The New York herald., 1875-12-19
THE CENTENNIAL.
Inspection Of the Exhibition Building by
Members of the Government.
A GALAXY OF OUR PUBLIC MEN.
Banquet to the President, the Cabinet, Con-
greSS and the Supreme Court.
Brilliant Scene in HOrti-
cultural Hall.
ENTHUSIASM OF THE VISITORS.
Progress Of the Work and Its Reflection
Of the Nations Progress
Brilliant Scene in HOrti-
cultural Hall.
ENTHUSIASM OF THE VISITORS
PATRIOTIC T0ASTS AND SPEECHES.

Tho day that has been looked forward to with SO
much soicude by the friends OF the Centennial broke
bright and clear but with sharp bracng northwest
wind. Ample preparations had been made by the
Citizens Executive Committee for the comfort of their
guests and at an early hour the streets the vicinity
OF the Centennial and Grard hotels were alive with
curious people anxious to the celebrities OF the
nation There the usual delay in moving so largo
number. Tho procession to the grounds
eventful but the entrance to the buildings by the visit
ing party full OF interest The approaches
upon such scale OF magnfcence that would be futile
TO attempt to give pen picture at all adequate 10
tho subject There are two great highways that
nterscct at the grand entrance OF the Exhibition
grounds Belmont and Elm avenues. These avenues
are broad, with spacious footways and lined by
edhccs, those nearest the Centennial grounds being
large hotels newly erected and arranged with every
modern convenience. AT the entrance of the grounds
the avenues have been widened and the buildings
thrown back TO form concourse which is utilized by
the various railway companies that centrc here The
grand entrance to the main Exhibition building being
unfinished the visiting party entered by the east door
To stranger the prospect that presented TO his
gaze to-day could not but excite his admiration and
SURPRISE and even those who had not been upon its
spot for months open In expression of astonsh-
ment the rapid advance toward completion The
main building is still unfinished, but its completion is
in giving the final touches to the decorations 1t only
by traversng the building that obtain any idea
Of its magnitude for the eye is completely deceived
attempting to take in distance As the parties arrived
In groups OF thirty or more they marched through tho
northern nave and congregated in the centre, where
they could obtain full view of its dimensions TAX
ing up the line of march, visit was made to tho Me-
mortal Hail. or Art Gallery, granite structure made
permanent by the liberaty of State and city. It
cannot be for tho scaGoding. Machinery Hail.
the only completed edfce, the centre of at
traction, and met with much commendation. The
finish of this building is in perfect TASTE and Its
arrangements and architectural design such to
from It that look OF barrenness which is almost in
variable accompaniment OF an empty building.
Passing from Machinery Ball upon our let
tho United States building, to which they are giving
she finishing touches the government 10 tako
possession In lew daya To the north and east
the Women's Pavilion and the Horticultural Hail In
this latter the banquet given and in its construction
and decoration there is q combination seldom found In
architecture. Upon all sides were showered encom-
ums, the ladies giving their full share Of praise in
It's present condition IL excited such agreeable
thoughts what may be expected when this beautiful
edce is filed with plants from every cline, blooming
and fragrant with sweet perfumes II must have been
gratifying the gentlemen who have gono through the
struggles and difficulties OF this great International
enterprise to hear from their guests they arrived
the banquetng room congratulations upon what had
been done and hearty wishes for glorious frution.
Moving among the notables-those to whom the
MISSION now look tor aid and countenancc that they
may successfully, and without Indebtedness carry out
our great Centennal-but one feeling was discovered
and that hearty accord and outspoken admiration
OF what they had behed and accompanying these could
be observed in their animated countenances feeling Of
patriotic pride.
TIE GUESTS.
The following named persons among the
guests
The President and Mrs Grant, Lieutenant Colonel
Frederick Grant and Mrs Grant, Levi p. Luckey, Pri-
Secretary the President Chief Justice Morrison
r. Waite and Associate Justices Nathan Clifford Samuel
Y Miller, Noah h swayne, David Davis, Stephen T.
Field, Joseph T. Bradley, William Strong and Ward
Hunt, Of the United States Supreme Court Hon. Ed
wards Pierrcpont, Attorney General; Hon. Marshall
Jewell Postmaster General; Hon. w. W. Belknap Sec
retary Of War; Hon. George NJ Robeson Secretary of
the Navy; Hon. D. H. Brstow, Secretary Of the Treas
ury Governor Campbell Third Assistant Secretary Of
State W. Taylor First Comptroller fthe Treasury.
Also the following members Of the commission for the
preparation OF the government exhibit:-Coonel S
Q. Lyford Chairman; w. A. De Caindry Secretary; p.
W. Taylor, representing. the Treasury Department;
Navy Department; DR.. c. +. Mcdonald, of the Post
ofhcc Department. and Mr.. John A. Eaton, Of the In
Among the Senator's received as guests were:-
Allen 7. caperton OF West Virginia; Isaac p Chris
fancy, Of Michigan; Powell Clayton, Of Arkansas;
tennessee Hannibal HamIin, Of Maine; james NJ Har
vey, Of Kansas; 7. W. Hitchcock, OF Nebraska Joseph
T. Mcdonald Of Indiana; Oliver Morton, Of Indiana;
braska; Thomas j. Robertson OF South Carolina Will
lam A. Wallace Of Pennsyvawa, and William Window,
of Minnesota
At about two O'Clock the vast assemblage took
at the table, After tho dinner had been done justice
TO and coffee and cigars brought in the presiding
ofhccr, Mr.. Bullitt rose and spoke as foliows:-
On behalf Of the citizens Of Philadelphia, who have
provided this entertainment / wish to express tho
qualification afforded thom the presance OF the dis
tnguished guests now around this board You
Centennial Board Of Finance TO visit Fair
mount Park and view the grounds and build
ings Of the International Exhibition But under this
roof you are our guests and We trust that You Will hnd
complain of the hospitality of the citizens
zens to whom have referred, would crave your in
diligence in remarks that appear to appropri-
ate to the occasion. The government OF the United
States by acts OF Congress passed In 1871 and 1872
created the United States Centennial Commission and
tho Centennial Board Of Finance To them In
trusted the duty Of preparing and experimenting the
execution of plan for holding tan exhibition Of Ameri
can and foreign arts, products and manuiactures
under the auspices OF the government Of the United
states" In Philadelphia in 1875 The Centennial
Commission formally organized March T. 1872, and
a o. W Sov bay sa
tered. They knew they were engaged In noble enter
prise and armed with consciousness OF the results 70
be attained they pressed with unfaltering energy
toward the great purpose OF their creation Permit
70 lay before you, in brief way the results OF those
labors-0n the 4th OF July 1874, the first shovel OF
earth removed by the Mayor Of Philadelphia from
the spot on which now stands Memorial Hall Since
that time there have been enclosed for the Of the
Exhibition 230 acres.
The following buildings have been erected and have
either been completed are In condition 10 be COM
pleted in ample time for the Exhibition
Acres
The main building covering g.................. 2147
Art gallery Memorial HalD alD.................... Loo
horticultural Hall L50
Agricultural building l015
Making total alof..................... of. as 81
Add 70 this other structures, such as the govern
nnni lhnr carr nrah s,h1 hnilh-