The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-05-15

to these nations their own wOrkmen and
mechanics are busily engaged in putting
things ip order Tor the reception of their
commodities to be placed ON exhibition.
They work steadily and vigorously at
their employment without maniiesting
the leastnotice OF the throngs that con-
tinualy surround them. wondering at
their unique dress, tueir long Queues,
their queer looking tools, and Admiring
their mechanical dexteriBy and ingenu-
ity. There is nothing offensive or i'm
proper In the demonstrations of the
crowd; and the strange looking Asiaties
evidently feel rather compimented tnan
otherwise by the degree Of attention
they and their handiwYrk receiye.l
| Persons we'll qualified to judge, and
who. have wished the great EXp0sitions
o. Europe, concur in declaring that Tor
excellence of site these grounds ininite-
lily excel those of London, Paris, or vi
enna. The 236 acres appropriated TO the
Iyuses OF the Exposition are portion OF
the Fairmouut Park lying on the west
side of the Schuy kill. The ground is AN
elevated plateau, full 12O ieet above the
river upon which they aDut. THIS plain
| is in part lntersected by several ravines
| densely wooded, and through which flow
small streams OF water. THIS affords
admirable facilities for drainage of the
whole grounds should rainy weather
render this desirable. These ravines are
spanned by beautiful bridges, SO that.
they present no obstacle TO passage
through tile grounds. From the bluffs
thai overlook the Scnuylkilla "a beautiful
landscape spreads out before the eye,
taking in the green feIds and graceful
bends of the RIVER in the valley below,
land then the Centennial City itself,
stretching out its vastness to the east
ward as far as the eye can reach. The
Art Gallery, horticultural Hall and AS
ricultural Hall are built upon the high
ground overlooking tile ravines; While
the Main Building, U. 5. Government
Building, Machinery Hail. and the count
and connect them, are spread out upon
the wide, unbroken plain beyond.
| MACHINERY HALL is probably tire most
popular Department of them all, and
will doubtless continue to hold its. popu-
tlarity TO the end. 1t was the Chief point
OF interest on Opening Day after lie in
ladguration ceremonies were concluded.
1t was then that the great Corliss engine,
which was to give lie and activity to all
| The surrounding machinery, was to he
started, and by the hand Of
| tu6 4I6SluSub Va buC OultOu SpotCo3
who had just before proclaimed
the Great international Exposition
open to the World. Attended by
tue Brazilian Emperor, Gen. Grant re-
paired to this poiht to perform this duty
II of the occasion. The two Rulers of two
mighty nations, of North and South
America, stood before that ENGINE,
more mighty than themselves, prepared
to put its might in motion. There was
something sublime in these contrasts of
political and physical power. ltseemed
as though the Great Ones of the earth
had come to do reverence to demiurgic
OF the age. Warriors were reyerenclng
the Instrument of Peace!
GEORGE II. iCoRLIss, the builder OF
this engine, himself was present to wit.
ness it's first performance on this grand
occasion. He is u tall. thin, gray-haired
man; pale, thoughtful, and self pos
ses led. Though an American Mechanic,
he received his distinguished visitors
with calm dignity fully equal to their
own; and proceeded to point out to them
! the striking beauties OF the engine and
! the mode of putting it in motion. They
| pausedto admire its beauty and symme-
| try OF parts. 1t had been built in sepa-
rate pieces, transported thither ON cars
constructed for the purpose, aud its va
4 rious parts had never been put together
until it came to the spot where it now
stands; and was here erected at cost of
more than $500, 600. No wonder Mr. Cor
less was thoughtful and pale.
This engine, as yet all un-
tried to the lul performance
OF its great function, was TO put i'll mo-
tion fourteen acres Of machinery that had
grown up around IL, besides a thousand
| ~ oh do,
on its power. What ii it should Iail !
. Tuat American Mechanic placed the two
levers of his Engine, one IN the hand of
the President of the United States, the
other in the hand OF tho Emperor OF
Brazil, and bade them act. They did so.
!, The Engine moved, and all the acres
} and all the miles of machinery that sur
rounded it, moved in harmonious re.
sponse. The CoRLIss ENGINE had NOT
failed! Tue Mecnanical Power of the
. Exposition was a magnificent success
AS Sir Edward Thornton, the British
Minister, declared-"It was u majestic
triumph" The thronging multitude who
: were silent and even anxious witnesses
o to this scene, as they saw the ponderous
arms of this giant Titan beginning te
D move, slowly at first, but directly with
:. tremendous velocity and force, arc
a heard the thousand machines about then
, rousing and rushing into life,-then they
i sent up such a shout as only fifty thou
: sand men can utter when the voice gives
r sudden vent to the pent-up feelings O
, the heart. II was indeed ''majestit
triumph"
In the great gallery above the entrance
I is monster organ. And during yester
! Il day ana to-day, since the tumult Of the
opening has subsidized, various amateur
, performers have exercised upon this in
strument. Its tones are so prodigious
l and thunderlike that they cause the
whole structure to tremble beneath The
i teet, and resound through all the vast
space SO as TO bring the visitors in great
= throngs to listen to its stentorian' melo
9 dy. It's capacity ofspeaking SO etfectu.
l ally for itself will doubtless make the
y great organ a popular fayorite. sI.
The economic question, Is probably
not out OF order az this early period ol
: the Exposition, as men generally wish
1 10 know about what the cost of a Visit
would be. ANY statement that can be
made as to this matter must of course
Q be considered only as approximate, as
! some people have a much greater talent
for spending money than Others have
!. But Will assume that you do not want
i