No. 200.] 11 



silk, iron, and wood ; minerals, drawings, &;c. These are exhibited 

 free of expense to originators and owners, and are objects of attrac- 

 tion to those who wish to purchase or examine, in order to keep up 

 with the continued improvements that are continually multiplying, 

 especially in implements of husbandry, manufacturing, and mechani- 

 cal labor saving inventions. They are the continued subjects of ex- 

 amination by our inquisitive and ingenious fellow-citizens, and their 

 utility by these means, and the gratuitous explanations afforded by 

 practical engineers and mechanics, always in attendance, is under- 

 stood, and soon they become extensively in use, not only in this vici- 

 nity, but in distant States. 



The all-pervading enterprise of our people, seizes at once on every 

 improvement which effects the smallest abridgment of manual labor. 

 More than twenty thousand articles were exhibited at the late fair. 

 A record is made of the name and residence of every exhibitor. 

 There were more than 200,000 visitors entered Niblo's Garden, the 

 principal place of exhibition. Among the visitors, great numbers are 

 always desirous of becoming purchasers ; the delivery of the articles 

 is, however, impracticable during the exhibition. After the fair, and 

 during the whole year, the calls at the repository by purchasers are 

 almost incessant, to obtain articles vsrhich attracted their attention in 

 the exhibition rooms. By a reference to the records this information 

 is promptly given, and the place of sale pointed out. Sales are 

 thereby promoted to an immense amount every year. The inquiry 

 often extends to articles exhibited many years back. If the American 

 Institute performed no other service to the public than this, by pro- 

 moting the sales and consumption of domestic articles, it would be 

 the interest of the people to sustain it. More than one-half of the 

 States in the Union contribute some of their best fabrics and produc- 

 tions, and help to carry out the fair. Through the exhibition they are 

 made known to purchasers. Factors and agents are employed, and 

 the amount of our city business is greatly extended, and new articles 

 are introduced, and become permanent objects of trade and mercantile 

 profit. 



It was an early object with the Institute, to establish a library of 

 utility, embracing political economy, statistics, practical and scientific 

 farming, commerce, manufactures, and the arts. Every year since it 

 was commenced, large additions have been made of books and pam- 

 phlets, rare and useful. It already possesses acknowledged intrinsic 



