The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1876-01-13
THE CENTENNIAL.
interesting Facts Concern
ing the Great Information
al Exposition--its Origin
A Brief Description of the
Buildings, Grounds, &c.

Buildings, Grounds, &c.
&C. &C.
Mr.. W. T. Lawson, student in
Wabash College, at Charlottesville,
Ind, whose parents formerly lived
in Marshall tp., in this county, spent
his recent holiday vacation among
his old acquaintances in that vicini-
ty, and during his visit was invited
to deliver an address at School Ex.
hibition. He consented, and read q
very interesting paper on the Cen
tennial Exposition, the facts for
which he obtained from Prof. John
L. Campbell, of Wabash College,
who is the General Secretary of the
U. S. Centennial Commission.
In his address Mr.. Lawson states
that as long ago as 1866, Prot. Camp
bell first made the suggestion through
the press, ''that the Tooth anniYersa-
ry of American Independence should
be celebrated by an international
Exhibition, at which the U. States
should exhibit the progress of cen
tury, and compare results in the
realms of Art, Science, Education,
Invention, Manufactures, Agricul-
ture and Natural Resources, with
the older nations of the earth"
1t is therefore claimed, and proba-
bly, with truth, that to Prof. G. be-
longs the honor of first suggesting
the idea of the Great Exposition,
which is to celebrate SO ftly the first
centennial anniversary of our nation,
and render the year 1876 memorable
in our history. At the first meeting
of the Centennial Commissioners,
appointed by the various States,
held in Philadelphia in 1872, Prof.
c. was elected General Secretary of
the Commission, which position he
still holes.
From Mr.. Lawson's address, above
referred to, q copy of which he has
kindly furnished US, we CLEAN the
following interesting particulars in
regard to the great Exposition, which
may be relied upon as accurate, and
many of which will no doubt be new
to the majority of our readers.
The Centennial Buildings are To-
Gated in Fairmount Park, at the
terminus of Girard Avenue, Phila.
delphia, and adjoining the builtup
portion, at distance of miles from
the center of the city. The Park
contains 5000 acres, on which the
city has already spent over S6,000,-
900. The Schuylkill river flows
through the Park, and empties into
the Delaware, 5 miles below the
city. There are 10 bridges across
the river.
The Park is diversified with the
most charming scenery, of hills and
wales. drives and walks, ornamented
with statues, fountains, &c. The
portion set apart for the Exposition
is an elevated plateau, known as
Lansdown Plateau, where ample
space is afforded for the many struc
lures now in process of erection.
The following is a brief descrip-
tion of the Exposition buildings:
l. Main Building.-Devoted to
Manufactures, Mining, Metallurgy,
Education and Science. Length,
1875 feet width, 465 feet. In the
center, on each side, are projecting
ellis, each 416 feet long, and at each
end an ell ZIG feet long. The Build
ing occupies an area of 21.47 acres.
At each of the four corners is a
tower, rs feet high. From the cen
ter of the building rise four towers,
each 48 feet square, with spires 12O
feet high. The building rests on a
foundation of solid masonry, the su-
perstructure being supported by 672
wrought iron columns, placed "a
feet apart, which support the iron
rafters and tin roof. The columns
vary in length from % feet to 125
feet. Their aggregate Weights 2, ,200,-
900 lbs; the weight of the rafters is
100000 lbs.
Through the center of the build
ing there is an avenue 120 feet wide.
and parallel to this are numerous
aisles, 100 feet wide. At each en-
trance will be displayed the national
colors of the country occupying thai
part of the building. The building
will contain q miles of water pipes
and drains, and 10 miles of passage
ways. In its construction 3,92S tons
of rolled iron will be used; 237, Al
square feet of glass, and LOTS, ,OO(
square feet of tin roofing. The cos
of the building will be S1,600,000.
2. Machinery HaN-Is the mex
largest building, located north o
and in line with the main building
the two presenting frontage o
1924 feet, or over two-thirds of
mile. Here will be displayed al
kinds of machinery in operation. '.ll
; this department" says Prof. Camp
, bell, ''the inventive genious Of Amer
lea will probably be most prominent
| ly displayed. In the London, Pari
/ and Vienna Expositions it will be re