The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-06-02
CENTENNIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

CENTENNIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
The Centennial City-Its sixe-Number of
Buildings Population - The New City
Hall-Inde pendence Hall = Revolution
cry Memories-Miscellan Notes.
PHILADELPHIA, May ~.
The Centennial City, like Washington Is
city OF magnificent distances, its extreme
length being twenty-three and one-half miles,
and its average breadth five and one-half miles,
with superficial area l291l square miles, or
about $4,000 acres. BY the census re Gently
taken, 1t had $4,000 occupied buildings, Of
which $4,000 were dwellings, and many have
been completed since. The population was
$4,000. The assessed value OF taxable prop
erty is 5000, 600, 600 ; it has GOO miles Of paved
streets, lighted by 10000 lamps, and 1000
miles of gas and water mains.
1t is peculiarly city of homes, q greater
number Of residents owning the houses they
occupy than in any other large city on this
continent. The houses are built In solid blocks
with pressed brick fronts, with shutters and
marble steps, presenting a very monotonous
appearance to visitors. Rut they are very COM
ortably arranged, with water service, the
smaller ones usually having three rooms on
the first fioor-parlor dining groom and htch-
EN- on the second floor, two chambers, a sit
ting-room and bathroom, and on the third
floor two spare rooms. The large ones have
superior arrangements and greater number
OF rooms. Street-car lines thread all the prin-
cipal streets, rendering locomotion to any part
OF the city convenient and cheap Tie public
buildings are commodious and elegant, and the
charitable institutions numerous and well-cn-
dowed.
The new City Hall, to cost over $40, 900, 900,
lis now being erected at the intersection Of the
| two principal streets, Broad and Market and
Is 470x4S619 feet, covering an area of fonr and
half acres. 1t is said to be larger than any
single permanent building on this continent.
1t completely blocks up the two principal
streets of the city, obstructing splendid
view up Broad street, fourteen miles long
overshadowing the Masonic Temple, and
promises to be lasting monument Of the fol-
ly Of entrusting the government OF great
city to jobbing and corrupt politicians.
Que of the chief objects Of attraction. espe-
cially to visitors OF the great Exposition, is In
dependence hall, Oh Independence square,
bounded by Walnut and Chestnut and Fifth
and Sixth streets. The eastern chamber, where
the Declaration Of Independence was proposed,
discussed, adopted signed and promulgated, is
in a good state Of preservation the portraits
|
which the document was signed stands on
dais at the eastern end, and the old chandelier
used by the Continental congress still hangs
from the ceiling. The original Declaration has
been transferred from the Patent-ofiice at
! Washington to this chamber. Time has erased
most OF the signatures, so that they are illeg-
ible but the instrument itself is quite distinct.
The Western chamber contains great many
relics OF Revolutionary and ante-Revolutionary
times. In this part Congress sat from 1892 to
| 1893 the House on the first floor and the Sen
ate on the upper floor.
On the eastern wall of the building is this
In this building met
First Senate,
and the
First House of Representatives
OF the United States of America
and herein George Washington was inaugurated
President March 4, 1893,
and closed his official career,
when, herein also,
John Adams was inaugurated the
Second President OF the United States,
March 4, 1897.
During the past week multitudes have visited
this shrine Of liberty, and have gazed with deep
interest upon the mementoes Of the men, who.
at the peril Of life and fortune, have bequeathed
to us 30 goodly a heritage. And having 30 re-
Gently come from new baptism OF fire and
| good, on a question Of the union of these
States, it is meet that the East and the West,
the North and the South, forgetting all past
differences, and burying all past animosities,
should meet around this common altar of our
liberties, and in this centennial year. in this
City Of Erotherly Love, renew those fratsrnal
ties which bound our fathers in common
brotherhood in 177G.
1t has been ascertained that 1000 persons
from Mississippi will visit the Exhibition dur
ing the months OF July and September.
Sheds are now provided for those who desire
to drive to the Exhibition in their own vehi-
Giles.
Adjoining Oregons section il that Of Wash
ington Territory. As the Territorial Legisla-
ture refused, or neglected, to make any pro-
| vision for representation at the Centennial
the honor of showing to the world what that
prolific Territory was capable OF was assumed
by W. Owen Bush, colored man, who owns a
farm in Thurston county. He gathered to-
gether samples of grain in the stalk and
threshed, and here they are, forming FOR
| Washington Territory an exhibit of which many
might be proud. Among these are several
varieties OF wheat barley, oats, rye millet,
potatoes buckwheat hemlock bark hemlock
! leather and several varieties OF grass seed
| Some OF the stalks Of wheat and barley are Of
immense size, unequaled by any others dis
played anywhere. To the credit of the Com
missioners from Washington Territory be it
said, every exhibit is labelled with the name
of the producer and exhibitor, Mr.. Bush bat
it is not mentioned that he is poor colorcd
be found in Washington Territory available
for Centennial purposes.
Victoria and South Australia, in the British
section, are making excellent progress and es-
pecially in the space allotted to the frst-men-
toned. South Australis has uncovered several
large cases Of beautiful birds, but what the
| other big packages contain remains to be seen.
Turkey appears to be- in comatose condi-
ton. The boxes and packages which have
been in the building for number Of weeks
are still unopened, and much anxiety enter
tanned to know the nature Of their contents.
The Japanese baZar, situated just east Of its
department Of public comfort, is being rapidly
brought to completion. 1t is expected thst it
will be ready for opening about the first of
next week, and in it will be samples Of Japan
ese manufactures and staple products for sale
in its exterior. 1t presents the same peculiar
aspect as the japanese Government building,
and exhibits the same beautiful and unique
workmanship.
In the Syrian bazaar, near the Turkish pavil-
ion, five natives Of Jerusalem sell fancy arti-
cles made Of wood from the Holy Land.
The Centennial Photographing Company is
now engaged in photographing all who hold
free tickets, to prevent frauds, the picture be-
| ing attached to the ticket.
| As compared with other international ex-
positions, that of Philadelphia is, In many
points, superior to all that have preceded il.