Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-05-24
Our Centennial Letter.
PHILADELPHIA, May 18th. 1875.

| ~""J S"N oo0"o al" VIC Hoouudy was
as bright as could be desired. Long
before nine O'Clock the hour when the
grounds we're to be opened an immense
throng had assembled and it was
steadily increased by the arrival Of
thousands upon thousand every few
minutes for hours. Various estimates
have been made of the number of per-
sons in the enclosure and they varied
from 100000 up to 100000. The
| programme laid down by the Com
missioners was carried out exactly.
When President Grant arrived Wag-
ner's Inauguration march was played
aud then Bishop Simpson prayed.
The buildings were presented by Ge.a.
Hawley to the President who respond
ed in an address. The flag was nm
furled, the halleluyah chorus shouted,
bells chimed and one hundred guns
were fired to announce that the Grand
Centennial Exhibition was duly opened.
Then grand procession was formed
and President Grant passed at the
head Of it into Machinery Hall where
assisted by Mr.. Corless be put in mo-
ton the grand Corless engine which
furnishes all the power needed on the
grounds. The President Of the
United States, all the members Of the
cabinet, all the judges of the Supreme
Court, and most of Ithe members Of
Congress, all the members of the di-
plomatic corps at Washington and the
Governors of nine States with many
other officials and distinguished men
were present on the platform. The
grounds were brilliant with uniforms
and the variegated dresses of the re-
presentatives of foreign nations
Everything was not ready as [ have
said in previous letter would be the
case. This is more the fault Of the
Exhibitors than of the Commission, be
cause goods have been held back ts
tie last hour and then rushed in q.
the rate Of Three hundred and tf.y
tons per- day. So that it was utterly
impossible to put them in place.
Many Of the Exhibitors delayed too
long in preparing the cases and fix
lures in which to display their articles
and quite number Of them are yet
unfinished. There was mismanage-
ment to-day somewhere in the admis-
sion of visitors Thousands paid to
get in and when they did so found
themselves In an immense mass of
human beings crowded between the
main building and Machinery Hall.
Goliah of Gath with his spear like a
weavers beam could not have forced
his way through this swelling mass of
humanity and thus thousands were
prevented from seeing Ieven the
grounds to-day and turned back dis
gusted, some of them being more en-
phatic than polite in their remarks
upon the management. Not accus.
toned to give way to obstacles I pas
sed round between the Machinery
Hall and the fence, part of the way
being exceedingly muddy, and by per-
severance and long walk succeeded
in getting into the grounds. lWho-
ever had charge Of this part of the
business made a mess of it and had
better give way to some man who can
attend to his duties. The Hackman
and Livery-keepers of Philadelphia de-
serve first class notice for their lib
erality. On the opening day they set
the price of a carriage at Twenty-Five
dollars per- day. When the devil
gathers in his jewels the brightest of
his ornaments will doubtless be the
Philadelphia Livery men. I heard
many an earnest wish to-day that he
| (the deviD would commence at once
and work fast until the last of the lack
and Livery men ofthis city were test.
ing::his honor's hospitalities. The dis.
) play of military on the ground was
very fine, the staff officers particularly
having an eruption of gold lace and
epaulettes. About four o'clock il
commenced to rain and gave us q
heavy shower, driving most of the
people home. Every house, almos,
| III