The daily gazette., 1875-10-12
The Magnifcence of the Centennial
The Immensity of hs Buildings

The Immensity of hs Buildings
1t does not look well in a nation that
is 30 deeply in debt as the United States
to engage in affairs that may be enume-
rated in the category of great shows, the
expense OF which, it would seem, such
nations are least able to bear. But it
must Re remembered that a nations first
Centennial will not be stayed. nor will it
be put forward, so that the exhibits OF
our rise and progress toward high civil
ization must take place now or never
If it had not been determined upon,
'al the world and the rest of mankind
would, comparatively, have remained in
ignorance as to the rapid strides free
people were capable Of making. In the
Centennial. the United States will un-
doubtedly prove to the nations Of the
Old World that a people are capable OF
self government, and at the same time Of
cultivating all the arts and sciences in
more rapid and substantial manner than
has ever been done under kingly or i'm
perial authority. And in the great mat
ter Of diffusing education and learning
the Centennial will show that the Re.
public has far outstripped all the nations
Of Ancient or Modern times OF which we
have any historical record. We cannot
now see the beneficial results which
these purposes may produce; nor is ii
relied upon or even expected that W,
shall witness any great immediate results
to increase the national wealth. And
yet it may awaken such an interest il
this people and this land as will be pro.
ductive of far greater wealth and pros.
perity than we have ever looked for
Should the tide of emigration again sci
toward our shores, instead of the uned-
ucated and very poor of Europe coming,
the Centennial may have the effect Of
turning the more wealthy and educated
people OF foreign crowded cities and con
tracted agricultural districts, to our vas
fields and cheap lands to establish home
Tor their children. The results of sucl
q change maybe that thereafter our rar
i'd growth would be more wonderful tina
anything we have yet imagined. 1t
not well to be without hope. and in thi
light we may have hope that our erper
ditures necessary to the erection of til
immense buildings and preparatory a,
rangements for the entertainment of tn
world, which are now in progress i
Philadelphia, will amply repay the cos
These reflections were not intended whe
we commenced to write the head lines I
this article. But our young and unreflec
ing people should not be left to imaeir
that no purpose or result other than tn.
from big show may be had in view /
those who are erecting buildings Of sue
immensity in which to celebrate our nj
. tional Centennial.
THR MEMORIAL HALL,
or Art Gallery, is constructed entirely
granite. 1t is s65 feet long, 2l0 fe
wide, and 50 feet high. There are tv
arcades connecting the pavillions wit
the centre. The central section is
feet long and 72 feet high the pavillio,
are % feet long and 60 feet high. Ar
the arcades are each 30 feet long and
feet high. In the construction of IL
building 100000 cubic feet of erani
were required. 100000 bricks, and
o)o, 900 pounds Of iron.
THE MAIN IMPOSITION BUILDING
IL l,seo feet in length and 464 feet
width Upon the corners Of the bull
ing there are four towers rs feet hip
and at the central part, which ia onn
ste Memorial Hall, there are four 9th
wers %S feet square, each l2O feet
heisht. 1t covers something over tive
ty-one acres. The eastern and weste
sections are entirely completed. a,
about one-third Of the central secti
has been finished.
HORTICULTURAL HALL
is in the Maufesque style of arcbit,
ture OF the twelfth century The Or
eipai materials are iron and glass. I
main foor is occupied by the cent
conservatory $50 feet long, 80 feet wi
and IS feet high. Running around 4.
conservatory at height Of 20 feet fr
the hoor Is a gallery five feet wide.
tne north and south sides of the prip
pal room are four forcing houses for
propagation of young plants. each
them 100 feet long and 80 feet wide G
cred with curved roofs of iron and sls
Dividing the two forcing houses in a,
OF the sides, is vestibule 80 feet soma
The heating apparatus is nearl7 CT
pleted; the interior work well undar "
MACHINERY HALL.
1t may be said that Machinery Hal
completed. For the past two weexs IL
been ready for exhibitors to arrange
there display. Belmont and Film ayeu,
1t has a frontage of ], 1,4O2 feet. wit
width of $50 feet, and covering an q
Of over twelve acres. The exterior !
sents fine appearance, while the in
Tor Is light and airy and pleasing to
eye. A boiler-house, 80 feet long an,