The New York herald., 1873-10-01
TIE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION.
Presentation of the Plans for the Great
Building in Fairmount Park-Beauty
Of the Designs Submittcd-The Art
Gallery To BE Fireproof.

PHILADELPHIA, Sept 80, 1879.
The elegant rooms OF the Centennial Commission.
located upon Walnut street, presented a scene OF
great excitement all day long. The occasion was
the formal presentaron OF the plans for consid-
c alton aud one can well imagine the an xiety with
which the architects will await the developments
OF the next few days. Among the ten plans this
day submitted there is none which In point OF
magnitude and grace OF architecture does not sur
pass the conceptions which have already been used
III the different exhibitions OF the worlds history
ORIGINALITY OF THE PLANS.
Our architects have taken the lessons OF France
England and Austria TO heart. Their plans are
neither copies nor reproductions. Every feature
calculated to recall the ideas OF their European
fraternity has been carefully abandoned.
There Is nothing in the main building,
in the wings, in the construction of the
domes to remind one OF Paris in 1867 Austria in
1878. Every one OF these plans is so beautiful and
so perfect that IL could be used with entire salts
faction and would at the same time present to the
world architectural beauties and attainments
creditable In the highest degree to the designer
aud also hitting monuments TO American genius
and common sense.
The opinion tnat yesterday entertained that,
select building which would prove too temporary
and dangerous Tor the exhibition Of the most yal,i-
able works OF art, at this moment find entirely
removed.
THE ART GALLERY
OF every plan, while being OF great magnitude and
beauty Is perfectly hreproof. separate and distinct
from the main structures, and in the most part
formed OF stone and iron. Foreigners may
rest assured that they entrust their
most valuable productions to the American
Exposition with perfect confidence that
they will he grouped in rich display Will receive
absolute and perfect protection. Every gallery in
corporates admirable arrangements in case OF fire,
stationary engines and all other fire ap-
paratus being provided Tor in the con-
struction OF every floor, and the galleries
WIN be guarded day. and night. All
the contendng architects nave made the art gal
lery especial feature of their plans, and, though
until the selection Is made cannot describe It's
form, can nevertheless make the statement that
all afford ample security and protection to .
fuller and more thoroughly organized extent than
the art galleries OF either the French or the Aus.
tran building
THE WORK OF THE ARCHITECTS.
These plans came IN one alter another, drawn
upon fine canvas, which In its turn Is Handsomely
colored and mounted. One plan Is composed OF
twenty pieces, each one OF which is handsomely
framed like picture, and each OF the frames
VIII measure SIX feet in length and four in
width. IL Is said that to form these pans and
Illuminate them in coofs, the architect In one or
two instances assumed an expense of over 500
upon each. Another plan represents the interior
OF memorial Hall at an expense which could not
have been less than $500, while the frame enclosing
II Is worth $50 at least. The plans almost MI the
rooms OF the Commission, and the hall outside is
crowded in every part. One would readily imagine
from glance that theTe were 100 plans here in
steal Of ten, and Colonel Myer Arch Assistant
the parts OF several designs have not yet been