Description of Hemingray exhibit at New Orleans Exposition

NEW ORLEANS EXPOSITION.

(From our Special Correspondent)

NEW ORLEANS, LA., January 31, 1885.

The World's Exposition, which formally opened its gates upon December 26, last, is now complete. The extremely bad weather, the vastness of the undertaking, which was not appreciated by the management at the outset, together with the exhaustion of the entire fund subscribed, delayed the exposition. The daily operating expenses are $3,500, which, with the deficit of $250,000 — that was standing against the management January 1, has caused them much embarassment. It was expected that the gate receipts would be so large after the opening as to carry the exposition expenses and pay the deficit. The rainy weather, the unprecedented hard times all over the country, the fact that the city is so distant from the center of population, and that so many visitors that would have come in January are waiting to see Mardi Gras, the most mysterious, yet grandest of festivities, have all united in still further embarassing the management and making the deficit more than $300,000. Active measures are being taken and the money will be forthcoming. This is a national affair and the government that made it possible, will render it still further support if necessary.

All unite in saying, that as an exposition, it is a grand success. There is collected here the finest and most complete representation of the manufactures and arts of the entire world that has ever been brought together. All we need now is people to come here, pay their fifty cents and see the display. The railroads unite in making the location peculiarly unfortunate at the present time by holding up rates. It actually costs double the money to come from Memphis to New Orleans on a five days limit that it did to go from Memphis to St. Louis during the season of the Veiled Prophets in that city, while it is only one-half the distance to this city. This is only a showing of the rates from all points. The visitors thus far have been mostly local. However, we have had a good attendance from Mexico, and some visitors from South America.

In conversation with the respresenatives of the large displays of glassware and pottery, I find that the great aim in going to so large an expense in coming here was to establish a trade with Mexico and South America. The location is peculiarly favorable for this, and I believe that a large trade will be built up by our crockery and glass manufacturers in these countries as a result of showing their goods to those Spanish-speaking people. At every exhibit I find catalogues and cards printed in Spanish. It may be interesting here to give our manufacturers an idea of what we are doing with Latin America.

The forthcoming report of the foreign commerce of the United States will contain, among other things, statistics of our export trade to these countries in comparison with that of England and France. In the year 1883 there was exported of merchandise to Spanish West Indies from the United States, $87,290,438; England $20,224,985; France $5,226,919. Mexico — from the United States $24,764,743; England $11,431,342; France $11,228,429. Central America — from United States $7,124,782, England $9,624,788; France $1,253,298. Columbia — from the United States $12,049,326; England $9,909,202; France $10,072,688. Venezuela — from the United States $8,305,429; England $4,717,815; France $6,391,673. Brazil — from the United States $53,740,494; England $64,013,231; France $39,873,322. Argentine Republic — from the United States $9,705,307; England $29,180,186; France $62,975,374. Chili — from the United States $972,520; England $27,343,078; France $12,355,698. Peru — from the United States $3,020,722; England $15,270,011; France $7,137,764.

From this we see that in the Spanish West Indies, Mexico, Columbia, and Venezuela, we are ahead of England. In Central America and Brazil we are but little behind, while in Argentine Republic, in the extreme southern portion, and on the Pacific coast, in Peru and Chili, our export trade was very small. Yet, to summarize our export trade to these countries exceeded that of England by $37,000,000, and of France by $50,000,000. Our exports to Central America, Mexico, Columbia, Venezuela, Argentine Republic and Chili, exceed imports, which show we are steadily gaining a firm hold on the markets there. In 1884 our trade with Central America was increased to $9,369,080; in Brazil to $59,761,546; in Chili $3,808,498.

Mexico is the country we expect most from and is represented here by gentlemen who have the best interests of their country at heart. They delight in telling all about their country. I will undertake to get any any information in regard to the use and demand of their goods for any of our patrons.

