The New York herald., 1875-02-13
THE CENTENNIAL.
Ground Plan of the Main
Building.
Diagram Of Position and Space Allotted
Each Nation.
lATERALS USED IN THE SUPERSTRUCTURE.
Numerous Applications from
Germany.
THE FINANCIAL PROSPECT.


International Centennial Exposition has been the
pet theme OF conversation Tor the past twelve
Months additional enthusiasm has recsntlY been
created so that. Tor the nrsr time during my resi-.
dence here, truly state that the heart OF this
great but somewhat conservative people Is now
thoroughly aroused.
THE GREAT CAUSE.
The reasons for this great uprising upon the
part Of the people, who have united and who are
to entertain for qaire an extended period the en-.
tire world, are easily understood. They see going
up in Paramount Park, as rapidly as If at the touch
Of magician's wand, buildings grand in proper
tion. graceful in architecture, and remarkably
accessible from every part OF our country.
so far as the Centennial Commissioners are con-
terned there is no development OF theirs which
has not been thoroughly presented In these col
umns: but what is far more Interesting to oil
people who anticipate forwarding exhibits to the
American Exposition Ia the diagram which ap-
pears In another column.
Already have the readers of the HERALD been
furnished with carefully prepared articles, giving
In detail accurate descriptions OF the external
structures, such Memorial Hall, the Art Gallery,
the Horticultural and Machinery buildings, and In
another column will be found diagram or the
ground plan OF the main edi11ce, IN which will be
placed the general exhibits.
TIE MAIN BUILDING.
Perhaps those who have seen the Expositons OF
England. Austria and France may be able TO
form some satisfactory conception OF the great
magnitude and colossal proportions or the struc-
ture. but the average American will ind this I'm
possible, because no plan or photograph can con.
vey to his mind the actual appearance the build
ing Will assume when under roof 1t will cover
the immense area OF 201S acres, and will present
externally, OF course, many imposing architeclu-
al fan
Intersection OF Belmont and Elm avenues, on rhe
Lansdowne Plateau 1t will stand ITO feet back
from the north side Of Elm avenue, the area be.
tween the building and the avenue being used for
special products, which may be exhibited In the
open alr. There will also be q space 800 feet In
width between tho building and the Art Gallery
On the north side. which VIII be ornamentally
treated as ground for special purposes The build
Ing 10 in the form OF Q parallelogrann, extending
east and west 1,sS0 feet In length, and north and
south ~ feet In width. The larger portion OF the
structure Is one story In height and shows the
main cornice upon the outside ct b iees above
she ground the anterior height being 70 ieet. At
TIE centre OF the longer sides are projections 4lo
feet in length and In the centre OF the shorter
sides or ends OF the building are projections 2lo
teet IN length. In these projections, IN the centre
m the four sides. are located the main entrances.
which are provided with arcades upon the ground
aoor and central lscades extending TO tho height
Or % feet The esst entrance VIII form the princ.
pal approach Tor carriages, visitors being
allowed to alight at the doors OF the building
under cover OF the arcade. The south entrance
VIII bs the principal approach rom street cars,
the ticket ondces being located upon the line Of
Elm avenue, with covered ways provided Tor en-.
trance into the building Itself. The main portal
Art Gallery. ana the man portal on the west side
gtves the main Lassage way to the Machinery ond
U0a as se S
and between tho towers and the central prolec.
tlons or entrances there u lower roof intro.
ground In order to obtain central feature ior
the building as q whole tue roof over tine central
surrounding portion, and iodr towers, 4S 1eet
square. rising 10 12o feet IN height, have been
areas covered are as follows:-
Ground door. sassys s7ss.S 5s'A 1Sa ssSs
Upper doors in projections. .......... s7s4 IS
Upper floors In towers. 1854 90
Totals ........... ................. ssaOcs ala7
THE MAIN FLOOR.
BY referring to the diagram very fair idea can
be formed VI the main features OF the ground
plan. BY carefully considering 1t every one can
ascertain the relative position OF every nation
llty. the amount Of space allotted to each, as
we'll as the principal avenues OF approach. Even
the dlslnterested and casual observer Will not iall
10 nOuce the excellent features OF the arrange
ment and the artistic ana practical beauty OF the
whole design No building ever reared Tor the
purpose was more admirably planned, nor
have we among the numerous ones which
have been erected from time to time another
anordlng sach satisfactory faclnties Tor
visitors. or one In whcn national exhibits could
pc shown with SO great advantage and display.
tnem OF tho exposition buildings OF ali foreign
Powers the managers OF the American Centennial
project asotded AL the disagreeable features SO
BOW submit TO, the builders plan infinitely supe-
riOr to tnem all.
THE AVENUES.
1t Will be noticed that the general arranRement
Of the ground plan. published herewith, SHOWS o
grand central avenue 100 feet wide and l. S32 lee
long. TINS Is, bey ond con radiction the most ex.
tenstve ano grandest avenue OF It's width ever
Introduced 10 buildings reared ior similar pur.
pose. Running from THIS central tnOrOugnfare, II
Will be observed, are numerous side avenues and
naves each OF which are iorty.eignt eet vide, while
ire bounded 0y smaller aislos twenty-four Iees
vide. The intersections or these avenues and
trAnsepts 10 ihe centrai portion o the plan result
" dividing the ground moor lnso nine grand open
spaces Tree from supporting columns, aud covering
sent 0atIooS IL arIorded, UNINTERRUPTED by post
Or pillars or rendered awkward by heavy or uu.
rsesIu supports % -Four S o ss these pacss are 100
Tue great central pavilion Ia l2U feet square.
TuE PHOARNApRs.
greatest p0s3l0e accommodation TO VISITORS with.
out interfering In the ieaat degree With the artI
wsii arranged ani wea venInstsd, anu whlic
e6Oidng free acocss and eeress 10 anu from the
bsat advantage everything there WIN 10 to 0s SEEM
The main prOmenAdes through the Davo and
central transept are each tMrty iect broad aud
Sn0se penetrating the centres OF the side avenues
are each uIteen leet In wldsD. There are IN addi.
u0n ~ these leading 10 end and exit dUors nu.
msrous other walks, oAcn Of wnIch 10 teu icet IN
width.
TUE ARKASGEMESr or rue NATIONS.
The plan at glance SHOWS not only the relative
position Vi the ulIeIeut natiouulities, but also
ths amount Vi space allotted 10 eacn. more al.
The ons suO.nitied 10 the readers ot the HERALD
Ia auother column, or II Is nothing loss tnan
cHle!uhy prepared programme, by wnlcn any ono
ean see the exact spot III wnich ms Dationality ~
10 MAKE Us display and wnat countries surround
Iuu are adjacent TO II.
II VIII br seen that while the plan isa good ono
- a,i Its features u IL, at tne same time, excel
lent IN u Eeogt taphical point VI view. IL Will %
eccn that due consideration has been shown lOr
the pecuia:itles Gi soil, climate, &c. and those
naMons aie adjacent 10 cacn otner which are III.
Wrnationd!ly Oh the lrenducst terms
Cnina, Japan, Liberia, tne sundwi Islands,
Sce occupy one extreme Uf the structure whlle
SIAM Persia, Russ,a, Egypt ana Turkey occupy the
lut0rm0tllln q N tna