New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-02-18
THE GREfT EAHIBIIIO.,.

The President has signed the Centennial Ap-
propriatIru bill with II pen snachcd from the
wing of an American eagle. and thus the last
of the pre- aratory arrangements for the EXhi-
bition is completed with shrek. so To speak,
of becoming cxultation. This affair being
settled the American people i'll do what else
remains 20 be done with all tic greater zest,
since the Centennial presents no more vexed
questions to divide tlcm. There seems to he
not the faintest probability of n further de
mand for money. Almost everything Is finished
and paid for. The various bureaus are III work
Ing order; the machinery OF administration Is
substantially complete; the reception oi goods
has begun. and nothing is likely I" prevent
lis going ON with swiitHc>s and regularity eX-
crpt perhaps Il little CusiOm-housc red tape
which Gen. Hawlcy and hi, friends in Wash
ingtom will probably succeed in cutting. The
buildings are much larger than those OF any
previous worlds fan; yet every foot ol space
has been eagerly Appropriated. and great ma
tIons like Franc are climorng for more room,
which it j. impossible Ia give them Every
thing points toward more brilliant show han
even enthusiastic Americans originally ven
turcd TO hope for.
II NAV hc doubicd however whether any
portion of our own department VIII reflect
more credit upon the taste skill, and ingenuity
of the American people than the great work
they have already accomplished III the "iGi'ni-
zatlon of the Exhibition itself The enterprise
was begun under many difficulties. and has
been carried on in the face Of many dl>cOIir-
agemcnls. The Commission ms been 'mbar-
ra-scd by Lack al money. by financial nhcel-
taintv by the opposition al some oi our own
people and 10y tie reluctance of foreign toy
crnmcnt- 20 take pant in fair whose
character never was very clearly de
fined. To Ms moreover IN undertaking of
th, sort j. novel. Europe has had
quarter OF century of experience"
in such gigantic celebrations; We have had
none ut all. 1t would not have been surpriN-
ing therefore if the Commission had made
many serious blundcrS. staggered now and
then under such an immense burden resting
upon unaccn,touod shoulders. But the ready
odaptabilitv of American talent To the most
vor;ou. circumstance, has seldom been more
stnkingly illustrated than in the ease and
auicLncs, with which this work has been
mashed forward. In the amy il wa~ u com
mon observation that IT locomotive was dis
~ n
needed repairing. men enough could bc found
in the rank, of any brigade 10 do what wa'
rcnuiIcd. If ma Industrial palace is 10 hr i'm
pro,i>cd thi, people seems 10 he equally
/ handy. Foreign officials NJ Philadelphia ar,
loud in their praise of what We have accom-
pli.hcd aud nearly Ill the arrangements seem
I to bc A. GOOD a. if the veteran, of a dozen OK
hibitons pre- sided over them
When we remember the vcNatious DELAYS al
Vienna. we NAV lac pardon,d for looking with
some complaccncy al the condition oi thing
at Philadelphia. The opening L. three months
of. and already the placing ot The goods ha'
begun The main exhibition building Il mn
! ishcd and swept and only n little OF th" gai
nisl,ing remains to be completed. The Macllr
ery and Horticultural Halls are substantially
finished and woikmcn are setting up some o
the machines. The Art huilding is occupied 10y
pla,tcrcrS and decorators. The exhibition
Lnildng of the United States Government Is
complete. and contains already large part Z"
the remarkable collection ot mineral specimens
from the Pacific slope, which will form one 81
the most interesting features oi the iaIr He
Agricultural building i - nearly d"uc that there
+ can bc no doubt of it, being ready long before
il Is needed. The roads are getting nj" con
dtion as fast rs the weather will allow an'
The grounds are adorned 10y multitude %
prcttv bindings lor special purposes, aI.ions
which the charming little rcd-tilcd tiizahethai
corntry house OF the British Commi~ -ioi
stands modesly conspicuous, ~ II . smal
fragment Of Shropshire had somehow h'ri
TRANSPORTED 10 the banks Of the SchuSlklll
out side the ground. The hustle oi prep
,ration i. inccsSant. The railway ,omp;I
mics are extending their tracks: H." hoic
companic4 are putting the iini>hins touches T.
their huge temporary housc- of entertainment
thrifty houscholdcrs are getting ready Thea
srnrc bedrooms We may be rurc that II
every u uticular Philadelphia will be- ready II
ample season for the entertainment 10 Wiiicl
she invite, u.s. Whatever else may bc n"cdc'
to couulctc the success of the tcn'"uni'l mus
be- done by the people themselves.
TRIUE AND RS CfFNE>.
Il. !,