Almost every foreigh exhibit contains a display of glass and pottery. But if you desire to see the finest sight in the main building, enter at the northeast door and at your immediate right will be found the elegant display of

THE PHŒNIX GLASS CO.

of Pittsburgh, Pa., at V V-7-8. In their space, surrounded by a guilded railing, is a column rising in each corner to support an elevated tier, upon which are thickly studded jets, and over each is a beautiful globe, each one of a different design and a different color, all arranged so as to blend harmoniously. Entering on either side one passes under a pyramid arch in the tier. Over the jets in these arches are large open hall globes, upon each on of which shines forth a letter of the word Phœnix. Going in you are greated by a representative of the company ini charge of the exhibit, who will show you all the beautifully designed amberine, and other ware, which the four large pyramid sample tables are laden with. One table is laden with globes for gas or kerosene of every possible shape and color, crackled, amberine and topazina, with different colors fused in. Upon another is a full line of shades of opal and all colors, of crackled and art glass. On each corner of this table stands a flower vase of large size and of antique shape, made of mottled amberine ware. Upon another table are the different shapes of table ware, creams, sugars, bowls, finger dips, etc., al of the most novel design and elegantly blended color — the amber, blue, white, rose, opal and mottled, all in perfect harmony. Mottled wine colored and amberine water sets attract the attention to the next table. Next to the, railing in front, rests all the different designs of electric light globes made by this company, which are the most complete made. Four Brush lights shine down from above each corner giving the ware a brilliancy and lustre, which makes a beautiful scene. At the end of this exhibit, upon pyramid shelving, are more than 800 samples of the shapes of

THE ROCHESTER TUMBLER CO.,

of Rochester, Pa., manuafacturers of tumblers, goblets, etc. Each article on display is different, which gives an idea of the vast line of manufacture of this firm. A new glass that they have just begun to make is one that has the appearance of being engraved in colors. This is done by laying on the colors, and then buring them in. At the right of this display, at V-8, is a glass sign supported by brass rods, which indicates that the pyramid sample table upon which it rests, has a line of the manufacture of the

THE HEMINGRAY GLASS CO.,

of Covington, Ky. Upon the lower tier in front is a complete line of sand blast cut, kerosene and gas globes, of all shapes, plain and ground. Upon the next tier are all the varied sizes and shapes of all glass stand lamps, their bust lamps being of very novel design, while their solid stem present every shape imaginable. Above this is the prettiest line in the display, consisting of all glass stand lamps, arranged in sizes and colors, old gold, sapphire and emerald; also some handsome designs of vase and solid stem lamps in assorted colors. Upon the other side of the sample table is a full line of hand lamps; also bottles of all shapes, fruit jars, jellies, bird cups and baths. Upon the side near the main isle is a profusion of syrups — crystal, opal, sand blast cut — and combinations of same, with all styles of patent tops; also telegraph and telephone screw insulators. Upon the top of the table is a line of hall globes, made either plain or in colors, also of the lantern globes made by this firm, railroad and tubular, also their "Brilliant" side lamps, with an Empress kerosene can at each corner. The entire exhibit is arranged tastefully and attracts the attention of many visitors. Upon a sample table in the same place is a line of manufacturers of

A. J. BEATTY & SONS,

of Steubenville, Ohio, comprising tumblers, goblets, beer glasses; in fact every article that can be made to drink out of is made by this firm, from the most delicate, engraved whiskey glass to the huge "Brazilian," which is used in the homes in that country for table use for something the same purpose that a pitcher is in ours, only no second process of pouring the liquid into a second glass is customary; the head of the family, drinking out of the immense tumbler, passes it around. Though the oak floors in the houses on the state pike from Bellaire to Columbus, Ohio, will break Wheeling lamp chimneys every time, it is doubtful whether this tumbler would not be broken after being cast upon a stone floor. The different shapes and sizes of drinking utensils of many foreign countries have been procured by Messrs. Beatty, and glass drinking articles made after their pattern so as to meet the wants of these markets directly. Upon this table may be seen the shapes used by all South American and other foreign countries, whose trade this house has had for some time. As an evidence that they are here to secure more of this trade I see Spanish printed cards and circulars in profusion all about, but not one in English.