14 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



to commence their labors at a somewhat earlier period than was 

 usual in past years, by informing the manufacturers, agriculturists, 

 mechanics and others, that the Crystal Palace, itself a noble 

 structure of art, would be open in due time to receive their offer- 

 ings. Not only were circulars sent throughout the country, but 

 our very efficient agent, Mr. Leonard, traveled through a number 

 of States, and everywhere meeting the hearty response which 

 gave ample assurance of a successful exhibition. 



Among the new preliminary labors, the Board of Managers 

 caused to be erected a chimney stack sixty feet in height. The 

 boilers belonging to the lustitutc were removed from Castle Garden, 

 and lengthened to thirty-six feet each, thoroughly repaired, and 

 substantially set in the machine arcade; an entirely new line of 

 shafting, with hangers and pulleys, were procured, together with 

 numerous articles, costing in the aggregate about the sum of 

 $3,500, which belong to the Institute. The board were induced 

 to incur this apparently large expense, upon the suggestion of the 

 committee on machinery, for the reasons more fully set forth in 

 tlieir report, which is liereunto annexed. These improvements, 

 though somewhat expensive, gave us a greatly enlarged power, 

 and afforded to exliil)iters a wider range in the exhibition for the 

 display of their various ingenious labor-saving inventions, and 

 they will all be useful in like manner, should the Institution hold 

 its future fairs in the Crystal Palace. 



The Fair was opened to the public about two weeks earlier 

 than on former occasions; while this was intended to prevent the 

 Fair from extending too far into the month of November, it proved, 

 from other causes, to have been most fortunate. It will be seen, 

 by the daily receipts, a statement of which is hereunto annexed, 

 that the exhibition had continued for three weeks, with a success 

 and promise without parallel in any past season. City and coun- 

 try contributed daily and nightly,increasin'^j,hrongs of intelligent 

 and deeply interested spectators. *'^^^-- . - 



It was at this period, while in the course of a brilliant success, 

 the public mind Avas paralyzed by a commercial shock, as sudden 

 as it was disastrous and unexpected. No interests escaped, no one 



