The New York herald., 1873-11-01
CENTENNIAL PRIZE PLANS,
The Great Exhibition Building Plan
Probably Selected.
The -Four Prizes Awarded blythe
Architectural Committee.

Architectural Committee.
PHILADRErIfSA, Oct. 81, 1s7a.
AT lest the Committee upon Plans Tor the Ameri-
can Centennial Exposition bave been heard from,
and the decisfonas to the four prizes from which
the final plan win probably be selected is to be
published on Monday next. TIE decision rendered
to-day the result Of numerous sessions and very
many excited and apimateasdebates. First there
was Q contest in which forty-four architects took
part, and from these, as Will be remembered ten
plans were promptly selected, the architects ber-
ally paid and the conditions Of the second compe-
ton Immediately prescribed. After several weeks
these ten architects appeared before the commit
tee again. some OF them with new designs and
Others with their old ones remodelled modified
and greatly tm,prosed. The committee had prom
tsed to swardrhe best Of these ten plans prize
OF $100 600. On an appeal from the architects, now
ever, this one reward was divided into lour
prizes-yortthe, best plan $4,000; for the second,
$1,000; forfhe third So, oOO for the fourth, $1,000
To-day, after sitting which did not ADJOURN until
a very layeshour the members OF the Architectural
Commiutec awarded these prizes in the manner
indicated below, but in announcing their decision
they do not state that any one OF the four Is the
plan OF building which will be erected for the
great exproition. 1t is probable that one Of them
which appears be the most excellent in its shape
ana elevation, and in which certain neces-
sary notifications can be made without
destroying the architectural strength, symmetry
and beauty Of its original design, win be
taken in hand at once, subjected to all the i'm
provements which are demanded, and then after
the course OF lew weeks presented in detail to the
public. The committee not ready at this mo-
ment TO announce the plan on which the Centen-
nial Building VIII be erected but it is safe to say
they nearer 1t than they have been at any time
before; and 1t is thought that before the conclu-
sion OF another week their final announcement
viii be made, and ground broken for the edince at
once.
The first prize OF 81, 600 was, 1t is understood,
awarded TO MeSSrs. Collins i Autenreith OF this
clty. The ground plan OF this design Is semicir
culsr, and the elevation is grand beyond descrip-
tiop Memorial Hall, OF course, is the main feature,
and this, as well as the other buildings, are de-
signed in the Venetian Renaissance style oil arch
lecture. The architects say they have given this
school the preference
On account OF the graceful lines and proportions for
Because ana SVs @ liberty to make more and larger
openings and, therefore more light than most other
Because in it finish in very elaborate or In
quite simple manner according to the material selected
sculpture outside and painting inside
The general measurements OF the main buildings
are as follows:-
The front building, containing main entrance and
east and a. west @ 80 ee eStTem den north and
south $50 eet extreme width of each OF the four wings
These measurements anord the following amount
Of space
.na sPnss nS S 5 G Ton %
ry s or apoa d'f Ct seTe moor
The dome OF Memorial Hall is absolutely grand
and ls surmounted with statue Its immense
proportions can be conceived, perhaps, in fair
measure by examining these figures, which are the
architects own.
G.s5, Gss paG p PIsg Of a5Sss 5S so ss feet feet
Second gallery and spring ring Of dom dome :. lso feet
Upper balconies INSIDE and bottom part of Ian.
inside top OF cupola, go feet
Extreme top OF ngurc, $50 feet.
Wings or projecting arms-nave and transept clear
Clear height a ridge of louvre, Is, feet
9serage clss1 w'ati hesht 81 as os sse % isei FEET
Floor OF gallery above first floor, 80 feet
There are, in addition to the dome, four distinct
towers, the two front ones containing steam ele-
vators for visitors TO reach the dome, the two
rear ones water tanks &C.. available in case Of
IRE. The temporary buildings constructed OF re-
duplicated parts, are very graceful, and involve
the following measurements
Extreme extent east and west $40 feet
line
back Of temporary building, 500 feet.
ng q sdn ss Gs o ncud
Gallery ss 4oofeet or acres "'es'
ss o
afsSs % sad al OF
by ~ foot passages
yethers s.a6 feet long by q feet width -'N'
The central building contains In the first moor a
large entrance colonnade. hall and staircase coat
room, police and telegraph ROOM and other rooms
for public accommodation, as well as restaurants
&c. The second moor contains offces for the cen.
tennial commission. The third floor is for the
police and fire department. The construction Is
Intended to be in brick iron and stone.
consists OF centre building. two wings and four
Ranking pavllons. The measurements are as fol-
lows
he extreme measure OF centre building without the
ent lance porcoes is $50 feet IRON north TO south and
m wings measure each 100 feet and west by 10
III. corner paviiions are each 40 feet square.
The .surface OF the Exposition door is
IN frs story. sa1Gs. sl SSi &
Al sec ono 4loD
Ioee nef o2oo0
For ght and ventilation the arrangements are
admira Se, sidelong fall OF light being arranged
Tor stat uary and north light for paintings. This
THE SECOND PRIZE
The SC cond prize OF $4,000 win probably be
nwerded TO Mr.. Samuel Sloan, and the main points
of his design are follows:-It consists OF twenty
two aspalate pieces, comprehending perspective
and anterior views, geometrical elevations east,
grounsi plans OF ali the permanent and temporary
buildln gs. The principal front s toward The east
WEiCnA urpdituTe from any OF the 0tner designs,
all ofvi lich face north and south The architect
seems " have taken copnzauce OF the fact that by
locating his building la this way its prominent
features Will De more readily presented to the
main emf. rances OF the Park rom the city. In
c0nvereRt ION with Mr.. Sloan upon this subject he
informed your correspondent that from time
immemoriu all great buildings had faced
TO the east, and in case ike this
where the osltion is not at all Determined nv
streets already fixed the ancient rule can he fol
lowed to is1e very letter. In facing the east the
grand iron VIII nave the advantage OF wide
range OF tive Park for its foreground. Tbe wee,
elevation Will likewise have the same advantage.
Tho whole structure would be very consEicuons