Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-12-16

ever you may think at present, that
when you look at the vast buildings
and their contents you will congratu
late yourselves on having had some
part in this glorious work.
The emblematic medals which are
offered, which We're provided by laws
of Congress, and which are protected
against counterfeiting by the United
States Coinage laws, are intended 10
show that the holders did what they
could toward the preparation of the
first centennial anniversary of Ameri-
can independence. The names of the
purchasers of medals will be inscribed
on the great roll of contributors that
is to be kept and transmitted to pos
tciity.,
am confident that you must feel
especial interest in the present status
Of this great enterprise, and shall
give it TO you in as few words as prac-
ticable. The buildings are an art gal
lery, covering two and half acres, a
main exhibition building, covering twen-
ty acres, conservatory of two and
half acres, a machinery hall of twelve
acres, and the agricultural department
of FIVE acres, making total of forty
two acres, which, with the space oc-
cupied by the geological gardens, and
the cattle pens, and grounds for the
agricultural tests, will make vast
space.
1t may occur to some that il is diff
cult TO find this in the vicinity of a
great city, but the Philadelphia Park
covers 5000 acres, and the city itself
an area of 10000 acres. may say,
also, for your information, that IL has
q greater dwelling capacity, Tor the
number of inhabitants, than any other
city of the world. You need not be
troubled about lodgings. If the hotel
accommodations prove deficient, you
will be furnished with better accom-
modations. There are now great
blocks of buildings going up, for pri-
vatc residents, which, with very many
that are now constructed and furnished
will be used to accommodate the visi-
tors at the great celebration. lnfor-
nation as to these will be furnished to
the country through the proper bureau.
Besides, ] know II TO be the intention
of Col. Scott, President of the Penn
sylvania Railroad, to make such ar
rangements as will, to a large extent,
make the New York hotels available
for the purposes of the Centennial,
Some months since the art building
and the main exhibition building were
contracted for and the inner walls of
the art building are up to the square,
and the granite will be all put up dur
ing the coming Winter; and its COM
pletion in time is fully assured. The
foundation Of the twenty-acre building
is nearly completed, and the glass and
iron are being prepared with satisiac-
tory expedition, aud its completion
within the time prescribed may be con-
fidently relied on. The conservatory
and the machinery hall will be CON
tracted for within a few days; the
agricultural department, which can be
completed within a few months, will
be commenced in the Spring. / say,
further, there is nothing in the finan-
cial condition of the Board of Finance
to interfere with the progress OF these
buildings The State of Pennsylvania
and the City of Philadelphia have pro
vided for the art gallery---the city for
the machinery hall and the conserva-
tory; and the subscriptions to the
stock, already secured, amount to about
81, 100000, which sum, with what we
expect TO get from Connecticut and
other States, will be applied 10 the
main exhibition building and the agri.
cultural department. So you sec the
great problem the buildings is solved.
The next inquiry that naturally arises
is, viii there be anything to put into
these great buildings? / answer, un-
hcsitaungly, an abundance. Thespace
already applied for decides that ques-
ton afiirmatively, and eighteen months
still remain before the opening. !
know that the Director General, A. II.
Goshorn, is already impressed with the
great difficulty Of restraining the exhibi-
ton. That Is, TO restrain il in guam
tity so as to elevate II in kind. | have
myself within brief period, visited
all the great cities of the country, and
witnessed the exhibitions at Cincinnati,
lsls..A.. I.l......et.. Ga U.... II.