The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1876-04-21
The Great Centennial Show.


AND BEAUTIFUL
Few people can fully realize the great
extent of the Exhibition buildings The
seven departments occupy tract OF fifty
acres. There are five gigantic and beauti.
tul editices. The main structure is 1880
feet in length, running east and west, and
464 feet in width 1t covers over twenty
acres. The weight of iron in the roof
trusses, &C., is 100000 pounds From
the north of the main building is the art
gallery thence the walk leads to Ma
chinery and Agricultural Halls. Machine
ry Hall is about 500 feet west of the main
building. 1t is 1,402 feet long, $50 feet
wide, with additions, and it covers nearly
thirteen acres, not counting upper floors.
Sixteen lines of shafting will be turned by
a pair of gigantic Corliss engines of 400
horse power. There are twenty boilers.
Steam power and water will be furnished
free. The Agricultural building covers
ten acres; the Art Gallery is 1865 feet in
length, 80 feet in width, and SO in height.
The dome is 100 feet from the ground 1t
is of glass and iron, unique in design, and
| terminates in colossal bell. The Horti-
cultural building is the most beautiful. 1t
is in the Moresque style of architecture of
the twelfth century. 1t is 1888 feet long,
and 1913 feet wide.
The above are the five buildings proper,
erected by the Centennial Commission at
a cost of several millions.
Scattered all about these immense struc-
lures are the buildings of the United States
Government, the several States and foreign
countries, including Turkey and Japan
The latter building is large and unique,
made of wood put up by Japs, and there is
not a nail in it.
Americas greatest collection will be in
the Government building, which is to rep
resent the United Mt States in peace and in
war. The differe @ departments in Wash
ington have charg of this. Amount APP
propriated, $505,00O.
The winding ways and foot walks stretch
out about seven miles. The daily capacity
of water supply will be over ten millions
of gallons. Over five thousand trees have
been planted.
All the space in Machinery Hall is taken
up. There will be about 1000 American
exhibitors, $50 English, and $50 from other
countries-250 more than were at Vienna.
America is clamoring for twice the space
that was first assigned in the main build
ing.
A striking feature 10 the foreigner W i'll
be the names of business men displayed on
the signs of the Centennial grounds. Near
ly all the restaurateurs, caterers, refresh
ment dealers, and the like have distinctive
foreign names. The Exposition will not
be American in this respect.
Goods began arriving here from all parts
Of the world early the present year, and
they are all expected to be in by the 10Th
Of April. After April 10th, unoccupied
space is forfeited. The show commences
May 10, and keeps open till Nov. 10; all
goods to be removed by Dec. 81. Admis-
sion so cents.
Philadelphia has funny way Of doing
many things. The visitor to the Great
Exhibition must come armed exactly with
also cent note. Two quarters don't do.
The applicant for admission must have a
so cont not, or lie will not get in. This
shinplaster is to be dropped into locked
box, the visitor edges his way in through
the arms Of a turnstyle, Il number is regis.
tered, and thus the record of visitors is to
be kept, and no chances given for subordi-
mates to do any stealing at all
have learned that many Phiadelphians
are sorry that the exposition was made an
international one. They don't seem to
want TO bc bothered with Dom Pedro or
any other illustrious foreigners. They'd
rather have it Il local affair, because. they
think outsiders will be more trouble than
they're worth.
1t required several hours to drive around
the buildings, take look in here and there
and gain the desired information. When
the Exhibition is in full blast person can
spend two weeks in getting through. Now
everything is noise, din, and conIusion.-
Enough is to be seen, however, to satisfy
the observer that the Exhibition is going
to be very attractive, and that America
will make Il pleasing and satisfactory dis
play.
The job of putting up these buildings
has been fat one for Pennsylvania work.
man and contractors. But the city of
Philadelphia is deeply in debt, and the
Government mortgage may so completely
wipe out the Exhibition receipts as to
cripple the Quaker city for years. The
Centennial may prove ruinous to these
staid people. What they would lave done
had not Congress loaned them money, it
is impossible to tell.
From appearances the Centennial will
come off just us it was announced. 1t is
believed that every thing will he in perfect
readiness when the time comes. If this be
so the Commissioners will deserve credit.