The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-09-28
Centennial Correspondence.
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. %, 1871

Centennial Correspondence.
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. %, 1876.
ED. PREss.-I am here and duly
recognized as your correspondent
Let me first say how 1 came here, for
your friends and patrons intending a
visit to the Centennial may wish to
know all the practical routes. 1 came
by the Baltimore and Ohio II, r.,
through Washington. Leave Ravenna
on the fast train for Pittsburgh, aud
reach Philadelphia at 3 o'clock the
next day. The route is more than
beautiful oyer and through the noun
tains. The lamps were lit three times
for light through the tunnels, one of
which is near mile through. If pos
sible. l recommend the passenger to
lie over one train at Harper's Ferry.
to see how nature sometimes piles up
things. You can almost hear the foot
s,eps of Old John Brown, "whose
soul goes marching on" AT WASH
ington the passenger can walk from
the depot to the Capitol, and ii he is
strong of muscle. can ascend the dome
and get back in time to go on his train.
September, 90, 1876.
Never before since the gre at exhibi-
ton opened has Philadelphia been SO
thronged with strangers. The numer-
Gus signs, Rooms to Rent have dis
appeared, and yet all are sheltered, and
fed at the usual rates. The most uncom-
Portable thing we now find is getting
to and from the grounds. The Penn
sylvania Road runs an immense train
through the city on her track every
fifteen minutes, but the street cars are
wonder to behold. Frequently from
80 to 100 persons on one car, and
caravan of cars in procession. 1t is
marvellous that no more accidents oc-
cur; still on Friday morning we were
delayed by the conductor breaking his
leg, and to-day one life was lost in the
melee. 1t has rained incessantly from
early morning till nightfall, and yet
there were 1000 visitors to the Cen
tennial grounds to-day. Yesterday
was pleasant. and the estimated num-
ber was 10000. The number of paid
admissions during this week was 544,-
3Ol. The sanitary and municipal ar
rangements on the ground are perfect.
In the five days that have been here,
l have not seen person the worse for
liquor, nor heard profane or bolster
GUS word in all this immense throng.
Like the big engine, $4,000 horse pow.
er, in the Manufacturers Hall is
works noislessly. The floors in the
buildings and the avenue and walks
outside are kept in in perfect order,
even with this increasing number &C.
cupying them. 1t is no use to t-y to
mention what is to be seen here
will attempt to speak of only few OF
those noticed in my memorandum. In
the Agricultural Hall are two stuffed
pigs, of the White Chester breed, hav-
ing every appearance of being aliye,
both butchered this year. One
weighed l 1858 pounds, and gained 100
pounds = month for eight months
while fattening. The other weighed
l,3O7 pounds, and gained 12O pounds
per month for eight months in success
sion. A bunch OF spruce shingles from
Oregon lies there made from tree
which yielded one hundred thousand
shingles that sold for $325 a thousand
and 5S cords of wood besides from the
same tree. The Horticultural Hall
seems to me to be wanting in variety,
though 1t contains many choice tropi-
ical and oriental plants. The lawn in
front of this building is most beauti-
full with flowers. The whole should
have been named Floral instead of
Horticultural. In the Campbell Print
ing Building is copy of the New
England Courant, printed Feb. 4th,
1893, by B. Franklin, when he was II
years old. In the Same building in the
printing press of the Worcester Spy,
on which was printed the Declaration
of Independence, July II, 1776, the
first time that document was printed
in New England. This press was cap
tured and recaptured during the Rev
olutionary war. To-day I spent the
entire day in the Art Gallery, and
night came on before all the rooms
were visited. This building was erect
ed by the State of Pennsylvania and
city of Philadelphia to remain a per.
manent fixture in Fairmont Park, 1t
was commenced July 4th, 1874, and
finished March 1st, 1876, at a cost OF
$l,50O,O0O. One of the noticeable pic
lures and the largest in the building
represents the battle of Gettysburg,
and covers an entire end of one of the
largest rooms, paid for by the State of
Pennsylvania. The war record of
this State is highly creditable. She
furnished to save the Union $4,000
men and lost $4,000 of these. The cost
of the war to the State was 81, 100000.
She now cares for 5000 orphans of
these soldiers. l will endeavor to
send you another letter in few days.
o. e. Z.
CAsHMERES, Drap d. Etates. Bril-.