New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-05-07
CENTENNIAL SKETCHES.
BY CHRISTOPHER CRAYON.

In the mining regions Wne0 nugget IL
found the first thing done by the lucky finder
is to take look at the article. In this re-
gion the first thing and the right thing is
to take look at the centennial buildings.
or better still, as did, accept friends
offer to drive through the park and see the
sights. His horses are horses, and without
q touch of the whip do their mile charm
ingly in $40. We cross the Schuylkill and
are soon within sight of the exposition.
About $50 acres have been inclosed by a
fence three miles long and having some
twelve entrances. There are five principal
buildings and nearly $50 smaller struc-
lures devoted to every conceivable pur-
pose. The buildings alone will cover
nearly 100 acres. The main exhibition
building ia 1876 feet long, which ia itself
has centennial look about it and
may be inten ded as an aid to the memory
of school boys. The art gallery or Memorial
Hall is notably fine. It is we'll built and
is intended to be permanent. So much
remains to be done that the tout ensemble ia
somewhat marred by the heaps Of rubbish
and unfinished work everywhere apparent.
But by borrowing little from the future
even those who like Iago are nothing if
not critical" may find very much to wonder
at and to admire. Troops of workmen of
every hue and nationality, arebusy as bees
in clover time trying to reduce chaos to
order. High hopes are entertained that
everything will be taut and neat on the
opening day. 1t is difficult to ascertain
the exact cost Of the buildings and prob.
ably this is a point in which some of your
readers may feet an interest. As in all
other transactions in which builders have q
hand, extras swell the bill. In this case
heating, draining, plumbing and painting are
extras, and human reason totters under the
question of show much.' When Miss Anna
Dickinson lately in one of her lectures asked,
"Whst can not woman dol" and paused for
a reply, one of the gods cried out, "We give
it up; ask something easier" So pray to
be excused counting up these extras. The
contracts for the structures from the origi.
nal designs were: Memorial Hall, 81, 1927
main building, 81 400 900; Machinery Hall,
$542, 300; Horticultural Hail. $253. 937; Ag-
ricultural Hall, S25O,O00. This gives total
of $3,665,5l2. But as nearly all the build
lngs have been enlarged since these CON
siderably enlarged. 1t is gratifying to be
able to report that the Centennial Board of
Finance are hopeful as to results. They
have just reported their probable deficiency
at about $500, 600. Toward this they have
admission fees. The charge for admission |
is fifty cent note of United States cur.
rency-not an equivalent in twenty-f |
cent or ten cent notes, or in silver, but in a |
simple fifty. This brings US easily to the |
question OF how many visitors are expected. |
This also is difficult to answer. But the
number required to make up the deficiency |
already mentioned is 100000. A startling |
figure when first looked at, but by no means
improbable or impossible to reach Indeed,
when we notice that there were 100000 at
the Vienna Exposition, and 100000 at
that in Paris, we need not fear for 100000
in Philadelphia.
The most serious drawback is the attitude |
assumed by the directors of the grand trunk
lines Of railway. Their determination not
to reduce the fares more than twenty-five
per cent has made much moan all over the
country. I am persuaded that a motto,
Small profits and many passengers" would
have been great gain to themselves, as it |
would have aided the great ma
'ional enterprise. "The pity ont" is that
'rings' are kings, and have their day. 1
10 not doubt but that the people in this /
matter must teach the railroad kings that
the spirit and power of Oliver Cromwell
live and rule. "Of with their heads"
That this question of transit is gravely az
[ecting the situation is becoming daily more
apparent. The matter of accommodation
n hotels and boarding houses for those who
nay come must reserve for another letter.
Philadelphia, April 30, 1876.