EXTRACTS 



From reports of judges of the 18th annual fair. 



The reports of the judges selected to examine the many important 

 specimens of American skill and ingenuity exhibited, (extracts from 

 some of which are given,) furnish satisfactory evidence that our ma- 

 nufacturers and mechanics are each year making manifest improve- 

 ment in the various branches of domestic industry where they have 

 not as yet gone far ahead of all foreign competitors. 



The judges on lamps and chandeliers in the conclusion of their re- 

 port remark, " that though the present exhibition of lamps and chan- 

 deliers is less extensive than last year, yet in point of quality the ar- 

 ticles exhibited are most creditable to their several makers, and is 

 calculated to inspire the confident belief that at no distant day our ma- 

 nufacturers in this line will fully equal those of any country whatever." 



The judges on glass ware in alluding to some beautiful specimens 

 of cut glass manufactured at Wheeling, Va., among which was a 

 magnificent vase weighing over 240 pounds, that during the exhibition 

 elicited universal admiration, say, " that for shape and cutting they 

 far exceed any exhibited, while the very splendid vase is the largest 

 and most superior ever made in this country." 



The judges on bonnets, speaking of the excelsior bonnets, remark 

 as follows : " This is a new article made in this city, entirely of raw 

 silk, and is unsurpassed for beauty and durability by any article in 

 the bonnet line ever got up in tJiis country or imported, that we 

 have ever seen. There has been a decided improvement in the Nea- 

 politan bonnets since the last exhibition, and it is well known that for 

 durability and lightness they are much esteemed." 



The judges on manufactured silk say, " we regret not finding a 

 greater variety cf manuraclured silk goods for competition, arising, 



