Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-03-31
Correspondence Of the Free Press AM Times
From PHILADELPHIA.
THr OPENING OF THE cENrESNiAL AT HAND
THE BUILDINGS - STATE OF FORWARD
NESS OF THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
uArL-IHE CRaNCFRs' CAMP.

From Philadelphia.
Tnr OPENING OF THE CENTENNIAL AT HAND
THE BUILDINGS STATE OF Forward
NESS OF THE ExHIBIrIoN-lNDEftNpE> 'H
HALL-THE GRANCERs' CAMP.
2HiLA pELpHra, March %, 1870.
Do the readers of the FREE PgEss reaiize
that in less than eight weeks, the great Cen
tennial Exposition will be open! 1t has
long been announced that ''opening day
was SET down for May 10Th. and, u the
credit of the managers be IT said, unless
something now unforeseen interpose- the
formal opening will not be postponed even
for day beyond the advertised date. one
who has not seen the Centennial buildings
can form but faint idea OF their sac, beauty
and variety. A wonderful town has sudden
ly covered seventy acres OF the immense ana
lovely park through which the Sehuyikili
aows,' spanned by noble bridges. The huge
Main Building is very nearly finished The
last touches Of ornamental painting are be
ing put on and the exhibitors are putting in
their cases. Machinery hall was finished
some time ago. and the | 500 horsepower
engine which is to supply the motive power
is rapidly approaching completion Back oil
Machinery hall is q new structure called the
Shoe and Leather annex, which will contain
specimens of every kind of shoe and boot
manufactured, every kind of leather prepar-
ed, and every leather machine used in the
country Horticultural nall was finished
some time ago, and the work OF placing the
pots in position is now proceeding. Agri-
ricultural hall will probably be delivered by
the contractor by the end of this month.
By delay in the reception OF tiles, Memo
rial hall, devoted to art, has been kept back
but from present appearances will be hnlsh-
ed early in April The Art annex. so called,
INTENDED to contain the overflow Of pictures
and statues" will be ready in season. There
Is great demand for space in this depart
ment, and the managers expect to be embar-
raised, although the ''annex" Is even larger
than Memorial hall. The United States
Government building was completed month
ago, while the Women's pavilion, the N 2
jersey building and the Southern restaurant
are seyerally ready for occupancy. The
houses built by the different nations are in
their own STYLES; the japanese, the Norwe-
gians, and | think, some others, sent over
their own timber and their own workmen.
The spectacle, when the glass palaces are
filed with bright and costly goods, and with
people in summer attire, will be gorgeous.
Just outside the park, and very near the
main building, enormous hotels are built.
that will shelter, if not accommodate, from
1000 to 5000 people After the exhibition
these will be removed, but one has been
built like long block of private houses and
after use a. hotel for the six months.
the partition walls will be completed
and the houses be ready for sale.
Old Independence Hall is being restored
The coats OF thick paint have been taken
from the walls and stairwsys, and all the
fine old carving brought to light. The old
bell, which rang out the Declaration Of In
dependence, is in the entrance hall, and on
the walls are panels giving 4 concise history
of the important deeds done in Philadelphia
during the Revolutionary years. y large
number Of historical portraits of great in
terest have been collected the members Of
the continental Congress hang on the walls
in one room, and below them are the very
chairs and tables that they used. Among
the attractions already collected, are II
stately picture of George III. in his youth ,
full lengths of William and Mary and Queen
Anne Sir Peter Lely's portrait OF Charles
II the Shsrpless collection Of cabinet PIC
lures in colored crayons, including all the
men and women of any note in this country
from l7s7 to 1900 some exquisite china and
glass, fine old furniture. and everything thai
had 10 DC with the life Of that age Tue
hall Is already most interesting place IL
visit
Noticeable among the various arrangements
for providing for the expected crowds = the
camp which i in process Of construction
under the supervision of the order Of Pa
irons OF Husdandry 1t exhibits the rail
road lion and the granger lamb wing down
together in amity. The Pennsylvania rail
road gave to the Grangers the use ola tract OF
land, at Elm Station, about four and Il
halt miles from the Centennial depot in front
Of the main entrance 10 the Exhibition Ii
i upon very high ground, occupying the
western slope Of the first considerable hill
encountered after leaving Philadelphia
There are numerous springs IN this vicinity
and abundance Of hae timber trees, snd IN
the early hush OF the Summer. IN the first
days Of the Exhibition. II will be right
pleasant spot Here, long wooden sheds or
shanties are being built, divided OF into small
rooms about l. feet square, 10 accommodate
:, 400 people. " .th other building Tor bowl
ing saloons. stores Tor the sale Of c0niec-
ti0nery, drugs. journals, etc. and lecture
rooms TO serve Tor churches On SUNDAYS,
and lectures and amusements On other days
The railroad has contracted u carry all per
sons from that station 10 the grounds and
back for fifteen cents. OF one way only,
for ten cents. The prlce7 at the camp
are 10 be fifty cents Tor the lodging and
ifty cents Tor each meal The organization
will not restrict the quarters 10 genuine
agriculturists. but will welcome all who
choose 10 share their plain and rustic fare.
The Phiiadel phians have lively appre
ration Of the fact that all the world Is com
ug to see them. Announcements appear in
he shop windows that French, Italian, OF
'ome other foreign tongue, is spoken within
md titles are plentiful among the visitors
II the hotels A constant round OF dinner
jarties and other social festivities Is reported
" those who attend such affairs 1t will not
,e long now before the rush hitherward sets
D. Yours. NiAToE