The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1876-01-06
cENrENNLAL CORRESPONDENCE.


CENrENNIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
[yaox our sr1c1AI ooa1zsroHD1aF.]
PHILADr1rHIA, Dsosmbsr 9Th, 1875. Z:
To : stranger visiting Philadel-
phia for the first time, the place Of
first and paramount interest is, per-
haps. Independence Hall, the "Cra-
die Of Liberty Az most Of your
readers have either seen or often read
full and accurate descriptions Of this
world.renowned edifoe on. Chestnut
street, I won't attempt any pictur.
ing Of the sacred spot, but will give
you = brief description (and very
brief it must necessarily b. Of what
il 1t present almost the only thing
spoken or thought of in the Quaker
CITY, the Centennial Exhibition, and
the progress 20 far made on the
buildings and grounds. The wealth.
or here has been mild but very moist
Of late, and, a. a natural consequence,
mud surrounds US to an uncomforta-
bic depth on all sides; especially is
this the case in the neighborhood Of
the Exhibition Buildings in Fair
mount Park. There it is of 4 VEL
lowish color and clayey consistency,
which is anything but agreeable to
the pedestrian, with a depth reach.
ing anywhere from just below the an
kle to the knee. Leaving the cars
at the lower entrance to the Exhibi-
ton grounds We have right before Us
the Main Exhibition Building, which
covers twenty-one acres, is one thous-
and eight hundred and eighty feet long
and four hundred and sixty-4our feet
wide. The building appears to be
an immense framework Of wood and
iron, rooted over, and having hardly
anything but large glass frames or
windows for its sides. The outside of
the building will be completed by
January LIST, but the inside will not
receive the finishing touches until
about a month later. Directly back
Of this building is = steam planning
mill, in constant operation, planning
tho boards used in tho construction
Of this and the other buildings now
in course Of rapid erection for the
Exhibition. Machinery Hall, which
is just beyond the Main Building;
and on the opposite side Of Belmont
avenue, is nearest to completion of
all the Centennial buildings. This
hall, as it is called, covers over four
teen acres, and is ono thousand four
hundred feet long by three hundred
and sixty feet wide. It is ready for
occupancy, and the spaces for ma.
chinery, so far as assigned, are
marked off and numbered. The in
ternal and external decorations are
neat, and yet not too gaudy for such
an attractive show as this building is
to afford.
Just above Machinery Hall is the
Government building. This build.
ing is in charge of Lieutenant Met
calfe, an army officer Of some expe-
rience, who is constantly present, SUI
pervising the construction and dec
Grating Of the edifce. Like all the
other buildings there is great deal
of glass used in the construction Of the
structure, and consequently plenty Of
light is admitted to allow Of the clos
est inspection Of any and al of the
Government exhibits. The space al
loted to each department is shown in
the interior by the paneling on the
inside walls or wainscoting, and 'the
general effect is very pretty, in fact,
many think the internal decorations
Of this structure are not equaled by
any on the grounds, save Memorial
Hall, or the Art Gallery, as it is also
called. As this last named building
is to remain q permanent structure
and is to stand as a monument to our
greatness when we are but a century
old as a nation, it is gotten up with
an eye to beauty as well as enduring
permanency, and no expense is SPAR
ed.
| The Horticultural and Agricultur'
al Halls are still far from completion
the latter especially so. and as they
both stand at some distance from the
others referred to and the way to
them is at present about hAlfknee
deep with mud, your correspond
ent preferred to wait until We should
either have a good freeze or until
such time ~ the Centennial authori-
ties pay little more attention to the
matter Of plank walks in the vicinity,
ere he paid them the honor Of = clos
and CT itical inspection.
J. All the walks in the Park are Il
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