Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-12-02
OUR PHILADELPHIA LETTER.
Thanksgiving Day-Burniug or Market Street
Bridge-The observation-disclosures


EDITOR LD:-Business here
has been very generally suspended
to-day, it being Thanksgiving. The
| weather has been splendid, services
were held at nearly all the churches,
and Thanksgiving dinners were
furnished to the inmates of nearly
all the charitable institutions.
Many societies held special cele-
brations, and Governor Hartranft res
viewed the military organizations this
afternoon. The streets were thronged
with people dressed in holiday, every
day and many a-day attire, and thous-
ands found their way out to the Gen.
tennial grounds, to inspect the build
ings and surroundings.
An item of interest to the public
generally, and tax payers particularly,
occurred on Saturday last while work
men were engaged upon repairs on
Market Street Bridge, over the
Schylkill river, connecting Phila-
delphia with West Philadelphia. The
gas from a large main, crossing the
bridge, ignited, and in less than FIVE
minutes the whole structure was in
flames, and in forty minutes the large
arch timbers gave way and went
crushing into the river Viewed from
Walnut street bridge it was mag
nficent sight; one solid sheet of fire
from one end to the other, and throw
ing clouds of smoke and pieces of
burning wood upon the surrounding
buildings. The firemen kept the fire
confined to the bridge, SO that very
little damage occurred to adjourning
property. 1t will cost the city several
hundred thousand dollars to build
another bridge on this site, but it can
not be delayed as traffic and travel is
greater at this, than any other point
crossing the river within the city
limits.
1t was decided few weeks ago to
invite Messrs. Moody and Sankey to
this city, and committee of ministers
of the various denominations was APP
pointed to arrange for their coming
This committee appointed com
mittee of well known business men to
look after business arrangements for
the meeting; they secured the old
freight depot of the Pennsylvania
railroad company, located on Thir
teenth and Market streets; the build
ing extends $50 feet on Market street
and 37e feet on Thirteenth street ;
about two hundred workmen were at
once set to work, making the neces
sary changes, and the building was
ready Tor occupancy on the cot!
ultlmo. The audience room will seat
over ten thousand people. The
speakers stand, at the back end, ris-
ing in tiers, will seat thousand. The
choir, consisting Of some five hun.
dred members, and the clergy will
occupy these seats. From about the
center Of the room forward, the floor
gradually rises to the front Of the
hall, giving an unobstructed oppor-
tunity for every one to see and hear
the speaker. There are several large
rooms aside from the main hall for
inquiry rooms. The building is warm
| ed by stcam, hundred horse power
boiler being used for this purpose.
About one thousand burners with sew
eral large refectors are required TO
furnish light eleven thousand chairs
have been purchased, and two hun
dred men act as urshers to seat the
public. Rev. Drs r. Newton, of the
Episcopal, r. NJ. Hatfield, of the
Methodist, w. P Breed, of the Pres
byterian, and w. Smith, of the Bap-
list churches, have been training some
hundreds of christian people for the
inquiry rooms, and ministers and PEG.
pie of all denominations throughout
the city, seem to be engaged in the
work and preparing for it. About
twenty thousand dollars have been
expended in arranging and furnish
ing the building.
Last Sunday morning, at 8 O'Clock,
the nrsL mcctlng OF the series was
held, and though a heavy rain was
falling at the time, the building was
filed, the doors closed, and hundreds
turned away. The afternoon meet
ing was appointed at 4 o'clock be-
fore O'Clock the building was again
filled, every seat occupied and near
two thosuand people standing. The
doors were closed and the streets
were soon blocked with people com
ing from all directions. 1t was esti>
mated that the number unable to gain
admittance was greater than the mum
Der inside the building. The weather
has been very unfavorable since these
meetings commenced, but the interest
taken in them seems to be increasing.
In my next l will give the HERALD
readers something concerning the
Centennial-a subject the country
press in general seems to neglect
We Pbiladelphians take Centennial
for breakfast, dine on it, sip it at tea
time, and then sleep and dream over
it. Tell the patriotic citizens of Old
Grant to prepare for the Centennial
celebration next year. The whole
world will shake hands at Philadelphia
then, and Grant county should be
fully represented.
Yours, formerly from Grant,
o. KAY.
Philadelphia, November IS, 1875.