Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-10-18
Our Centennial Letter.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct, 16. 1877,

HILADhAfHlA, OCC. lO, lS ..
The fact is established that Ameri-
ca has eclipsed all other countries in
the extent and magnitude of her Inter
national Exposition, in the number of
visitors and in the receipts as COM
pared with expenditures The stock
holders and subscribers never vet re-
ceived dollar for dollar at any great
exposition. They never have been
considered success as money-making
institutions, but in the opportunities
and advantages they afford for educa-
ton, for an interchange of courtesies
and opinions and for bringing together
the various nationallties and stimulat-
ing commercial relations, they are of
inestimable value, which can be Justly
appreciated and substantially shown in
after years. The wondrous tide of
travel which has poured into Philadel.
phia the last fortnight, and which will
continue and increase until the 10th
of November, comprising people from
all sections of the Union, will have
beneficial effect upon our united poo-
pie. Thousands have visited the cap
ital of the United States, New York
and other points of interest, even if
they were not in the route to the H.
ternational Exposition, but they will
feel better satisfied at hayins made
these visits, and will go home with
their ideas in regard to the greatness
of their native land considerably mag
nifed Now, to show how great has
been the patronage of the Exposition,
aud how far it has eclipscd all others:
1t is estimated that nearly four million
Of paid admissions have been received
at the turnstiles since the opening on
the 10th of May This is said to
largely exceed the number of paying
visitors that has ever passed through
the gates of an International Exposi-
tion in the same number of days. The
V enna Exposition remained open one
hundred and eighty six days. and the
total number of paying visitors there
was 3.492,62 At the Ph,ladel-
phia Exposition over twenty
six thousand free passes have been
given to exhibitors, officers, members
of the press and others, and they form
an aggregate for the one hundred and
fifteen days Cat which time it was es-
tim4ted) of 1854 At London in
1851 they had 6O39,195 visitors Of
all kinds in III days, while we have
had 5,335 223 Of all kinds in lis
days, which shows our proportion to ce
much greater for the same space of
time. At London in 1862 they had
62ll, ,103 visitors Of all kinds in III
| days At Paris in 1867 they had
s, ,S25?969 visitors of all kinds in 2l7
days. The amount Of money received
during the 2l7 days of the Paris Ex-
position was s. ,203 ,675. Our Expo
sition is limited to l56 days, excluding
Sundays, and already the cash pro-
ceeds approximate the Paris figures,
and must largely exceed them before
the Exposition shall be over In ad-
dition to the above favorable showing,
the concessions disposed Of amount to
nearly million Of dollars, and the
Centennial Commission receives roy
atty Of Is per cent. on all tie products
sold within the enclosure, excluding
the restaurants and those who bought
the right to dispose Of their wares in
the beginning. Judging from the ex-
tortionate prices asked and obtained
for their goods, large sum Of money
will be realized from this source. The
custom regulations are being rapidly
enforced and there is prospect of the
donation SO grudgingly bestowed by
the National Legislature may be COW
cred into the Treasury, and in this
way partly reimburse the Government.
The naturalized Italians have shown
their respect for the land of their
adoption and their desire to contribute
some appropriate testimonial in COM
memoration of our centenary by un-
yelling in Fairmount Park, monu-
ment of Christopher Columbus. The
monument was made Nv Professor