The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1876-03-22
OUR CENTENNIAL LETTER.
PHILADELPHIA, Mar. 20, 1876.

Centennial matters, and, indeed, all
other matters have been overshadOwed
by the developments Of the last fort
night. Men can think and talk of
nothing else. They thrung about the
bulletin boards ofthe newspaper Offices,
and the question of greatest interest is,
who will answer the call of next"
Orville Grant has been here for some
days, and has fallen into the hands of
the lnterviewers, much to the dismay
Of his partners in various enterprises,
among whom his reputation for dis
creteness is not of the best. II seems
that Orville Grant, together with
Mess. Casselberry and Bonnafon of
this city, has been interested in trading
posts at Fort Stevenson and Standing
Rock. Orville acknowledged that he
obtained the posts through his inAu-
ence with the President, and also con-
fessed that the trio had visited the
President at Long Branch and talked
up the matter. 1t has since transpired
that both Casselberry and Bonnafon
correspondent with the President on the
subject, that. when hitch in the mat
ter occurred, the former received an
autograph letter from him, inviting
him 10 60 to Washington to see about
"that business in the west" He went
to Washington, and returning, said
that the matter was all fixed. Durfee
and Peck were rousted from their trad
ing posts on the Missouri River, but,
as there was some trouble in getting
rid of them, the trio, Orville Grant,
Casselberry and Bonnafon, went west
to fix matters. They visited Fort Sill
and other posts, and as their chats
were chalked," they travelled at gov
eminent expense, drawing government
rations, and having a good time gener-
ally. They obtained the trading bus.
mess at Fort Stevenson and Standing
Rock, and have been doing profitable
trade ever since. Grant claim that
he invested money with them, and
that the profits are small but it is
well-KnOwn that h, sSfz,gOUss1 sr7=:.==ss==
a great deal of money. is always hard
up, and has no money 10 invest, and
the fact that a gentleman of this city
offered $50, 900 to be let in with Cassel
berry and Bonnafon last summer,
makes his statement with regard To
the small profit, appear doubtful, to
say the least. 1t is a pretty piece Of
business all around, and promises rich
developments before the lead is ex.
hausted. The three have been supe.
naed to appear before the committee
on expenditures of the War Depart
ment, and the Sergeant-at.Arms, when
here to serve the writs, said that sub.
penas had been issued to forty other
persons in the west and territories to
appear before the same committee.
The committee now investigating
the affairs of the Naval Department al
Washington, will meet here in a few
days to take testimony in regard to the
recent sale and removal of the Navy
Yard here. 1t is charged that the
contract for removing the yard wa:
given to Nathaniel Mckay, of Boston,
at a price far above the other bids, and
that there were great frauds con
nected with the removal of material
Rats of timber and scow loads of cop
per and iron failed to reach their des'
tination, and it is charged that thu
profits accruing from their sale wen
to line the pockets of Mckay and hi!
silent partners.
So much for fraud and corruptions
and now to subject that is free from
suspicion of either. In my last letter
Igave brief description of the prin
cipal exhibition buildings, with the ex
ception of Memorial Hall, which mer
its a special notice, both on account o
its beauty and the fact that it is to b
permanent structure, and is designet
to be the receptacle of an industrial
and art collection, on the plan of tn
celebrated South Kensington Museum
London, which has done so much t.
advance industrial and decorative ar
in England. The edi6ce stands on al
elevation, a short distance from tn,
Main Exposition Buildings 365 by FL
feet, and 60 feet in height and is bull
of iron and massive granite. Beauti
full collonades extei.d to the not yer,
lofty towers which form the corner:
: and upon one of which is perched
a hugh American eagle with wings out
spread for flight. Above the grea
dome rises to the hight of $50 feet, an
terminates in massive bell surmount