The New York herald., 1874-12-22


lying tongue behind. am. sir, your SSsq,ens , SER
vant. AN INQUIRER
NEW YORK, Dec. 10, 1874.
THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
AN APPEAL FROM PROMINENT NEW WORKERS ON
BEHALF OF THE PHILADELPHIA EXPOSE
TIoN-THE PLANS AND PROSPECTS.
To THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK;
The undersigned, your fellow citizens, impeied
thereto by sense of duty, take the liberty OF ad-
dressing TO you O lew words ABOUT the coming
celebration OF the Centennial OF American Inde-
pendence.
HISTORY OF THE ENTERPRISE.
In 1871 the American Institute OF this city and
the FranKllu Institute OF Philadelphia, the coun.
cils OF the latter city, the Legislature OF Pennsyl-
vania, with many citizens or different sections OF
the country brought this subject to the attention
OF Congress. That body after due deliberatton,
decided that the movement was proper one and
IN the preamble to the law making provisions for
fitting celebration, Ola commend thu same to
the people In the following feiclrous terms to
witt
Whereas the Declaration OF Independence OF the
United states OF America was prepared, signed
and promulgated In the year 1776. IN the city OF
Philadelphia; ana. whereas u Denooves the people
OF the United States 10 celebrate by appropriate
ceremonies the centennial anniversary OF this
memorable and decisive event. when constituted
the Attn day OF July, ammo Dominl l776 the blr hday
OF the nation and whereas IT is deemed httng
that the completion OF the first century OF our
national existence snail be cOmmemorated by an
exhibition OF the nationai resources OF the coun-
try aud their development, and OF the progress IN
those arts which benefit mankind in comparison
with those OF other nations; and whereas no place
is so appropriate Tor such an exmbiton as the city
In which occurred the event 1t is designed to COM
mem0rate; and whereas, as the exhibition should
be national celebration In which the people OF the
whole country should participate It should have
q a n a A1
The letter and spirit OF the law following this
preamble shows that Congress intended that the
celebration should be broadly national In its char
acter, for 1t tntrusted the management to commis-
sioners to De chosen from the several States and
Territories and provided that the leading feature
OF the ceremonies should be a national and inter-
national exhibition OF arts, manufactures and the
products OF the soil and mine, "to be conducted
under the auspices of the government Of the United
Statesn
The Commission to direct the celebration and
exhibition was constituted accordingly in the sum-
mer OF 1871. But it was soon discovered that that
body was wanting IN authority to raise the neces.
sary capital for the erection Of buildings and other
proper preparations. 10 supply this need Con.
gress IN 1872 created another corporation, known
as the Centennial Board OF Finance, clothed
with the right to raise capital, not
exceeding $lO,oo0.0o0, by selling its own
capital stock, in shares of $40 each, ac-
companied with the right to one vote for each
share IN the election of directors. 1.-THE proceeds
OF said stock, together with the receipts from all
other sources. shall he USED by said corporation
for the erection OF suitable buildings, with their
appropriate fixtures ana appurtenances, and tor
all other expenditures required in carrying out
the objects oi the said act OF Congress OF March s.
1871, and which may be incident tneretOn And
the tenth section reads as follows, 10 wit:-"Tnat
as soon as ar h rt tine sod shall
poration to convert Its property into cash. and,
after the payment or all It's liabilities, TO divide
its remaining assets among its stockholders pro
rata IN ilil satisfaction and discharge Of Its capl
On the 4th or July. 1s73 the proper authorities
OF the city Of Philadelphia in the presence OF the
President OF the United states, by her SPECIAL rep
resentatives and a vast gathering OF the people.
presented TO the United States Centennial Com
mission deed dedicatlng to said Com
mission 45O acres OF ground in Paramount PARK tor
the uses and purposes Of the said Centennial Elk.
hlDtlon. The President OF the United States. by
his special representative. commended the pro-
posed celebration to the favor ana support oil the
people OF the United States ana did also call the
attention OF the governments OF foreign countries
TO the proposed In ternatiOna exhibition OF arts,
manufactures &C., TO the end that all might par
tlclpate therein.
Then, again, Congress, at its iast session, while
adherng to the pollcy Indicated in It's laws OF 1871
and 1872 that the capital necessary for preparn.
tlons should arse from the voluntary contrlbu-
uons OF the people, passed q law facilitating the
o., ~ aao a ra i1r ,ae
countries free o duty: and anotner, IN the follow
ing terms. 10 wit :-"rnat the President be re-
quested to extend, in the name OF tue Uni ed
states, respectful and cordial invitation to the
governments OF other natlons TO be represented
and take part In the International Exhibition, to
be neld at Phadelphla, under the auspices OF the
government OF tho United States, III the year
1876" and we are informed that tnat cordial INV
tation. under direction OF the Fresident, mas gone
out TO all the civilized nations of the world.
THE NATIONAL DUTY
To our minds certain CONCLUSIONS dow with irre-
slStIble force the foregoing facts; one Is that
the people ana government or the United States
All the world they intend to do, Oh scale beAttng
great country or bring upon themselves the just
reproach OF the people ana governments OF other
countries, besides awakening IN the minds OF our
own people deep sense OF humiliation and shame
as one OF honorable success or lasting reproach.
With sucn alternatives We cannot dOubD Tor mo-
ment where you VIII be found. Another cvnclu-
sion is, that tnis undertaking having been Initiated
by Congress and managed under Its laws and
every State M q the Union may be-
represented, must be ana Is peculiarly national III
IT'S characer and our state anu her great metropo-
this connection.
The international feature OF the exhibition may
be regarded as only proper recognition OF the
courtesles heretofore extended 10 the United
states by European countries IN demonstrations
OF this character.
THE DUTY OF NEW YORK
In view OF all these considerations We feel con-
strained TO press upon each one of YOU the ne.
ccssity Of exlenalng such material aid as you can
AFFORD toward making mp Dur States quota. We
the iniormation we have at command touching
the present status OF the undertaking, anu IL Is
proper To say that we gamer TINS manly from the
ofhcial papers oil A. I. GoshOrn, Director General
Jonn Welsh, President oi the Finance Board
William Bger Financial Agent, and Thomas
Cochran, Chairman ol the Binding Committee.
THE BUILDINGS.
The buildings are, first, an ait gallery. covering
space OF about one acre ana three-qua ters the
material beng OF brick granite, IRON ana glass,
the law requiring That ~ shall be perfectly fire.
PROOF. For the erection OF tnls building the State
OF Pennsylvania and the city OF Pnilauelphia nave
appropriated Si,50000 fhe inner walls oil this
building are now erected up as high as the square,
and the granite Is being set with marked rapidity.
The contract requires It's perfect completion SIX
months IL advance or the opening OF the eXniDl-
ton.
the main exhibition building. covering space
OF twenty acres ana TO be constructed mainly OF
iron ana glass was contracted for some mon tbs