New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-27
THE CENTENNIAL.

OF THE SEVERAL BUIIDINGs-BEAUTY OF THE
PARK
tyRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSE.I
PHILADELPHIA, May 20.-This Spring there
Is no excursion Phadephans pleasant ana inter-
esting as that to the Centennial Grounds All Centen-
NAL enthusiasts-a class that includes nearly all OF the
inhabitants OF the Quaker Cyfcc bound to 20 ont once
month at least to SEQ how the work is getting on, ana
the astgrowng buildings Of the exhibition are also IN
spected BIZ most strangers visiting the city. From the
Continental HOTEL at Ninth and Chestnusts IL Is ABOUT
40 minutes ride by street car to the entrance oi 'he
grounds II you making the trip for the hrst tme
you will observe first that the car You rdc III IL very
clean aud comfortable, and IL handsomely palhted
and decorated Then you will notice that the conductor
il polite welldressed person, that the driver Is by no
means ruflian, and that the horses show signs Oh
good feeding. II you express your admiration OF
these circumstances, some native at your ciDo" VIII
probably reply that the line is the best managed street
railroad the United States, and you Will feel disposed
to put full faith in the statement At first the ear
takes you the length Of Walnust, between
long rows of fine houses; then you
cross n high bridge over the Schuylkill
and mount by an easy slope TO the pretty suburb OF Man
tua and after long stretch on Lancasterave popuay
known as the Pike" just before the open country meets
the ragged edges of the town. you turn OF on Forty
fourth-st and stop before great rambling brcK Duu
ing At first you fancy it Is of the Exhibition struc
seconds walk past row Of villas brings you to point
whore your eye sweeps tho surface OF the Lansdowne
plateau Tho scene is wonderfully animated 10 the
left the huge skeleton OF the Machinery Hall is outlined
against the green background OF Georges HILL In 'front.'
the Memorial Hall, which, few weeks ago, was an ui
couth pile OF brick and stone, begins 20 take form ana
gIyo suggestions Of its future architectural beauty
Farther away the foundation walls Of the lioru-
cultural Hall are through a screen OF bud
ding bOughs. On the right In the distance
lofty scafiodings and web OF iron framework
show where the spestructurc OF the main building mas
been begun Between and around these huge embryonic
buildings there piles OF lumber iron and sewer pipes;
trains OF freight ana over labyrinth OF
tracks and everywhere there large gangs OF work
men, making CHEEKY and clamorous chorus with chnK
Of rowcls ring of chsels on granite blocks rasing OF
saws and blows OF hammers on sOnorous wood or reso
nan iron You are amazed at the great scale upon which
everything is projected The main building Will cover
20 acres 1t sounds very large In figures but you cannot
fully realize how vast the cdce will be until you see and
traverse the ground prepared for it, The Machinery
Hail. which far advanced that its proportions can 10
seem will have IA acres OF floor space People who never
saw worlds fair begin to realize what stupend0us
undertaking II is to organize and conduct one, When
they look at these huge structures Those who were in
Paris in 1868 at Vienna in 1873 will see at glance
that the preparations here making for petty local
show slightly exaggerated State fair, but that they
give promise of exhibition that will rival IN extent al
least, its great European predecessors.
Admiration of the rapidly, system, and order with
which the work goes follows astOnishment at It's
magnitude. The building seems to grow under Your eyes
From hour progress manifest Railroad tracks
run to and every building, that all material Is
transported without handling to the spot where 1t IL
wanted. Hosting machinery hastens construction
and saves labor; steam sawmill Is at WORK,
and there many shops where needed repairs OF
tools and implements can be made without los,
OF time As one looks upon the busy scene does not eeu
much effort of fancy TO picture the place as II WIN Dc
year hence and tn imagine all the great structures FIN
ished and adorned, the spaces between hlcd WIN ou
tains and statues, numerous picturesque te DIdInSs
with seekers for pleasure and knowledge from all the ma
tons of the earth With picture in his mind the
visitor who comes with Indifference goes away VIII en-
thusiasm and finds himself sudden convert 10 Ceh
Leaving the safe border land OF observation and plung-
ing into the throns Of laborers, trains and animals WIN
structures. You come first TO the Machinery Hal,
which promises be the first completed IL viii be
much the largest elcc devoted to the display of ma
chncry in motion which the world Las ever seen, ITS
cincry hall at the Vienna Exhibition. Close by, small
one.iory buiidS ling court and designed
structure for p0stoce, telegraph office. police sta
ton &c, will be erected opposite. on the other side OF
Bclmont-avc and when the grounds are Enclosed these
two buildings will stand one on each side OF tile grand
entrance. Trampng across the grounds for a quarter
OF mile you reach the Art Hall or Memorial Binding
ana notice that all the brick work and than half
the stone work dolc and that the iron rattors for
roof and dome being put in place Large AS this
building is dts dimensions 3GjX2l0 feet it is nearly
certain that it VIII not contain al the paintings and
the French Government sends collection Oi PICTURES
from the Louvre as promised, even though 1t be- tle
smallest selection that viii Adequately represent fIcnel
Az a the Wal paGS w De rd daGR m up ~ me Ee
The need of more room VIII pr Ftd,ilh let ~ NV
tOn OF wooden buildings, Tor which there VIII DC aDund
ant space.
separated from the Art Hall by deepvacy soon to be
sanncd by bridge, the foundations of the Hortcul
structure OF IRON and glass II will be finished by Sept.
Il next, and like the Ari Hall VIII remain after the TX
hibion closes as permanent ornament OF Paramount
Park No work has been done toward building the Agr
cultural Hail. beyond marking out the site. Four months
Will be amply sufficient for It's erection. Very little Is
visible OF the main building beyond the o72 stone
foundation piers, and tall wooden scahOding at the
frame has begun. The prospects for the completion
OF the large structure before next Winter seem dis
stucting it il mainly the putting together
Of iron and glass; already rePared and
when once fairly under way. The laying drainage
water and gas pipes oyer the 236 acres which are to be
and the three miles OF fence will be built during the
coming month. Excavations for Lake covering three
one thing is certain. However well the Exhibition
itself compare with its great Eaopean predecessors
the grounds 1t viii occupy Will be far more attractive
than tn Of any previous fair national or international
Vennl Prater with its stately avenues OF ancient clms
5ines. with HIS and giades and picturesque views
boast a fine river lowing through it, Many points
within the Exhibition Enclosure command very attract
i've prospects Of the rivcr-the Schuylkwit It's many
graceful bridges, and afford, beside wide outloos over
the neghborng country and the city Outside OF
the park there begin to be many signs OF the coming
celebration i'll the tracks OF street railroads. which VIII
| soon pass through all the streets leading 10 the
grounds, and In The numerous rows or new houses
building In The vicinity. Dwellings, Ii Is now evident
must supply the lack Of hotels next year, and builders
are rapidly covering all the eligible vacant lots III West.
Philadelphia. -. -"
CENTENNIAL NOTES.
The big clock and bell which will strike the
| hnur from II