Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-11-08
FIRST EDITION.
PHILADELPHIA.
our sATuRD LETTER.


PHILADELPHIA, Nov 8.
Centennial matters have been very active this
week The diversion was needed, In order to
take the peoples minds from the hard times and
prevent them brooding over their troubles. 1t
was really gratifying, too, to know that decis-
sion had been arrived at concerning the .Exposi-
tion Buildings and that work would be comtisn-
ced thereon Immediately. The design chosen
for the main bnilding was that which / intimat-
ed to you some time since would be the one ss7
lected-that known as the "Pavillion PIan,"
prepared by Mr.. Calvert Vaux Of New York.
Mixed up with the decision on this matter were
the announcements of several other awards
which at just 80 confused people that they
scarcely know who really WAS to erect the GEN.
tennal buildings. They saw an array Of fret. SEQ
end, third and fourth prizes, while the true prize
and the only one on which 1t was proposed TO
take any action, was sl1rred over and made to
appear as Of little Hocount. This imagine was
nothing more than 30 much salve 70 Phiadel-
phias wounded pride 1t was necessary to
award the first place to nonresident architect
but $40. .000 was divided among -four Philadelphia
concerns, who were announced as having the
fret prizes. The thing was bunglingly done, and
all the talk about Mr. Vaux q plan being the most
feasible but being ri the same time out Of tho
announced specifications 10 wide of the mark.
II it was wide why was 1t included In the frat list
of ten from which final award was to be made;
and If it is chosen ut all why is not the full credit
given II of having secured the first prize? This
Is national and not Philadelphia enterprise.
and TO pay especial consideration to the feelings
of resident architects Ia not the best way to COM
mend the project to the entire country.
Regarding the Pavilion Plan" it seems to
be admitted by all those who have given the
matter attention, and who have compared the
different designs offered, 10 be by far the best
OF any Of the forty odd plans that were put in
competition. II has these great advantages over
all Others 1st, 1t does not consist OF a series
of apartments but ofsone vast hall, permitting
almost endess vstss in every direction. And.
Its principle OF construction is such that the
building can be readily extended or curtaied at
will, 3rd II is extremely simple In construc-
tion and can be built in shorter time than any
of the others These are ell very essential
points. II is not as imposing from the outside
az some OF the other plans, but it's interior ar
rangement is said to be entirely original, and
superior to any Of the great worlds fairs 1t is
composed OF q series of groups OF immense
arches. connected one with another and forming
at set distances columned supports to the roof
There are fifty-hve of these mammoth groups
as the design stands, and to extend them on
every side IL mere matter OF repetition No
where through the whole interior is there o to-
tai obstruction to the view, but arch opens into
arch through the building, half mile long and
nearly q sixth OF . mile wide. Around the en-
tire structure will run a gigantic portico forty
feet wide, which We may suppose will offer cp-
portunities for the hngest promenades In the
moonlight summer nights Of 1876 ever seen in
these United States. The original design of
uniting the Memorial Hal" building intend
I'd to remain in the Park after the exhibition
buildings have boen removed, with the main
structure has been abandoned aud Messrs.
Collins and Autenreith Of this city have been
commissioned to erect the said Memorial Hall
within convenient distance OF the Pavilion"
The new constitution for the State is at last
ready for submission to the popular vote. The
Convention which had this revision in charge
was in session nearly year, aud from all
accounts has done it's work with great thorough
ness. There are charges against it that 1t has
been unduy influenced by the powerful railway
interests Of the State, but otherwise there seems
10 be no voice but that OF approval upon its la
bors When we remember all that is involved in
such revision. the immensity OF the work, and
the responsibility upon those concerned in It,
must ma uraly be conceded The submitting to
the people is the barest form the constitution
was not only made, but carried in convention,
and this new State code goes forth from the
hands OF q small body Of lawyers and politicians
AS the arbter of the complicated affairs of all
sorts of a great commonwealth. In no other
way, to be seen could the thing have been done,
nor is it claimed that as a whole the convention
was not worthy Of Euch a trust, but it seems
responsibility that no hundred Thousand men
should take Yet we know 1t would be impossl-
BILE to convert all concerned into one grand COM
uiittee Of the whole, even II a considerable pro
portion of the people had any aptitude for the
questions involved. The best has been done
doubtless that could be done and we must hope
that the result will be in the interests Of the
State
Among the most important, changes effected
by this revised code are the following The Gov
ernor is to hold office after 1878 for four years
instead OF threei there is to be new court sys-
TEN, twelve judges to constitute -Four Common
Pleas Courts the Judges to SIT in turn in all the
courts the terms Of the judges are to be twenty
one years instead OF fifteen as at present. and
two Supreme Court Judges are added to the
present list . registry law is made TO apply to
all portions of the commonwealth seven per
cent ID to be the legal interest for money instea
of the present rate Of six per cent one million
dollars is to be appropriated every year by the
Legislature to the public school fnndsi & whole-
sale pardOning Of criminals is to be taken out of
| the hands of the Governor, applications OF that
nature being considered by board consisting OF
the Governors cabinet and certain elected Off
eere n foreigner cannot vote until one month
after he has been naturalzed; the State Senate
is to consist of fifty members and the Assembly
| of 200 members. the present numbers being 80
senators and 100 assemblymen; especial mea-
sures have been taken to choke on the evils OF
what has come to be known as Especial leglss-
| tion These are some Of the changes proposed,
/ or shonld say, effected. Among the amend
/ ments to the railway article is one prohibiting
passenger railway companies from extending
| their tracks without the consent Of the munich
pal authorities.
The 'long agony" in Pennsylvania Railroad
/ matters came to a head to-day. There have
/ been indefinite rumors of trouble all the week.
arising from variety Of causes, prominent
Il among them being the suspension Of the con-
Il struction company of the Texas and Pacific r.
r, Of which Col. Thos. A. Scott is President, and
/ the reported inability OF the Penna. b. H. to
i pay it's semi-aDnual dividend. As usual in such
/ cases rumOr painted the condition Of things q
| great deal blacker than there was any warrant
for and there was general feeling OF relief this
| afternoon when the definite action of the Com
| pany was made known. There is to be q divi-
| dend, but it is to be paid in scrip instead Of
| cash. This scrip runs to March 1st, 1875, and
for the intermediate period of fifteen months is
| to draw per cent, The Company can redeem
| il six months after the date OF issue, however,
il il so chooses. The dividend payable in this
security ia five per cent for the six months just
clio ed The dividend scrip is receivable for
payment OF the recent increased allotment OF
stock. The decision Of the Company may cause
embarrassment in some quarters--where people
depend on their interest-money for income
but no better plan could be devised. This IL
certain that II the securities of the. Company
are truly valuable the scrip thus TO be used
il the same aa money. II will do all, that
money will in paying instruments on
stock and it can be negotiated as readi-
i Iy a. the stock itself. The hardship
comes only, as have said, on those who need
their interest in money and that trouble must be
accepted as part of the weight OF the time. At
tar all, the scrip can be turned into money II
holders choose to- or must, sacrifice, and the
greatest trouble in rates we can now foresee
I 1T A. I'll a