Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-10-10
Opening Of the Chicago Exposition.
Curc,co San+ 06 1872

Our great - Inter State Exposition was
opened. and formally dedicated yesterday
evening: and although many Of the exhi-
bitors lave not fully arranged their wares,
yota,uy creditable display was offered.
Those who visited the building week ago,
could Not readily believe the predictions of
the managers, that everything would be
prepared, and in position on the opening
might. even az noon yesterday all was chaos;
bat managers and exhibitors labored with
clmmoudab,c zeal, and at seven p. M, the
hour announced for opening, order was pro-
duccl
Your readers have already been informed
as to the appearance and dimensions Of the
-tructdre. but as TO ITS history, they have
not. believe. as yet been enlightened.
Thuuah the matter was preached a long
time ago. IL was not seriously considered
until late last winter On the evening Of
the eth of February, about dozen manu-
lactu7cr- met 1t this meeting a commit
tee of four from each division of the city
was appointed to consider the policy Of hold
ing grand Industrial Exposition ON the
9,h day of October, ls73, in conjunction
with the Northwestern Wool Manuiactur-
er>' Association. the committee To report at
a future meeting the plan Of the cxpo~i-
ton the amount Of money required the
best means for raising it; and to wait upon
the woollon manufacturers for the purpose
Of consultation. TIE next meeting was
held on the afternoon OF March 81, at which
it was suggested that a crystal palace be
erected at a cost Of $500, goo. \ plan was
submitted. and after considerable discus
sion the Lake Park was selected as the most
eligible location for the building. \ mass
meeting was then called to meet at the
Chamber of Commerce, at which it was re-
solved to adopt these reports, with an
amendment. that the exposition be open to
the nation, instead of combining it to the
manufactures and productions Of the North
west alone. The executive committee was
appointed, a plan adopted, the money
speedily subscribed, the building commenc-
ed. and with marvellous rapidity completed
and on last evening Chicago again offered
to the world another exhibition of its won
derlu growth, its pluck, and its progress.
Alta few minutes past seven. the doors
were thrown open, and the impatient
thr5ng without crowded into the building,
and in les than one hour fully 5000 peo-
ple were congregated in the building. The
exercise, opened amid the roar Of cannon
without. while within sweet strains of mu-
sic. di-courSed by IIoilman's band, hllod
the air. and at the same moment, the great
fountain in the centre Of the building, sent
forth it, feathery spray The - Big Engine
at the extreme end of the building, not
wishing to be neglected, moved it, ponder
Gus wheel. and won many praises by it, ease
and smoothneSs of action. All was ANNA
ton The visitors, differing from those
usually assembled at such gatherings, were
not mere idle lo0kers-on. their c0untenanccs
betokened an earnest enthusiasm, they felt
that they had each and all contributed in
some way to the great offering. They were
thinking how less than two years since, they
were driven from the ground upon which
they then stood. houselesS, and pennieSs,
they thought of the misery that followed
those dreadful days. Bat other and bright
err thoughts followed. They remembered
how ~ympathizing world stretched forth
the hand of succor, how they received new
hope. new life. These thoughts inspired
them. and in those glowing cOuntenances
one could readily read, that hearts. not
bound with foolish pride, hut rather, brim-
iul of tl.ankiulnesS, were heating within
the breasts of the vast asSemhlage.
SAorb after eight O'Clock, the commit
tee ari,ulcJ. c~curting the orators of the
evening, the band playing the Chicago
Exposition Grand March, composed for
the occasion by Prof. Hoffman. Mr.. Cool
baugh. the Vice President, then introduced
Mr. Bouton, the chairman of the executive
committee, whose address was history Of
the enterprise. with statistics of the dimcn-
si0nS. materials and cost of the building.
1t is 500 feet long 10y ECO feet in the extreme
width with a middle front projection at the
grand entrance. 100 by 20 feet and two |
end projections 80 by 20 feet The grand |
centre dome is so feet in diameter and lGj |
feet high. The end d0mes are As feet square |
and one hundred and forty feet in height. |
The cost of the structure was sol, 3j9. !
Speeches followed by Mr. Coolhaugh, |
Mayor Bond, Governor Beyerilge and Sena-
tors Logan and Oglc>hy.
1t is Impossible at this early day, to dcs-
cribe the display, and do Justice, rs but few
Of the exhibitors have completed their
stands yet from what has been done al
ready, we can safely assert that 1t will be
the most elaborate exhibition ever offered TO
an American public We would, however,
mention the fact that Vermont Is ably rep
resented by the Messrs. Fairbanks, who dis
play full assortment of their world-re-
nowned scales, and by the Estcy Organ
Co., who exhibit their soul-inspiring instru-
monts, through the Chicago firm of Story
* Camp. We will endeavor in future let
ter to give more in detail the special at
fractions Of the exposition. W. Z. Z.
The POTATO CRoP.-This important crop
appears to be light in the lower Champlain
VALLEY, but Immediately east of the first