AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 23 



of the motive power and other machinery, in order to give every 

 facility possible to exhibiters of the late Annual Fair. 



The Board resolved to avoid the dissatisfaction manifested by 

 the exhibiters of the Twenty-seventh and Twenty-eighth Fairs, 

 in consequence of the then temporary arrangements of steam 

 boilers, and the frequent complaints of the Croton water board 

 of sparks and cinders deposited in the reservoir from the 

 smoke pipes through the roofj to obviate which, the boilers 

 belonging to the Institute were removed from Castle Garden, 

 lengthened to a more suitable size, and permanently set in brick, 

 in connection with a brick smoke stack, erected through one of 

 the towers; which silenced all complaints against sparks and cin- 

 ders, and afforded suflScient power for the steam engines to drive 

 all the machinery in the main building. A locomotive boiler 

 having been engaged, was found to be more convenient to furnish 

 the power for pumps, &c. 



The machinery department was far superior and more satisfac- 

 tory to exhibiters than any ever displayed in this building. The 

 time for making such extensive preparations was so limited, as to 

 make it necessary to drive the work at greater expense than would 

 have been incurred under competition by contract, but gratifying 

 to see so much solidity and perfection of motion in all our arrange- 

 ments. 



The Calliope and Panorama, I believe, were a source of profit 

 exceeding the expense, and the Lightning printing press was an 

 attractive feature. The subject of testing steam engines, was justly 

 considered by the Eoard of great importance to the public, and 

 that the merits of these machines and the improvements should 

 be fully considered, judges were invited, from four States of the 

 Union, to witness the trial of the closing week of the Fair, 

 in October; but in consequence of the general depression in 

 business, the Board extended the exhibition for two weeks, which 

 deranged all the plans for making the trial, and at the close of the 

 Fair it was announced to take place on the 15th of November, 

 the first day of the Cattle Show, at which time the proprietors 

 of the engines were present, with a new board of judges, assem- 

 bled to make the trial, but the competitors objected to some of 



