Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-05-04
THE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION.

THE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION.
What Visitor Mt the Grounds Writes to
the Newspapers about the Affair.
The grounds are five miles out of
town, across the Schuylkil river, on
hundred-acre tract stretching up from
Fairmont Park. A few years ago the
neighborhood adjacent to the grounds
was a quiet country place. Now it re-
semblesa dozen mushroom gold-digging
cities all huddled together. In the city
proper everything seems to be tinged
with Centennial. Every department of
trade has prepared itself by doubling it's
capacity, and if the expectations OF
these people are not realized, you will
hear the crash all the way to New York.
Philadelphia has funny way of doing
many things. The visitor to the great
exhibition must come armed exactly
with a fifty-cent note. Two quarters
won't do. The applicant for admission
must have a fifty-cent note, or he will
not get in. This note is to be dropped
into locked box, the visitor edges his
way in through the arms of turnstile,
number is registered, and thus the
record of visitors is to be kept, and no
chances given for subordinates to doany
stealing at all.
Few people can fully realize the great
extent of the exhibition buildings. The
seven departments occupy a tract OF
fifty acres. There are five gigantic and
beautiful edifces. The main structure
is 1880 feet in length, running east and
west, and 464 feet in width. It covers
over twenty acres. The weight of iron
in the roof, trusses, etc., is 5000, 900
pounds. From the north of the main
building is the art gallery; thence the
walk leads to machinery and agricultural
halls. Machinery hall is about 500 feet
west of the main building. 1t is !, ,4O2
feet long, $50 feet wide, with additions,
and it covers nearly thirteen acres, not
counting upper floors. Sixteen lines OF
shafting will be turned by pair Of Cor
liss engines of l, 400 horse power. There
are twenty boilers. Steam power and
water will be furnished free. The agri-
cultural building covers ten acres; the
art gallery is 365 feet in length, 210 feet
in width, and fifty-nine feet in height.
The dome is $50 feet from tho ground.
It is of glass and iron, unique in de-
sign, and terminates in colossal bell.
The horticultural building is the
most beautiful. It is in the Moresque
style of architecture of the twelfth CEN
tury. 1t is 3S3 feet long, and 1913 feet
wide.
The above are the five buildings
proper, erected by the Centennial COM
mission at cost of several millions.
Scattered all about these immense
structures are the buildings of the Uni
ted States government, the several
States and foreign countries, including
Turkey and Japan. The latter building
is large and unique, made OF wood put
up by Japs, and there is not nail IN
it.
Americas greatest collection will be
in the government building, which is to
represent the United States in peace and
in war. The different departments in
Washington have charge of this. The
amount appropriated is $505,0
The winding ways and foot walks
stretch out about seven miles. The
daily capacity of water supply will be
over ten millions of gallons. Over five
thousand trees have been planted.
All the space in machinery hall is
taken up. There will be about l,OOO
American exhibitors, $50 English, and
$50 from other countries-25O more
than we're at Vienna. America is clam
oring for twice the space that was first
assigned in the main building.
A striking feature to the foreigner
will be the names of business men dis.
played on the signs of the Centennial
grounds. Nearly all the restaurateurs,
caterers, refreshment dealers, and the
like have distinctive foreign names. The
exposition will not be American In this
respect. -,
Goods began arriving here from all
parts of the world early in the present
year, and they are all expected to be In N
by the nineteenth of April. After April
26, unoccupied space is forfeited. The
exhibition commences May 10, and keeps
open till November 10; all goods to be
removed by December 81. Admission
fifty cents. -
It required several hours to drive
around the buildings, take look in here
and there and gain the desired informa.
ton. When the exhibition is in full
blast person can spend two weeks In
getting through. =,
From appearances the Centennial will
come off Just as it was announced. 1t Is
believed that everything will be in per.
feet readiness when the time comes. Ii
this be so the commissioners will deserve
credit.