The Republican journal., 1875-10-28
The Centennial.
From an Occasional Correspondent.


Ii is now only seven months to the opening
of the Centennial Exhibition of 1876, and visit
| to the grounds is amply repaid by the scene now
| presented. During the past year the progress
| of the buildings has been very rapid On the
| 18th of July, 1874, the ground was first broken
| by the contractor for the main exhibition build
| ing. At that time Farmont Park, in the yicin-
ity Of the present buildings, presented no unus-
| ual appearance, apart from any other holiday.
The grass was green and undsturbed, and the
hills and valleys appeared in their natural beau
ty which at all times is one of its chief attrac-
tons. On July 18th, 1919, the scene in the same
vicinity was far different. The main exhibition
building presented Il long row of some seven or
eight hundred feet of iron columns supporting
the iron ralters for the roof. Tons of iron and
huge piles of lumber covered the ground. Me
mortal Hall, Il short distance from it, made
grand display of granite and marble; Machin-
cry Hall, on the west side of Belmont Avenue
was nearly half finished; Horticultural Hall had
the iron work forming the frame of the building
nearly all up; and the ground was broken for
Agricultural Hall. The ceremonies of the day
lasted from $ A. NJ. till sitter the display of fire
works in the evening.
The Catholic Total Abstinence Society laid The
corner stone of their centennial fountain with
imposing ceremonies. A brief description Of
this will no doubt he interesting to your tenn
perance readers, and show them that the Pine
Tree State -i4-,,o. alone in the temperance cause
| Hin give the principal dimensions only Di-
ameter of fountain, 80 feet; diameter of pave
mcnt, 100 feet; height of central figure, 81 feet
height OF the four outside figures, 81 feet. The
central figure represents Moses as having struck
the rock. The rod in his hand touches below
ll>sure IN the rock, whence issues Il stream Of
water, which flowing into channels of the strata
OF the rock entirely encircles il and falls into
basin below. This work will be Il great land
mark of the power and influence of their Soci-
ETY. at the close of this century. The school
children had grand vocal concert in Machin-
cry Hall during the morning, at which il was
estimated that at least twenty-five thousand per-
sons We're in the building. During the day from
estimates made on the spot, it is asserted that at
least two hundred thousand people visited the
Park. anticipate, and think am safe in say
lng, that next 18th of July when the Old World
comes to see how brother Jonathan has grown
| in a hundred years, there will be gathering in
FArmont Park worthy of the occasion.
10 give anything like description OF the
buildings would be to give repetition of what
has been given to the public hundreds of times
before, and | will only give an idea of the floor
space of the four buildings, where we find they
cover IN area Of forty acres.
The main exhibition building is 1850 feet long.
420 feet wide. This building if set up in my
native village might not be 50 large as one of
its mountains, bat it would make Il very re-
spectacle summer house along side of it, This
building at the present time is all rooted in with
| the exception of the transept, a large portion
OF the glass work is completed, and few more
| weeks will complete it. The other buildings
are also for the most part far advanced. At
Memorial Hall the dome is on and nearly fin
| ishcd, and it presents Il fine appearance from
the East Park. The Government building is
well under way. This building contains 1O0,-
600 square feet in addition to side building
containing 10000 square feet. Horticultural
| Hall is nearly finished outside nearly all the
| glazing and trimming is done.
| Machinery Hall is completed with the eNcep-
ton of portion of the transept. The British
| building is very nearly done outside. The foun-
tain for the Catholic Total Abstinence Society
is far completed that the figures can be
placed in position very soon. AT the Women's
| Pavilion, the ground was broken a few days
since for the building. The building for the
southern delegation is also far advanced. There
are numerous other buildings in connection
| with the exhibitions of other countries, but so
| far the most of them are not yet Started. The
lake north OF Machinery Hall is nearly finished
and most OF the sodding done. A large force
of men besides those employed on the buildings
are at work on the grounds laying out walks,
drives, Sc. A large force is also employed
building the bridge over Lansdowne valley to
connect Memorial Hall with Horticultural Hall.
Outside of the grounds, on Elm and Belmont
Avenues, the scene is equally busy. The Globe
Hotel is finished outside, the Continental partly
50, and the number of other buildings it would
be impossible to mention. At present appear
ancc everything indicates that all the arrange
ments will be completed for the opening of the
exhibition in May next.
l am yours respectfully, j. +. c.