Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-11-11
LETTER FROM PHILADELPHIA.

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 6, 1873.
One ofthe most difficult and important ques-
tons connected with the Centennial Commits
sion, has at last been most satisfactorily dis
posed of. The Architectural committee has
been in session for a month past, and has
chosen plan which meets with universal APP
proval. But first let me tell you of the
grounds. think every one that has been in
Philadelphia and visited Paramount Park, will
acknowledge it to be one of the most attrac-
tive places to be found 1t is to the north
west of our city and directly on its edge Gov
ering an area of about three thousand acres,
and the pains that have been taken TO add TO
its natural beauty, by artificial means, makes
it one of the most charming places in the coun-
try. went all over it one day last week, to
enable me to give you correct description
of the Centennial grounds and also to see the
park in its fall coat Of many colors. The
Schuylkil river winds slowly through the
eastern portion of the park between high
banks densely covered with foliage, and adds
much to the beautiful view, from the summit
of the hill in the park. After entering the
park l walked perhaps mile on this side the
river, and then crossed the bridge to the west
side, and walked about four miles to the west
ern portion of the park. There is very
gradual ascent to this point, and from 1t can
be seen the entire city in the distance and
the park spread out before you. Acres of
fields and woods, adorned with flower gardens,
nd in
mer time filled by the hundreds ofpeople that
flock here for recreation and amusement.
The summit of the hill where I stood being
one ofthe most beautiful flower gardens ever
saw, besides having large pavilion for the
comfort of visitors. The four hundred and
fifty acres given by our city to the Centennial
Commissioners is the plain lying between this
hill and the city. Now it would take some
one, gifted or cursed, with an Imagination like
Poe's, to depict the scene as it will be in 1876,
yiewedi from the hill. I'll take but a few
days to 60 through the interior of the build
ings and the rest OF my time shall be spent on
this hill, with powerful lorgnette, looking up
on this assemblage of nations, competing with
each other inthe excellence of their work.
This four hundred and fifty acres was trans
ferred to the Centennial Commissioners on
the 4th of July last, and the ceremony was
the celebration Of the day. At the conclusion
Of the last speech, the Centennial flag was run
up, amid the roar of cannon and the cheers
of the crowd and it is floating there to-day,
over the spot where The grand pavilion is to
be erected. To properly determine what
these buildings shall be has been very seri-
Gus question and one that admitted of little
delay.
The committee on plans and architecture,
in inviting plans to be offered to them, pre-
scribed certain rules and regulations that all
competing architects should be governed by;
and out of the forty-three submitted to Them,
ten were bought outright by the committee for
81 200 apiece, and these ten have been under
discussion by the committee for month past,
and they last week announced their decision.
They awarded four prizes 81 900, So, 900, ST.
600 and 81 900, to four Philadelphia archi-
tects for merit, only, their plans having con-
formed most strictly to the rules and regula
tons prescribed. But a more mature study
OF the subject and the return of the Vienna
Committee, caused them to select plan, on e
of ten, submitted by New York architect
and one that had received neither of the four
prizes, but the honor of having his plan adopt
ed is worth more to him than all the money
awards put together. His plan however will
have some very important ideas engrafted up
on it from the plan of one of our competing
Philadelphia architects. The plan of the
building is rectangular, being 2,040 feet long,
by $50 feet wide, with greater width at the
centre and ends, up to 952 feet. The princ-
pal part of the design is made up of vaulted
or domed payiilions, each l40 feet in dame
ter, clustered together, and connected by
arches of 100 feet opening, with interior
courts of &c feet diameter. The materials to
be used are iron for the arches and brick for
the gables. The advantage of this design is
that these vaulted pavillions can be added on
as necessity may require, without imparing
the symmetry and beauty of the building.
The committee has concluded, that it will be
necessary to erect the Art Gallery, covering
one and a half acres, the Grand Pavilion,
covering thrty-six acres, the Machinery
Hall, covering ten acres, the Agricultural
Hall, five acres, and the Conservatory; also,
smaller buildings for specific purposes.
The only permanent structure to remain in
the park after the Fair is over, commemora-
tive of The event, is the Memorial Hall"
The state appropriated 100000, and the
city 100000 for its erection. and it remains
the property of the commonwealth 1t requires
more care and study than the temporary build
ings, and the committee is anxious that there
be no delay. If erected, it will be used as
the Art Gallery in place of the one mentions d
above. Altogether the movement has as
sumed definite shape, and ground is to be
broken at once. The city is going to work
on roads and public highways leading to the
ground, in order to have them in proper con-
dtion as soon as possible to aid the work of
construction. The subject ofproper facilities
for access to all parts of the park and Fair
grounds, steam cars, horse cars, buses and
hacks, as well as hotels and accommodations,
will agilate the press and people for the next
two years. But there is very evident de- |
termination to have everything perfect
Before close l wish to speak of the La
dies Centennial Committee, which promises
to be powerful auxiliary to the work. Last
Spring, several Philadelphia ladies organized
and elected their officers, with Mrs Il. ID.
Gillespie, President They have their office
in the Commissioners building, and are recog-
nized as part and parcel of the National move
ment. ! called at their rooms, in the char
acter OF your correspondent, to see what they
had done in Maine. Their work not only
reaches from Maine to California, but they
have Ladies Committees in all the large cities
abroad, and through their instrumentality
many works of art by American women in
Italy and elsewhere will occupy conspicuous
places in the Exhibition. Wei, Mrs. Giles
pie showed me list of the names she had re-