The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-11
THE WIGwAM.

political wigwams have been all the rage. In
that year the first one OF this description was
erected in Chicago for the accom- notation OF
the convention which first placed Mr. Lincoln
in nomination. II was aud is a homely looking
structure, although unlike the wlgwa'ns of later
days, ii was built with a view TO permanence
and still remains intact. 1t has since been
turned into stores and warehouses, and is used
for every imaginable purpose. Such is the fate
of permanent wlgwams.
The second Chicago Wigwam, in which Gene
raj Mcclellan received his nomination TO the
Presidency, was somewhat larger in proportion:
bu5 having been constructed of material in the
rough, it was demolished about the time that
the great master OF inactivity himself suffered
a similar fate.
The Philadelphia Wigwam is intended to be
THE wIGwAM PAR EXCELLENCE.
1t is located on the south side of GIrard ave-
nue., between Twentieth street and Corinthian
avenue, extend ,ng back to "A small thorourhtlre
which rejoices in the high-sounGing title OF
Cambridge street. The neighborhood is, un-
questonably, bad one--that is bad for the
Wigwam. Itls on the outskirts of the city, and
for all practical purposes, might as well nave
been at BIidesburg or South Laurel Hill. In
Justice to the committee who selected the ste
however, we will say that they did not intend
originally to locate it just there. The place
WHERE THE wIGwAM WAS TO HAVE BEEN
was more central, and easy of access. On the
corner of Broad and Wallace streets there is a
vacant block which forms part of the Wstar
estate. Dr. Jansen, of skating fame, is the
lessee of this eligible piece of ground. In the
winter season he uses it as a skating park.
During the summer he sub-lets it to baseball
club.
The Committee on the Wigwam reconnoitred
the skating park in force, and concluded to
build their Wiewam upon it. The decision was
a wise one, and had the Committee been equally
wise IN their negotiations, all would have been
well. But instead of consulting DR.. Jansen on
the subject, they consulted the officials of the
baseball club. These youths were highly fiat
! tered by such show of Difference, and struck
the bargain without moments hesitation. So
the contract having been awarded for the con-
struction of the building the agent of the con-
tractor visited the spot on the morning of the
2Gth of July. He was accompanied by several
laborers, who with hatchet and shovel, were
prepared to inaugurate the great work. A
crowd, as is customary on such momentous
occasions, was present to witness the ceremony.
|
covery He had discovered that his skating
park was to be honorcd by the presence of the
| great Wigwam. After celebrating upon the
subject. he concluded that he lad insurmount-
able objections to this high distinction. So he
SUI out warrant, upon which the contractors
AGENT and two or three OF his laborers were
taken before Alderman Massey, and by him
we're required to give bonds in the sum OF eight
h1r1,A Ara1 ApII aonht hot han nj
| forth keep the peace. DR.. Jansen having fully
determined that under no circumstances what
! ever should the Wigwam be erected al Broad'and
| Wallace streets, he waited upon Chief OF Police
Rugeles and demanded protection. The Chief
placed Lieutenant Lovare and fifteen policemen
at his disposal, and these officials thereupon took
possession of the contested ground.
| THE wIGwAM UNDER WAY AT LAST.
1t was under these trying circumstances, aud
| in Difference to the old proverb that 'time
| flies" that the committee liked upon the present
| location.
| The contract mad been awarded to Mr.. j. w.
| Colladay, who has the benefit of experience in
| thus business. II was he that constructed the
| staging in Independence Square on which i've
| thousand people were comfortably and safely
| seated on the memorable Fourth of July last
past. This fact will tend greatly to assure the
| qualms of nervous people who are inclined to
| attend the sittings of the Convention.
On the 30th OF July, after four invaluable days
had been utterly lost to the Wigwam, the work
was again commenced. From that day to this
| some sixty men have been steadily hammering
away at It, ard it is confidently expected that
| the monstrous structure will be entirely COM
| Dloted nv the morniug of the l4th.
| THE ASPECT OF THE wIGwAM
is grand and imposlng-maiestic almost. 1t is
| the largest wigwam that was ever seen or heard
| Of, in this or any other land. 1t has frontage
| on Glrard avenue of one hundred and forty-six
| feet, and depth OF one hundred and sixty feet.
This gives superficial area OF 1880 square feet.
The central portion of the roof is seventy feet in
width and has an altitude of fifty feet, while the
roof over the wings, which contain the galleries,
| is forty feet from the ground. The Stars and
Stripes will be furled from a lofty flagstaff,
| which surmounts the highest point
The main entrance is in the centre OF the
| front, and is twelve feet in width. On either
SIDE of this, and again at either corner, are
other and narrower entrances. There are five
Lofty windows Immediately above the main
i enhance, with twelve smaller ones-six on
| either side, six above and SIX below The Con-
conveniently dispose OF.
AN INSIDE VIEW.
On entering the WigWam the spectator will
be saluted by strains of martial music. On
| looking about him he will discover that the