Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-09-29
OUR CENTENNIAL LETTER.

been allowed for submarine surveys.
OUR CENTENNIAL LETTER.
''WhO ever saw the ike?" is what every
body exelsims now. All previous accounts
of the rush thitherward have failed to con-
vey an adequate idea of its extent at this
writing. The incoming trains from every
direction are overloaded with human
freight, and come putting into the depots
behind time. The hotels are packed full
from ground to attic floors, and there is a
swarm of humanity blocksding the streets
and surging into every place Of entertain
ment or amusement. People who intend
coming in the next few weeks will do well
to engage quarters in advance, if they have
not already done so. The attendance on the
Exhibition grounds grows larger each day,
and the present indications promise to ex-
ceed the most sanguine expectations. On
Wednesday, for the first time since the
opening day, the number exceeded the
highest figure ever predicted, being over
100, 200 visitors at full rates. At the pres
ent rate of increase, with people still pour
ing into town from every quarter, it looks
as though the attendance might reach 2OO,-
600 daily IN another week. Even at the
average Of last week, from now to the
close, would make an aggregate of eight
and half millions of visitors. Thursday
was ''New York day." and brought many
thousand from the Empire State. Cover
I4es'- 4FiiiideH 4iiideH held reception in the New
York State building, which was thronged
throughout the day. Pennsylvania day.
follows next Thursday, when the greatest
throng Of the season is expected. The Hon.
BENZ. II. Brewster will deliver an address.
and in the evening the grandest display of
fireworks ever witnessed on this continent
has been arranged for, to be supplied by
London firm.
The display of minerals in various de-
partments of the Exhibition makes, col
lectively, one Of the most prominent and
interesting features. That portion of this
exhibit in the government building Is
chiefly the fruit ofz[,geological surveys of
the territories under Prof Hayden and
Major Powell.
DIR. Hayden'S survey was begun in 1867,
with small appropriation of S., 900 made
by Congress for the examination of Nebras-
ka. In 1869 it was extended to Colorado
and New Mexico, with an increased appro-
priation of $4,000. Since then it has been
going on on large scale, and with increas-
ed usefulness until now. This years field
work will be the last, and already some of |
the final memoirs on special subjects have |
been printed. The work has been conduct |
ed in the most thorough and systematic |
manner, and it is surprising to compare the
results obtained with the comparatively |
small amount of money expended. The
special memoirs are, without exception
from the pens of the most accomplished |
specialistsiin.the country, and the practical
results of the survey in guiding the pros
pector and miner in their labors, are be-
yond estimate. Among the most attractive
OBJECTS exhibited are the beautifully exc
cuted photographs of scenery, by Mr.. Jack
son, the photographer Of the survey. These
are both on wood and glass. There Is also
a series Of water-color sketches, which con-
vey much information to the geologist, be-
sides some very creditable works of art
The maps, bearing dates 1874 and 8,
evince great care and accuracy In their de-
lineation of the typographical and geolog-
ical details. The models Of the country ex-
plored, showing in colors the geological
structure, convey to the uninitiated bet
ter idea than could be obtained in library
full of books, Attached to the collection
are lot Of pottery of the Indians from the
Mancos canyon, and models Of the ruins of
the Indian houses in the canyon of the Rio
du Chelly as they now exist, and restored
to show how they looked when occupied.
The Powell survey began by an amateur
trip Of Major Powell, in 1867, in the noun
tain region of Colorado. In 1868, stimu-
lated by what he saw on that summers ex-
,ursion, he organized an expedition for
further exploration, which continued in
1880. During these several excursions the
plan was conceived to explore the canyons
of the Colorado river. This has finally ex-
panded into a detailed examination Of
Utah, and the reports will form hand
some series not inferior In execution or In
Importance to the others being executed
BY the other surveys. But one volume Of
these reports has so far been published,
though the others are under way, and o Sc
ries of the maps, not yet issued by the de-
partment, is exhibited. Some Of the dis-
grams, Of which there is whole atlas, dis
play a high degree Of ingenuity in the
manner of execution, and they illustrate.in
striking manner the foldings- and breaks
OF the strata over the desert table lands OF
Utah.
With them there is model Of about
thirty thousand square miles of the area of
Utah, colored geologically, and admirably
done. It would be praiseworthy work on
the part of the government to cause to be
made for the National Museum a complete
series of such models, illustrating the geol--
ogy of the whole country. The necessary
exists in great part for this
work in the reports of the geological sur
veys Of the several States and Territories,
and but few spots would be left blank, even
at the present state Of our knowledge, while
the surveys going on will soon supply all
deficiencies. This survey also exhibits
large series Of photographs.
The space originally allotted in the Main
Exhibition building to the display Of min
erals and mineral products of the United
States, although apparently liberal enough,
was soon found to be totally inadequate,
and two additional buildings were erected
in the narrow area, between the main
building and the street. In these are placed