and the State owes Stewart & McMillen a debt of gratitude for their very active exertion at the centennial in raising Iowa butter to a level with the gilt edge manufacturers of the eastern States. Delaware county, Iowa, is to our State what Chester county is to Pensylvania. [Pennsylvania]
Bryan & Curtis' butter, Strawberry Point, Clayton county.-Commended for fine quality and superior skil1 in manufacturing.

GROUP NO. VI.

     Collection of woods by Prof. McAfee, Agricultural College.-Commended as a good State exhibit, containing 160 specimens arranged in vertical and transverse sections.
J. 0. Arthur, Charles City, No. 185.-Herbarium of plants. The herbarium contains species named and clasified, [classified] neatly mounted, labeled and one in duplicate. The duplicate collection ingeniously arranged for exhibition on large sliding frames within a glass case. The whole accompanied with a printed catalogue.

AWARDS ON COLLEC'TIVE STATE EXIIIRJ'rs.

     State of Iowa, No. 11.-Commended for a large display of its minerals, soils, native and cultivated grasses, its pomology in large variety, and collection of woods and a valuable collection of mound builders relics.

GROUP NO, XXVIII.

EDUCATIONAL.

     Board of Education, Burlington, No. 76.-Commended for a creditable display of the work of pupils.
     State Educational Department, No. 77.--Report good exhibit of the statistics of State school system and work of public schools.
     Board of Education of West Des Moines, No. 78 - A creditable exhibit of work of pupils.

GROUP XXII.

PLOWS.

     Skinner Bros., Des Moines, No. 63.-Commended for excellence of material, good workmanship and beauty of form.

193

BOOK BINDING AND PAPER INDUSTRY.

     John D. Metz, Dubuque, No. 94.-Blank books with patent ends and mode of stitching. Report an admirable made book aside from the patent improvement claimed.

GROUP XXX.

HORSES AND CATTLE.

     Eli Elliot, West Liberty.-Short Horn bul1, Baron French, No. 8.-Report in form, quality and useful characteristics he is entitled to rank as a superior specimen of the Short Horn breed.
     State of Iowa, Short Horn Herd, No. 12.-0ne bull and four cows. The animals composing this herd, in high excellence of form, quality and useful characteristics are entitled to be ranked as first-class specimens of the Short Horn breed.
     J. W. Jacobs, West. Liberty, No. 13.-Two cows, Maid of Honor and Lucy Napier, commended for high excellence of form and useful characteristics, entitled to rank as first-class specimens of the Short Horn breed.
     E. S. Wilson, West Liberty, No. 35.-Heifer, Louden Mirvine, for high cxcel1ence in form, quality and useful characteristics is entitled to rank as a first-class specimen of the Short Horn breed.
     E. S. Wilson, No. 36.-Emma Down and heifer calf Centennial Mine. In form and useful characteristics they are entitled to be ranked as first class specimens of the Short Horn breed.

GROUP XXXVI.

     Henry Avery, Burlington.-Commended for a col1ection of apples, among which Grimes' Golden Pippin, an excellent kind, is especially meritorious in size and flavor.
     David Leonard, Burlington,. No. 16.-Commended for a valuable selection of varieties very well grown, and especially for a seedling named Robinson, which promises well for the northwest, both as respects to tree and fruit.
     No. 27.-Polk County, by James Smith, Des Moines. Commended for 160 varieties of apples, and for the very large number of valuable varieties and for the very superior manner in which they are grown; also for great care and correctness in naming.
     No. 30.-E. H. Caulkens commended for twenty varieties and their valuable characteristics; also great excellence and beauty in growth.
     R. S. Willet, Malcolm.-Commended for 40 varieties of apples of general value and the superior manner of growth.
     No. 39, L. Hollingsworth, Montrose.-Seventy-five varieties of apples, commended for a large number of useful sorts and for the meritorious manner in which they are grown.
     No. 65, G. B. Brackett, Denmark.-Pears are Plate White Doyenne.

194

     These specimens of this old and important variety reach the highest standard of excellence of large size and beautifully colored.
     No. 81, Wilson T. Smith, Des Moines.-Twenty varieties of pears commended for being well grown, and handsome collection. The Flemish Beauty and Beaurae Clangean being superior.
     No. 83, White Elk. Vineyard, Keokuk. - Eighteen varieties, creditable
display of pears. The Beaurae Clangean having brilliant coloring.
     Iowa State Horticultural Society wax models of fruit. No.209.-Three hundred varieties of apples in wax, of perfect accuracy and beautifully displayed-the work of the Iowa State Horticultural Society.
[NOTE.-There were in all 1020 specimens. The fruit furnished as models was by various members of the State Horticultural Society, crop of 1875, the greatest number of which was by James Smith, of Des Moines, and to whom the nomenclature is mainly due; 610 of the casts were made by Mrs. Wm. Greenland, of Des Moines, and 410 of them by 001. G. B. Brackett, of Denmark. This was the most attractive display made by Iowa, and was universally admired; and in this line Iowa can boast of as fine talent for accuracy as to model and coloring as is found anywhere. Two hundred of these casts were sold to and exchanged with the Japanese authorities, and are now doing duty in the archives of their government.]
     Iowa State Horticultural Society, No. 217.-September collection, report a very good collection, containing many varieties.
[NOTE.-The Horticultural Society showed in May thirty-five varieties of apples of late keepers, also the summer varieties were shown in their season. The fall display was very fine, covering seven tables 35x6, and numbering about 335 varieties of apples, and filling over 2,000 plates.]
     W. W. Winterbotom, Fort Madison, No. 191.-Timothy grass seed. The seed is remarkably: clean, and every way meritorious.
     H. O. Gordon, Davis county, No. 204.-His yellow corn was of peculiar weight and good quality, one ear weighing one pound and thirteen ounces.
     L. T. Chute, Manchester, No. 207.-The cereals and roots in the Iowa collection exhibited are a well grown collection of twenty-five varieties. Potatoes especially meritorious.
     State of Iowa, September exhibits of the crop of 1876, No. 208.-They make a collection of cereals, grasses and roots, exhibiting the ability of the State to produce these articles in the highest degree.
     The information contained in the notes is additional to that given in the official reports of the Exposition, and is furnished by Dr. Alex. Shaw, of Des Moines, who held an official position in connection with Iowa exhibits up to August 18, 1876.

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