Everything was bustle and excitement today. The city is already beginning to assume a holiday appearance. Merchants are dressing their windows in an extravagant manner, while flags and bunting are being displayed in all directions. Visitors have not yet begun to arrive, but the hotels are expecting a big influx from this evening on. Crooks and confidence men are also expected in the procession to Ottawa's great fair, but the local sleuths will be on the alert for the occasion.
     Elgin and Bank streets, now in first class condition, were crowded today with vehicles en route from the grounds with exhibits.

     The day was devoted to the work of getting things into shape. Although nearly all the space has been taken already, a vast amount of work remains to be done: but the bulk of the exhibits are expected this afternoon.
     The cattle sheds are well filled, but the sheep pens look deserted. There is a great activity about the machinery hall, whose dimensions seem scarcely adequate for the requirements of the various manufacturers. The implements will be seen in motion daily, thus giving farmers an idea of the working of the latest inventions.

     Lansdowne Park has undergone a complete transformation within the last five weeks. This applies equally well to the approaches by Elgin and Bank Streets. The main building has been moved from the center of the grounds to a better location. It has been re-floored and re-painted. The building will be illuminated at night by electric lamps. The cattle sheds, and horse boxes, poultry shed, and other buildings have been white-washed. The grounds have also been leveled, and the removal of several of the buildings will enhance the view around the track. The grand stand is a most ample, safe and commodious structure. In the ring opposite it are erected a stage as well as a trapeze upon which performances will be given twice daily. The free show will include acrobatic and pantomimic entertainments.
     Elgin Street and Lansdowne Park will be illuminated by electric light every night this week.

     The police arrangements are very satisfactory, the city force will send out twelve special men under Chief McVeity and Srgt-Major Hogan. The detectives will also be on the look-out for fakirs and pick-pockets. County Constable McKenzie will be assisted by six special county constables. To-morrow in honor of the visit of the Governor General, the Dominion police force will be represented by a posse of twelve men under command of Inspector O'Leary. Thus tomorrow there will be thirty constables on the grounds.

     Warden Dawson, speaking to a Journal reporter about the Carleton County fair, said he regretted to have to admit that it was practically a failure. The number of entries, he said, was small, and the attendance away below expectations. He blamed the weather greatly for the poor attendance. He seemed also to think too that to a great extent the county fair had been thrown into the shade by the Central Canada Exhibition.

     The general admission fee is twenty-five cents. The rest of the tariff is as follows: Exhibitor's tickets, good for the week, $1.50; single carriage with driver, 50cts; occupants of same, each, 25cts; double carriages and driver only, 75cts; occupants of same, each, 25cts; horse and rider, 50cts.

     Get out your flags-make the city wave a welcome to visitors.
     Mr. John Worded will have a number of pins and broaches to show at the exhibition. They are all his own handiwork cut from coins of the different countries, in which are numbered English florins, Swiss dollars and Canadian pennies, American half dollar pieces and Italian francs. The pins and broaches are very handsome.
     Diplomas and medals will be awarded in lieu of money prizes as follows, subject to approval of the Board of Directors: For a first prize - Diploma. For a first prize of $25 and upwards - Gold Medal. For a first prize of $10 and upwards - Silver Medal. For a first prize of $5 and upwards - Bronze Medal.
     The Public School board has fixed on Thursday as exhibition day for the children of the public schools, and the Separate School board has named Friday. Both will be full holiday.
     A luncheon will be served in a large marquee after the inaugural ceremonies tomorrow. President Magee will preside, and all the cabinet ministers have been invited to attend.
     The G.G.F.G. and Barrett's band will supply music at the grounds on Tuesday and Gilmours band from Trenton, Ont., on Thursday and Friday.
     All the mill owners on the Chaudiere intend closing down their extensive establishment on Thursday to allow their employees to visit the Exhibition.
     "Let 'er go gebic, Gallagher's dead" is the latest out west. But they are always off. Gallagher is running a booth on the grounds.
     The C.P.R. and Great North Western Telegraph companies have opened public offices in the main building.
     Exhibitors say the passenger, freight and express transportation arrangements are working satisfactorily.
     The Manitoba and North-West dairy exhibits are being placed in position in a wing of the carriage hall.
     Fully two thousand people visited the grounds yesterday afternoon, the gates being thrown open to the public.
     Two o-clock tomorrow, sharp, and not half-past two, is the hour for Lord Stanley's opening of the show.
     The Journal has a tent on the grounds. It is located near the north end of the main building.
     Three or four steamboats will carry passengers to the grounds from the foot of the canal basin.
     The exhibits of horses, cattle and poultry promise to be among the best features of the fair.
     All the exhibits from foreign countries were admitted free after giving the customary bond.
     The Women's Christian Temperance Union has a refreshment booth in the main lobby.
     The motor power for machinery hall is a six horse power Walterous engine.
     The Y.M.C.A. has put up a tent near the south end of the main building.
     All kinds of refreshments are available on the grounds at city prices.
     Justice will be dispensed on the grounds by Police Magistrate Rochester.
     The Normal school students will be given a holiday to visit the fair.
     The gates will be opened daily at 7 am and will close at 1 am.
     Self-registrating turn stiles will record the number of visitors.
     The telephone companies have opened offices at the grounds.
     The post office at the grounds is in full blast.