The New York herald., 1875-02-22

Rapid Transport of Exhibits to the
Centennial Buildings.
The New Union Depot and the
Grand Hotel.

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 90, 1878.
Inasmuch az the appropriate celebration OF our
nrst Centenary Is now o foregone conclusion, and
owing 10 the act that the plans Of all the build.
ings will be consummated many days before the
prescribed time Tor their formal opening the Iacii-
ties Tor the rapid transport OF all the exhibits OF
otner States have become matters OF grave I'M
port and are, OF course, subjects OF more than
ordinary interest to our leading merchants and
manufacturers.
OUR PRESENT FACILITIES.
1t must be admitted that our present facilities
Tor the shipment OF exhibits from New York ana
neighborinR cities are exceedingly unsatisfactory.
IL consumes at least three hours for the ordinary
express train to lap the space interven.
ing between New YORK and Philadelphia,
while the average freight train travelling
the same two points consumes almost double tpis
amount OF time. For this slow rate OF speed tners
Is really no excuse, while the tarin charged at
present Tor Irelgnt and passenger travel Is exor.
bitant ana beyond all reason.
The locomotives built years ago, especially de-
signed to whirl the ordinary light and joltiug
passenger cars. now endeavor to drag q train OF
heavy Pullman cars over the same route In the
same time-an effort which Is simp y impossible OF
accomplishment venture to say that there mas
not been witnln year past q single exOress train,
10 which Pullman parlor or sleeping cars were At
tached. that has arrived in West Philadelphia
at the time designated In the published
time table. There Is no section of the
Pennsylvania Railroad rougher or more In need
OF repair than the long stretcn intervening DO.
tween Philadelphia and New York. No man could
well have his intestines more thoroughly shaken
, than he wno too poor to purchase u seat In
Pullman. Is compelled to endure IN the average
passenger car. Nor Is there another stretch Of
road under control OF The company where taking
into consideration the Immense amount OF
patronage, it consumes so much time TO travel
over given limit OF miles. Hence 1t Is that
where there is tho largest number OF passengers
travelling the accommodations are the worst. and
that where there II the greatest demand for
rapid transit the facilities for the same are the
most inadequate.
RAILROADS AND THE CENTENNIAL.
1t will be impo ,sible Tor the exhibitors OF New
York to shtp their goods by any other than the
Pennsylvania Railroad. The tims consumed BY
the most rapid express trans, running between
the two cities rldicuously slow, and only about
half the rate tnat engines adapted to the charac.
tor Of the trains they are compelled to draw could
accomplish. The tar1 charged each passenger Is
exor ,ttant and Ii than double that which the
line would charge did they have the least compe-
tltion. There has not been a single passenger
the last two years who has not been greatly over.
charged, and VINO could no5 travel double the
distance on any other railroad in the United
states at less tnan the same price.
INTERVIEW WITH TON SCOTT
Your correspondent, through the medium OF Q
gentleman prominently connected with the Penn.
sylvania Railroad, held an interview With Mr.. Scott,
from which l learned many important facts
to Offset the statements mentioned above, which
facts OF the greatest interest to oil who intend
sending exhibits TO the Centennial and all who ex-
pect to visit the Quaker Cisy while the Exposition
Is in progress. In the first pace, Mr.. Scott as
sures your correspondent tnat the rolling stock OF
the road Will oe greatly augmensed. ana taat ne Y
stucv" wach are escuaea q 49sx
most rapid Iced, The longest trains made up OF
ns M aaa osI 'nce ,nnn Cats od
between Phlladslpnla and New York series Of
elegantly upholstered ana rapidly nylng trains
that Will lap The i.tance In aOOut One-naf the
time now consumed by MS swlftest expresses.
He intends, he says, to accomplish rnis result ny
new rails and by tn Introduction OF heavier ana
more powerful engines. He says mat tue question
the most important thar has ever occurred since
he has been connected with the road that at the
same mr It one the results Ills, which Sne tne
ss In swtess iSss the Rssa
tnat lew molths ago ne rode between New
York ana Philadelphia. making the lcwest stop.
pages and at the rapldest rate possible, and that he
ls convinced that now aud more pOworlul lOcOmo-
tyes must be put upon tie road before his al.
ticipatl0ns can be realized. He informs me tnat
such engines as are necessary to lulfl his pur-
poses are now being constructed In the shops OF
the company ana mat tney SHAH be ready Deiore
the required time to convey al exhibits carefully,
rapidiy ana satisfactorily to the Centennial build
inks,
DIRECT TO THE MAIN BUILDINGS.
"You may tell the people OF New York." SAID he,
''they may rest assured vi one thing, vix:-WDcn
tneY are ready to send their exhlOits, Or wnen
tney personally are anxious 10 visit the scene
OF the great ExpositlUn the transit Afforded
as rapid as tncy could desire. We are now build.
inu, IN anticipation Of the MAGNITUDE OF the under
taking, .sidengs' along the entire line between
New York and Philadelphia, and there can be no
rush n0f any demand upon Us Or fielght or pas
senger accommodation TO which we cannot ade
quately respOnd.n
THE GREAT DEPOT.
In addition to the above facts am informed
that, just at the Intersection oi BELMONT anu Elm
avenues, near the man entrance to the Centen-
nial buildings, IL grand depot Is to be erected
covering an immense area. ana unuc ,neAth the
root Ui which can be accommodated 600 souls;
tnat the branc track, to preveat accident, Will
be spanned over by an immense bridge, which
will serve as grand promenade, ana from which
steps VIII descend upon either side to the depot
proper.
GRAND HOTEL.
Your correspondent Is also informed that
directly opposite this grand depot the Pennsyi-
vana RairVad Company intend constructing a
mammoth hotel, capable OF accom- nOdat1ng moro
tnan 1000 guests ITS location being near the Cen.
grounds. The hotel will be u perfect although .
temporary structure, being mauc up OF series Of
frame works. which, after the Exposition, can be
disposed o. ior private cottages.