New-York tribune., 1873-06-14
THE CENTENNIAL CELEBR4TIoM

TIE RESTORATION OF INDEPENDENCE HALL-TIIE
WORK DONE GRATIFYING SUCCESS or TIE
COMMITTEE.
On Thursday last the Mayor of Philadelphia
transmitted 10 the Select Council Of that city the pre-
lminary report the Committee the Restoration or
Independence Hail. which is the first connected state
ment yet made TO the labOrs of the Committee. The
work Of restoration has been going for the past year,
and the results thus far very satisfactory, The
first step taken was the removal OF all portraits.
relics etc, from independence Chamber which
were inconsistent with ITS historical mem
ories we found the DOORS cornccs wanscOting, and
the architectural characteristics OF the rOOm the Com
mttee reports completely concealed beneath mass
OF pictures Of every kind while the floor contained the
dlapidaed furniture rejected by former Councils, and
one Of the windows was barricaded by the block Of
marble ordered by the city Of Philadelphia its con
trbution 10 the Washington National Monument. THIS
last we caused transmitted TO its destination. or
the original equipment OF the Hall 10 appeared
that not one single piece OF furniture
mained after the fitting Of 1902" but on the Sd
W July, 1865, gentleman, who was aitcrwaTd mem
ber OF the Committee Restoration, discovered in
the Senate Chamber at Harrisburg two OF the chairs
originally used by the Congress OF 177G, for which he
made immediate application TO the Governor (Curtin),
who promised that they should be sent back TO the
Chamber Subsequently the Legislature restored the
Presidents chair and table, which had been carried TO
Lancaster and thence to Harrisburg the removal Of
the capital. These in tho Chamber, piled one
above the other"
The old Liberty Bell" the Committee removed from
the cupoa TO the vcstbue suspended it from the orig
anal beam and scaGoldine snd surrounded the whole
the Committee SAYS, 10 inscriOe upon its base the
whole scnptura text, part OF winch had been nodded
upOn the be ~ 1853 as II even then so essentially pre-
dicted aud OTdaucdi first Liberty throughout ali the
Land ana, secondly, the centennial celebration thereof
Al the east end OF the chamber the Presidents das has
conformity
~ the first French Minister 10 tbe Rennbhc
and the identical chair table used by John Hancock
restored TO their places upon the da. Six OF the
original chairs used by the delegates ia l7G nave also
Original leather covering Seven with the modili-
cation only OF coverings have been discovered and
the Committee has assurances that all OF these Will
either be presented or deposited, that sufficient
number will be supplied 10 enable It TO realize the sitting
OF the Continental Congress and at the repre-
sent each OF the original rs states. There WERE prOba
bly, only 81 Of these chalIs Originally, tthat being the
which they made) and other provision have
been made for seating part OF the Congress, The Com
mtee has replaced the pillars which formerly sus-
tanned ceiling Of the Chambe being aided by the
curate description OF Horace Binney, the only living
man who positively remembers them aud whose do
scrptiOn fully confirmed BY fragment VI the original
still preserved as a relic.
vast amount OF correspondence and great deal OF
searching necessary 10 obtain portraits OF the RevO
lntOnarY heroes but the results are gratifying the
Committee ana fully repay t for its time and trouble
Thirteen portraits OF the signers " the Declaration OF
Independence we're found IN the miscellaneous coec.
On purchased by the City Of Philadelphia IN 1885, at the
sale OF Peales Museum and 70 these others been
added unt Ouy 20 OF the signers, 10 Of whom never
sat for their portraits. remain unrepresented
The 10 portraits stu unobained, II is thought
VIII be secured during the coming year. Portraits
OF the three recent Presidents yet remain 10 DO OBJ
tanned, and also a number Of those who have been
closely identified with the country aud the Government
from It's earliest history Preparations are making for
the arrangement Of what il ia hoped Will became tina
nucleus OF grand national museum ana great deal OF
work minor interest has been done by the Committee
40 that NAV confidently hone n its efforts continue
10 e attended Win great success as during the past
year 20 Ind Independence Hall IN 1876 the most In
lerceIpg le0tuIe VI var Centennial ceIcyTaI9A,