The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-02-15
"a Trip to the Centennial
Grounds"
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 7, 1875.

MEssRs. EDITORS Mot having visited
the Centennial grounds and buildings in
West Fairmount Park for number oil
weeks, few days since l devoted hall
day for that purpose, and was surprised
to notice the progress mado within the
last six weeks. In entering the grounds,
via Girard Avenue, the eye is first met
by the imposing main exposition building.
This vast structure is in the form Of o
paralelogram, extending east end west
1880 feet in length, and being AGA feet
in width, covering an area of a triae over
twenty acres, and is constructed of iron
and glass. The east entrance will form
the principal approach for carriages, and
visitors will be permitted to alight at the
doors under the cover of the arcade the
south entrance will be the principal ap.
proach from the street cars. The aggre.
gate weight of iron in the roof, trusses
and girders reaches the enormous figure OF
fvo million puunds;a and is ornamental with
towers, minarets, etc, and displays great
architectural skill aud combination. Five
hundred and foriy.two feet west of the
main building We encountered another
extensive building, called Machinery Hall,
This immense structure is 1902 feet in
length and $50 feet in width, with wing
or annex on the south aide Of 210 by 20s
feet attached to make extra room, after
the plans we're completed. This building
is constructed of wood and glass. Direct.
ly north, perhaps twenty rods from the
main building first described, stands q
substantial and ornate granite building
termed Memorial Hall or Centennial Art
Gallery, designed to contain paintings,
statuary, etc. This building is termed 10
architectural parlance, in modern renais.
sauce," and is 365 feet in length and 2lO
feet in width. and fifty. y.nine fee. in height
the dome is $50 feet from the ground and
is of glass and iron and is of an unique
design; on the summit or apex rises col
lossal figure Of Columbia, and large
figure stands at each corner of the base Of
the dome. This building is to remain per.
manently. Across a ravine and still
further north, looms up an extremely i'm
posing and very beautiful structure
termed the Horticultural Building, oil
brick, granite and glass; which is to remain
as an ornament to Paramount Park the
design is in the moresque style Of archi,
lecture Of the twelfth century; length
3S3 feet, width 1913 feet, covering some.
thing more than an acre; there is q
greater amount Of ornamentatiol bestowed
on it than on any of the Centennial build.
ings. Still farther north across another
ravine, and near the foot Of Belmon,
Slope, we 6nd another immense structure
the agricultural Building" Of wood and
glass, consisting Of long nave crossed
by traDsepts, being composed Of Howe
truss" arches of gothic form; the nave
is S2O feet long, with height of seventy
FIVE feet from the floor to the point of the
arch. Suffice it to say the building i.
800 by $40 feet, covering more than ter
acres; its high and various pointed roofs
extending nearly to the ground and cover
ed with tin. dazzles and sparkles in tht
slanting sunlight like little city of mol
ten silver. In its immediate vicinity viii
be stock yards for the exhibition ofhorses
cattle, sheep, swine and poultry. Tht
United States government have erected ,
vory extensive building called Jury Pa
vilion, in which will be exhibited Of
illustrated the functions and administrat
i've faculties Of the government in time o
peace, and its resources in time of war
Near by,and just across Belmont Avenue
is large, tasteful and commodious struc
ture. erected at cost of S30,000 by tn,
subscriptions Of the women of America
Heaven bless the women Of these United
States for their zeal, perseverance, liberal
ity, patriotism and go.aheadativsnesa
Who ever knew laudable project fail
that was grappled with in earnest by tn
hand, ard propelled by the inspiration o
the heart Of woman? Failure is not writ
The British government have erecte,
three buildings representing England
Ireland and Scotland. Shooting VI
from the roof of the English one are
number of tall brick chimneys and
brick roof; taken together they presen
q substantial appearance which is charac
teristic Of the Britons. Four restaurant
are being erected, two, built by parties il
! this city, are as large as good sized hotels
q lesser one BY parties in Atlanta. Ga
and French restaurant The America
Photographic association have built a
!, ornate structure, and the Swedes ar
building school house. In close prox
unity to the United States building
/, hospital has been erected. Special struc
lures are being and will be built b.
Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey
y Connecticut. Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Mis-
souri,, Kansas, and probably other state.
Many foreign nations have and will erec
special buildings for their own use Al
= rangements to this effect have alread
! been completed by no. only England, bu
by Germany, Sweden, Turkey, Morocco
: Egypt and japan. Tho almond eye
y Japs are on the ground already. and 9
. work, erecting their building The er
' tire timber and lumber they are usip
= was hewed and sawed in that distar
u country, and ehipped from Yeddo Som
of it resembles our cedar, poplar, VA!
etc, Some of it is wrapped in bambo
mating. To inspect their tools and no,
their manner Of using them would caus
Yankee joiner and carpenter to laug
in his sleeve. They saw and plane b.. cl
l.. ward instead of forward, and such lool
!. ing saws They resemble butcher
q cleayer nearer than our saws; but a
o hail to the little swarthy Japs A
L though coming from the "uttermost par
ls of the earth" and from land of heather
i ism, they evince disposition to cast
N their unite" aud help make our gre,
o centennial success. What shall we sa
" of Vermont 7
,e Messrs Editors, slnce residing in ih
s, city, have ever in private conversation
a. Ii occasionally in more public maj
70 ner, as the columns of the REGISTER wi
4 -