Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-05-19
FIRST EDITION.
The Centennial.

| MACHINERY HALL, PHILIP QUIdLEYs CONTRACT
DEscRIPT1oN OF THE BUILDINo-PREsEET STATE
OF PROGRESS.
The above is a picture of Machinery Hall, Of
the Centennial buildings, the contract for which
was let to Philip Quigley, OF this city at $685.
900. The building consists Of the Main Hall,
800 feet wide by 1,402 feet long, and m annex
on the south side Of 2Os feet by 21O feet. The
entire area covered by the Main Hall and annex
is Sos, ,440 square feet, or IL. 82 Including
the upper floors, the building provides IA acres
OF floor space.
The principal portion OF the structure is ono
story in height, showing the main cornice upon
the outside at 40 feet from the ground the in-
terror height to the top of the ventilators in the
avenues being 10 feet, and in the aisles 40 feet.
To break the long lines upon the exterior, pro-
jections have been introduced upon the four
sides and the main entrances finished with
facades, extending to rs feet in height.
GROUND PLAN.
The arrangement OF the ground plan shows
two main avenues 90 feet wide by 1860 feet
long, with central aisle between and an aisle
on either side. Each aisle is GO feet in width (;
the two avenues and three aisles making the to-
tai width OF $50 feet At the centre of the build
ing is transept OF 90 feet in width, which at
the south end is prolonged beyond tho Main
Hall This transept, beginning at 36 feet from
the Main Hall and extending 20e feet, is fanked
on either side by aises Of 60 feet in width, and
forms the annex for hydraulic machines. The
promenades in the avenues are 15 feet in width /;
in the transept 25 feet, and in the ases 10 feet.
Ali other walks extending across the building
are 10 feet in width, and lead at either end to
exit DOORS
CONSTRUCTION.
The foundations consist of piers of masonry.
The superstructure consists of solid timber col
umns supporting roof trusses, constructed with
straight wooden principals and wrought iron
| tics and struts. AS a general thing the columns
| are placed lengthwise of the building, at the
uniform distance apart OF 10 feet. The
columns are 40 feet high to the heel block of the
| the 80 feet span of roof trusses over the
| avenues, and they support the heel of the 60
| feet spans over the asles, at tho height of 20
| feet The outer walls are built Of masonry to
| q height of feet, and above that arc composed
| of glazed sash placed between the columns.
Portions of the sash are movable for ventila-
ton. Louvre ventilators arc introduced in
| continuous lengths over both the avenues and
| the aisles. The building il lit entirely by side
light, and stands lengthwise nearly east and
west
HYDRAULIC ANNEX.
The annex for hydraulic machines contains a
tank 60 feet by 100 feet, with depth OF water OF
| 10 feet. In connection with this it is expected
that hydraulic machinery will be exhibited in
| full operation. At the south end Of this tank
| will be waterfall So feet high by 40 feet wido
supplied from the tank by the pumps upou ex
hibltion.
PRESENT PROGRESS OF THE WORK.
Tho work upon Machinery Hall is in a higher
state of progress than any of the other Centen-
nal buildings, and its vast proportions are bet
tor defined. The piers of masonry and the sup
| erstructure between the main entrance facade
| and the transept are erected, except the placing
| Of the roof trusses on one side which il now
| progressing, and the roofing is going on. Geo.
| w. Dorsey, of Wilmington, is the contractor for
this work. and has already covered over about
one acre Of surface measurement. BY the time
his contract is completed he will roof over an
| area equal to fourteen acres. The workmanship
on the building is done in the most substantial
| manner, each of the upright timDers resting
upon bed of masonry, and bracei at the top
with three stout iron braces. These, with all
the other iron work are prepared by Pusey,Jone
& Go.
Engaged on Machinery Hall, and in the pre-
parat on OF the ground, are 800 men. or these
100 are residents Of Wilmington and this State
They are all under the charge of Isaac Wood
row, of this city, but Mr.. Quigley, who has re-
moved with his family near the grounds, is con-
stantly present experimenting the work in per-
son. A steam planning mill has been erected
close by the building by Mr.. Quigley, and every
appliance which will hasten on the work has
been provided Within thirty working days the
building has reached its present state OF for
wardness, and Mr.. Quigley entertains but little
doubt of his ability, to complete his contract
before the stipulated time November 1st
To-day work WAS begun on the lower half OF
the bulldlDg, ana yesterday une ihsertioh VI ".
sash was commenced in the sides OF the build
ing, In very short time that portion Of the
building which is now erected will be completely
enclosed. The sash-work is being prepared by
Springer, Morley Il Cause, of Wilmington.
OTHER WORK.
The past month has witnessed perceptiblt
advancement in all the preparatory work for the
Centennial. The Art Gallery will BOON be read,
for the roof, and the erection of the iron frame
work of the main Exhibition building has beer
begun. The Foundation walls Of HORTICULTURE
Hall, which was begun much later than the 9th
er buildings have been laid up to the floor level
large number of workmen employed by thu
Park Commission, are grading the eastern ap
proach to the main exhibition building, and an
other large force is engaged, under the direction
of the Centennial Board OF Finance in layinl
out flower beds. There are also gangs Of mel
scattered over the Park engaged in grading
planting, trimming shrubbery, laying water pipe
) etc. The whole scene IL one of marked activity