Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-04-28
The Centennial Exhibition.
What A Visitor at the Grounds Writes 10
the Newspapers About the Affair.

u uiu arm. A 10" years ueo w
s neighborhood adjacent to the ground
! was a quiet country place. Now it re
sembles dozen mushroom gold-digginl
/. cities all huddled together. In the city
proper everything seems to be tingec
n with Centennial. Every department o
! trade has prepared itself by doubling its
capacity, and if the expectations Of
these people are not realized, you will
hear the crash all the way to New York.
Philadelphia has a funny way of doing
many things. The visitor to the great
exhibition must come armed with fifty
cent note. Two quarters wont do it.
The applicant for admission must have a
ifty-cent note or he will not get in. This
note is to be dropped into locked box,
the visitor edges his way in through the
arms of turnstile, a number is registered
and thus the record of visitors is to be
kept, and no chance given for subordi-
mates to do any stealing at all
Few people can fully realize the great
extent of the exhibition buildings. The
seven departments occupy tract of
fifty acres. There are five gigantic and
beautiful edifces. The main structure
is 1850 feet in length. running east and
west, and AGA feet in width. 1t covers
over twenty acres. The weight of iron
in the roof, trusses, etc, is 100000
| pounds. From the north of the main
building is the art gallery thence the
walk leads to machinery and agricultur-
al halls. Machinery hall is about 500
feet west of the main building. 1t is
l ,402 feet long, 800 feet wide, with ad-
ditions, and it covers nearly thirteen
acres, not counting upper floors. Six
teen lines of shafting will be turned by
pair of Corliss engines of 400 horse
power. There are twenty boilers. Steam
power and water will be furnished free.
The agricultural buildings covers ten
acres ; the art gallery is 365 feet in
length, 210 feet in width and fifty-nine
feet from the ground. 1t is of glass and
iron, unique in design, and terminates in
colossal bell. The horticultural build
ing is the most beautiful. 1t is the Mo.
rescue style of architecture of the
twelfth century. 1t is 1888 feet long, and
1913 feet wide
The above are the five building proper,
erected by the Centennial commission
at cost of several millions.
Scattered all about these immense struc-
lures are the buildings of the United
States government, the several States
and foreign countries, including Turkey
and Japan. The latter building is large
and unique, made of wood, put up by |
Japs, and there is not nail in it.
Americas greatest collection will be
in the government building, which is to
represent the United States in peace and
in war. The different departments in
Washington have charge of this. The
amount appropriated is S505, 900.
The winding ways and foot.walks
stretch ont about seven miles. The daily
capacity of water supply will be over
ton millions of gallons. Over five thou
sand trees have been planted.
All the space in machinery hall is
taken up. There will be about 1000
American exhibitors, $50 English, and
100 from other countries $50 more than
were at Vienna America is clamoring
for twice the space that was first assigned
to the main building.
A striking feature to the foreigner
VIII be the names of business men dis
played on the signs of the Centennial
grounds. Nearly all the restaurateurs.
caterers, refreshment dealers, and the
like have distinctive foreign names |
The exposition will not be American in
this respect.
Goods began arriving here from all
parts of the world early in the present
year, and they are all expected to be in
by the 18th of April. After April 10Th.
unoccupied space is forfeited. The ex- !
hlbition commences May 10th and keeps
open till November 10Th all goods to
be removed by December 81.
1t required several hours to drive
around the buildings, take look in
here and there and gain the desired in
formation. When the exhibition is in
full blast person can spend two weeks
in getting through.
From appearances the Centennial will
come off just as it was announced. 1t is
believed that everything will be in per-
feet readiness when the time comes. IF
this be so the commissioners will deserve
credit.
A very pretty and cheap rug may be
made from old pieces of wooden. delaines