The New York coach-maker's magazine by Stratton Ezra M. 1809-1883 & Houghton G. W. W. (George Washington Wright) 1850-1891

Author:Stratton, Ezra M., 1809-1883 & Houghton, G. W. W. (George Washington Wright), 1850-1891
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Carriage and wagon making, Carriage industry
Publisher: New York, N.Y. : E.M. Stratton
Published: 1858-03-25T05:00:00+00:00

THE NEW YORK COACH-MAKER'S MAGAZINE,

95

%\z Coacjj-nmfur's i^tter-te,

Aurora, III., October 2d, 1865.

Dear Friend Stratton : Having just returned from a business trip to the " Black River country," and narrowly escaped a visit to your headquarters, I think— though it may not be quite time for me to write a book of travels—I may presume upon space enough in your columns for a brief " diaree " of my expedition. Though I saw or heard little of especial interest to the craft, yet that little may serve to season the medley of topics I may offer. I arrived in safety at Chicago, 111., a little station thirty-six miles east of here—at the end of our railroad, —where the Green Bay shingle-makers send their scows to exchange that staple for calicoes and quinine. Having with me some specimens of workmanship for exhibition at a fair which I had understood was to be held near this place, for the benefit of the peculiar institution styled the " State Agricultural Society," a combination got up for the especial encouragement of the detestable race known in respectable circles as " mudsills," I proceeded at once to embark by horse-railway, via State Street, to the fair grounds. And here, for the benefit of strangers who , desire to see all the curiosities and superior conveniences, and taste all the good things of this great country, I will give one peculiarity of this particular street. Every building in it has a beer sign hung out, " Sands' Pale Ale," " Lfll's Premium Ale," " Milwaukee Cream Ale," and the next another beverage, and so on for two miles and a half—longer or shorter. In all other streets the beer signs are interspersed with others indicative of groceries, dry goods, and other trade, but in State Street never; at least, if there are any, they are so eclipsed by this all-pervading traffic as to be invisible. I could only think of Doesticks when at Niagara, and wanted a glass of beer, but couldn't get it. I advise every one when going on " a bender," to commence at one end or the other of State Street, Chicago, and should he get a glass down of poor quality, and want a glass of beer to take the taste out of his mouth, he has only to try the next door.

Arrived at the fair grounds, and armed with a membership ticket, I felt that I was one of 'em, and boldly stepped into the inclosure ; when such a sight met my gaze as no one can duly appreciate who has never seen one hundred' solid acres of " mudsills," and more constantly arriving, each with his machine under his arm or on his cart, the whole comprising the entire catalogue, from a hog-tamer to a hay-press. The rain, on Tuesday, interfered seriously with preparations, but the invincible Yanks shook their vile plumage in defiance. One after another of the evidences of the march of Genius wheeled into its nook,

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