Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-05-31
The Centennial---P Progress and Prospects.

The first fourteen days of the great Exhi-
btion, while hardly meeting the hopes of the
more sanguine, nevertheless furnish good as
surance Of ultimate success The attend
ance is shown to have been two hundred aud
fifty-eight thousand five hundred and fifty
five, which is largely in excess of that at
either the Paris or Vienna exhibition. This
is fair beginning and promises complete
ultimate success The weather has been
bad, the show" is yet imperfect in many
points, the machinery of administration is
not yet running without friction, and the ex-
tortioners have been rather more active than
was desirable But these are blemishes that
will speedily disappear, we trust, and before
two weeks more have come and gone, the
scene is likely to be in its best condition.
June, September and October will be the
best months for visit, Philadelphia being
a locality of uncomfortable heat in July and
August. The railroads are said to be some
what disappointed at the meagre volume of
travel, and they have themselves TO thank
for it. A much more liberal policy must
prevail, in order TO secure the most beneficial
results both to the Exhibition aud the roads
themselves.
A Philadelphia correspondent furnishes
the following list of meetings, soon to be held
in connection with the Centennial
1.-THE Humboldt Centennial Organization will
meet June LIST The Massachusetts Press Associa-
ton will assemble ON the I'd, and the American
Musical Association ON the 9Th ON the It'll and
sth, the Army OF the James and the Army OF the
Potomac will hold their annual reunions here
the 18th will be devoted to the Women's Temper
ance Union; the 18th to the National Association
of Stove Manufacturers, and 10 the National
Division Of the Sons Of Temperance; the 10Th to
the dongs OF the Grand Lodge Of Good Templars;
the 10th to the National Convention Of Mining En-
gineers the 10Th to a Worlds Homeopathic Con-
vention, and to an assemblagc of German Free
thinkers, the 2sth to n National Law Congress
Then begin the military and semi-military fes-
rivals, reviews and parades, which will last until
July is nearly half over On the LIST of July there
is To be Congress Of Authors; on the list Of
August Convention Of Historical and Antiquarian
Societies, and on the lth OF September an lnterna-
tional Medical Congress. An International Arbi-
tration Convention will occur here on the 18th OF
July. All these meetings, patriotic and scientific
and miscellaneous will rosultin bringing people Of
every class to Philadelphia and the Centennial &"
The same correspondent adds
"One Of the most interesting features connected
with the Exhibition just now is an immense display
Of rhododendrons from England, which are eXhib-
tied In temporary annex, under canvas. There
are over fifteen hundred plants, embracing fifty
two distinct and described varieties, and nearly
all are In full bloom, the tnts Of the flowers being
Of all shades from pale lilac to deep crimson
The plants are descendants Of the wild flowers Of
the Alleghanies, and were more directly derived
from plants taken to England from this country
hundred years ago. They are thus really centen-
NAL plants and show the result Of century Of
development
1.-THE Colorado system of irrigation is to be
exhibited by Commissioner Meeker, Of Greeley
Mr. Sandreth, chief OF the Agricultural Bureau
will provide half an planted with strawber-
res, in which Mr. MeelSer will show what has
made the Greeley colony, in the heart Of the
American desert, village Of three thousand in
habitants with one hundred thousand dollars in
its irrigation works, TO blossom as the rose, He
wants to show, also how watercan be made to run
"uphili" by taking 1t from the streams in the val
legs to the high ground of the farms. Irrigation
is one thing he says and getting water to the
land l. another"