The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-05-11
From the Atchison Champion.
The Centennial Exposition,

FROM the Atchls0n Champion.
The Centennial Exposition.
Col. John A. Martin, United States
Centennial Commissioner for Kansas,
appointed by the President, returned
from Philadelphia the other day and
in his paper gives the following, to us
a most readable account of what the
wonderful international show will be:
"For years past the newspaper press
has been discussing the Centennial
Exposition. Descriptions of the build
ings and grounds, and of the scope
and character of the exhibition, have
been published in nearly every journal
in the country. Illustrations of the
buildings have been scattered broad
cast-engravings, Autographs and pho
tographs, large ard small, plain and
elaborate in coloring. Perhaps every
Intelligent citizen of this country has
general idea of the appearance of the
Centennial buildings. But no one
who has not visited the grounds with
i'll the past month, and personally in
spected them, can have any adequate
idea of the beauty, magnitude and
utility of the grand structures in
which are to be displayed, during the
next six months, the products of the
world-the best specimens of its in
ventive and artistic genius, of its work.
shops, fields, mines and studios, of it's
oceans and rivers, forests and prairies.
eve spent two days on the EXPOSE
ton grounds this week, and we saw
enough to satisfy us that to view the
Centennial Exposition as it ought to
be seen, in detail, would require six
months of patient, industrious tramp
ing through the halls, galleries and
areas Of the different buildings. All
that is to be seen within the inclosure
at Paramount Park cannot be viewed
as it ought to be in less time. Every
step visitor takes will unfold to his
wondering sight some new glory of
arts,or industry, or nature, and he can
wander on and on, instructed and ell
tranced from morning until night, for
days and weeks and months, forget
ting even fatigue i'll his absorbed in
terest, wishing that he could be Wis.,
itor for full six months, and dreading
the coming of the time when he must
away from these fairy-palaces into the
work-a-day duties of our prosaic bust
ness life.
"Little more than year ago the
broad and beautiful plateau between
Georges Hill and the Quaker City
looked like one of our Kansas valleys
seen from the summit of its back
ground of hills. 1t was an expanse of
verdure and struggling trees, without
even roadway threading it. To-day
it is populous city, adorned with
palaces whose harmonious proper
tons touch and crafty our most es-
thetic sense, and whose beauty is only
equaled by their magnitude. There
are now one hundred and eighty-seven
buildings within the Centennial ell
closure at Paramount Park. These in
clude the five main Centennial build
ings, two of which have annexes nearly
as large as the original structure; the
United States Government building,
the Women's Pavilion, the different
State and Foreign buildings, the res
taurants, the Trades buildings, and
others we cannot remember. All are
beautiful structures, and represent SO
many styles of architecture that the
general effect is at once admirable and
instructive.
'The displays in these various build
ings it is useless to attempt to de-
scribe. They cover acres upon acres
of floor and wall space, and represent
every department of art, science and
industry. Paintings which only the
wealth of Vanderbilt or Stewart
could purchase; statuary from the
of the world; machinery produced by
the skilled artizans of all nations;
products of the most renowned facto-
ries and workshops of the earth; ar
ticles representing the life, customs
and ingenuity of every people under
the sun-therc are hundreds of thou
sands of these, and many of them are
so elaborate, so beautiful and so inter-
esting, that hours can be profitably
spent in their inspection. We saw one
specimen of wood carving i'll the Bel
giam section, pulpit, which must |
have taken years for its production.
1t is probably the most elaborate and |
beautiful specimen Of wood carving |
ever exhibited in this country. There |
are other exhibits, in the Swiss sec
ton, that are equally fine, though not |
so large as this,
"The exhibits from all the nations
are arranged in collective groups, and |
in the main building there is generally |
an ornamental surrounding for the |
different collections. In the art hall |
and its annex the countries have their |
separate exhibits in the numerous
rooms into which the buildings are
"The grounds are very handsome
and attractive. The road-ways are |
wide and firm, and the 'foot-paths nu-
merous and well arranged. There are
several artificial lakes within the in
closure, numerous memorial statutes
and monuments, and several fine
bridges. The restaurant buildings are
as elaborate and beautiful as any upon
the grounds except the main build
ings.
"The Kansas and Colorado building
Is located III a very prominent posi-
ton, having the Horticultural Hall,
the Women's Pavilion, the Govern
ment Buildings and the Agricultural
Hall surrounding it. 1t is the largest
State building on the grounds, and
will be one of the most conspicuous
and beautiful of the smaller structures.
It is also, we think. better adapted for
exhibition purposes than any of the
State buildings. Many of these, how
ever, are not intended for exhibition
purposes, but merely for State head
quarters. When we left Philadelphia,
IN Monday night, the workmen were
putting on the roof of the Kansas and
Colorado building. 1t will be ready
or the reception of goods by the time
hey arrive. Major Bancroft, one of
he members of the State Board,
cached Philadelphia on Sunday even
ng. Mr.. Rooster, another of the
was with the train loaded
With the Kansas exhibit, and was ex-
,ected to arrive on Monday OF Tues
lay.
"The inquiry we hear most fire.
Iuently connected with the Centen-
ennial is concerning rooms and board
ng. We think the preparations made
n Philadelphia for entertaining visit
rs are ample for any demands likely
o be made. Comfortable rooms can
e obtained, without board, at from
fly cents to four dollars per day.
with sleeping rooms, can be
ad at from one dollar to six dollars [
er day. The finest hotels in the city
barge from five to SIX dollars per day; |
ut there are many hotels, comfortable {
nd commodious, where the charges l
ange from two to three dollars per 1