Connecticut western news., 1876-04-21
THE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION.


 the Newspapers about the Affair.
 The grounds are five miles out o town, across the Schuylkin river, on I hundred-acre tract stretching up iron Fairmont Park. A few years ago the neighborhood adjacent to the grounds was quiet country place. Now it re semblesa dozen mushroom gold digging cities all huddled together. In the city proper everything seems to be tinged with Centennial. Every department oi trade has prepared itself by doubling its capacity, and if the expectations oi these people are not realized, you will hear the crash all the way to New York.
 Philadelphia has funny way of doing many things. The visitor to the great exhibition must come armed exactly with ffty-cent note. Two quarters won't do. The applicant for admission must have a fifty-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, number is registered, and thus the record of visitors is to be kept, and no chances given for subordinates to doany stealing at all.
 | Few people can fully realize the great extent of the exhibition buildings. The seven departments occupy a tract of fifty acres. There are five gigantic and beautiful edifces. The main structure is ,88O feet in length, running east and west, and 464 feet in width. It covers over twenty acres. The weight of iron in the roof, trusses, etc., is 5,OOO,0 900 pounds. From the north of the main building is the art gallery; thence the walk leads to machinery and agricultural halls. Machinery hall is about 500 feet west of the main building. It is 1,4O2 feet long, 36O feet wide, with additions, and it covers nearly thirteen acres, not counting upper floors. Sixteen lines of shafting will be turned by pair of Cor liss engines of 1, 400 horse power. There are twenty boilers. Steam power and water will be furnished free. The agri- cultural building covers ten acres; the art gallery is 365 feet in length, 21O feet in width, and fifty-nine feet in height. The dome is 15O feet from tho ground. It is of glass and iron, unique in de- sign, and terminates in colossal bell The horticultural building is the most beautiful. It is in the Moresque style of architecture of the twelfth cen tury. It is, 383 feet long, and 193 feet wide.
 The above are the five buildings proper, erected by the Centennial com mission at cost of several millions.
 Scattered all about these immense structures are the buildings of the Uni ted 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 $505, ,O0O.
 The winding ways and foot walks stretch out about seven miles. The daily capacity of water supply will be over ton millions of gallons. Over five thousand trees have been planted.
 All the space in machinery hall is taken up. There will be about 1000 American exhibitors, 150 English, and 15O from other countries-2sO more than were at Vienna. America is clam bring for twice the space that was first assigned in the main building.
 A striking feature to the foreigner will 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 nineteenth of April. After April 26, unoccupied space is forfeited. The exhibition commences May 10, and keeps open till November 10; all goods to be removed by December 31. Admission, fifty cents.
 It required several hours to drive around the buildings, take look in here and there and gain the desired informa- tion. When the exhibition is ill full blast person can spend two weeks in getting through.
 From appearances the Centennial will come off just as it was announced. It is believed that everything will be in per feet readiness when the time comes. If this be so the commissioners will deserve credit.