, 1873-07-06
THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.

in Philadelphia by tho transfer Of tho Centonnial
Grounds to tho Contonnial Commisaion,-a
ceremony which was attended by largo con-
course Of distinguished gucsts, and marked by
worry interesting, woll as nuHpicious, foaturos.
Tho telegraph in our laHt Issue furnished q do
tailad report Of those proceedings and, to mnko
tho record complete, wo reproduce tho history
Of tho movement from its inception. The frat
for1nnf stop Was taken Jan. 20, 1870.' by
tho Franklin Institute, Of Philadelphia,
which presented d memorial to tho
corporation Of that city urging tho COLE
bration Of tho Contonnial Anniversary Of
American Independence by an international OK
hibition Of arts, manufactures. and products Of
tho soils md mines. Tho corporation passed
Was introduced in Congress asking for tho
necessary legislation. Tho act forming Cen
tennial Commission WIS passed., and received
tho prosidcnt's signature, March 3, 1871. by
the provisions OF this act tho Exhibition is to
ho hold under tho auapicos OF tho Unitod Statos
| Government. Tho Commission, which has charge
Of tho Exhibition until its close, consists of
/ one delegate and ono alternate from each
State and Territory, appointed by the President,
| upon the nomination of tho Governors OF tho re-
| spective States and Territories. Tho bill also
provides that, "wllonever tho President shall DO
| informed by tho Governor of tho stato Of Penn.
| Bylyania that provision has been made for tho
erection Of suitable buildings for the purpose,
and for tho exclusive control by tho Commission
herein provided for, of tho proposed
Exhibition" he shall make "proclama-
| tiou OF tho eame," and notify foreign
Governments. Aftor considerable delay in
securing tho nominations, tho Commission was
completed, and mot for the first timo in phila-
ielphia, March !, 1879, aud appointed its Com
mitteos. The most important labor, Of course, do
wolves upon the Executive Committee, Of which
Daniel J. Morroll Of Pennsylvania, III Chairman.
Tho Hon. Joseph H. Hawley, Of Connecticut,
was elected permanent President Of tho COM
misaion. Prof. Campbell, formerly Of Wabash
College, Indiana, is tho Assistant Secretary, and
Col. Myers ASH, Assistant Secretary. Gen.
q. .. Norton. who was United States
Commissioner ut tho Paris Exposition,
hos charge Of the Bureau Of information and tho
Proas. and MoasrH. Il. D. j. Pratt and Dorsey
Gardner Of tho Bureaus Of Classification and
StatiHtics Mr. A. T. Goahorn, tho former
President Of tho Cincinnati Exhibition, was ap-
pointed Director-0 -0onoral. Tho Commission haa
llad four meetings since its organization, and
has already accomplished largo amount Of
work. It has selected sito for tho Exhibition
5%> TIT H..
on friday last has considered numerous
reports Of formor exhibitions adopted IN
elaborate system OF classification; notified tho
world Of the timo Of tho Exhibition, 10 that
foreign Governments may not make othor ar-
rangomonts for 1876; md has advertised for
plans for tho Exhibition buildings, which aro to
DO submitted by tho 18th Of July.
| Tho financial arrangements Of tho Exhibition
arc in very satisfactory condition. According
to tho act authorizing tho Commission, the
United States cannot bo made liable for any OF
tho expenses connected with it. Tho City Of
philadelphia ut tho outsot, appropriated
100000, and tho stato subsequently appropriated
u, ,000,0 600, which SUN has boon Increased by con.
tributionB from other sources to $4,000, 900.
Tho Doard OF Finnnco, which Ia diatinct from tho
Commission, is empowered to raise a capital
stock Of alo, 100000, III shares Of $40 each, and
to Issue bonds to that amount. According to the
provision Of tho act creating tho Board OF
Finance, certificates OF stock viii 10 prepared,
and al opportunity will DO given to
tho citizenA Of each State and Tori
tory to subscribe to an amount not ox-
csoding their quota according to population.
THO aito for the Exhibition is III Fair1uolmt
Park, Oh tho wost Hilo Of the Schuylkill, aud il
about 80 acres iu extent or nearly four timos on
great au urea aH that devoted to our own Expo
aitiou. Il IL intended to have three buildings; a
main building, Momorial Hail, which will 10 n
permanent structure, aud All Art Gallory,-the
frst covering twenty-five acres, the aocond lyo
aorcB aud tho third Two acres.
TleBo are tho main outlines Of tho fortllcom-
Ing Exhibition, aud thus fur tho Commission il
to DO congratulated upon tho oxcellont
nannor In which tho preliminary work Las
been dono. There cau be no doubt Of the heart.
lost corporation from tho people Of this cour,.
try, md that the State Of Pennsylvania, and
especially tlo City Of Philadelphia, from local
pride, If from 10 other reason will 1eavo nc
effort un.riod to make this Exhibition not only
remarkable representation OF tho industrial
RESOURCES Of this country, but national Huc.
CESS, which will take its place by tho side Of the
great world exhibitions Of London md Paris